So I worked at the JBSA-LAK FAC for 3 months, mid-July to mid-October of this year, and was around for the transition of testers pairing up and counting push/sit ups for each other to FAC augmentees observing and counting for each member. I assessed individual PT testers in pushups/situps for roughly a month and a half total, and I'll give you my POV and clear up some of the gross misconceptions in this post.
First, a preface: I don't agree with everything that is happening at the Lackland FAC, it's a giant ass pain and it creates battles that don't need to be fought. Not counting a pushup rep where a member gets to an 85 degree angle is a little ridiculous, and is a result of the FAC civilian taking his job too seriously. However, 99% of the stuff happening at the FAC is according to the AFI. The very few instances where a member has successfully contested their pushup/situp count were from errors in judgement from newer FAC members (you generally get about a day of training before you're thrown into the fire of observing that pissed off LtCol who WILL get in your face for not counting his limp-backed shit-ups). The big issue here is that 90% of people in the AF have not had a PT test judged 100% to the standards set in the AFI; "close enough" is the mantra at most FACs in the Air Force, especially when testing members are counting reps for other testing members; you don't wanna be a dickhead to the guy who's about to count your reps, so you go easy on him so he'll do the same for you. That doesn't happen at the Lackland FAC, and people are pissed.
There are some good points out there about issues with the Lackland FAC, but this post doesn't cover them. Here's some of the things that set off my bullshit alarm.
For example, he has directed that the "hands slightly wider than shoulder width apart" directive for push-ups means a position with hands exactly six inches apart. For sit-ups, he has interpreted "arms will be crossed over the chest with the hands/fingers on the shoulders or resting on the upper chest" to mean hands flat against the chest with fingertips in contact with the shoulder. Finally, also for situps, he takes "the elbows touch the knees or thighs" language to mean that elbows must touch knees only...thighs don't count.
Pretty much everything quoted is straight BS. There is no mystical "six inches apart" position for push ups. The standards are strict for "slightly wider than shoulder width" in the pushup position, generally no further than a hand's width beyond your shoulder. This is according to the AFI, but an argument could be made that "slightly" could mean further apart. Other pushup standards: back must remain straight and rigid. If a member's ass is way up in the air or dragging on the ground, rep doesn't count. If you look like Michael Phelps with your back bouncing up and down as you do pushups, those reps won't count. It's simple; rigid form from head to heel, hands no wider than "slightly wider than shoulder width", don't bounce or rest your chest on the ground, arms make a 90 degree angle. If the conditions aren't met, the rep doesn't count. Nothing about those standards are against AFI; they're simply enforcing the standard as it's written.
Situps: I've watched and counted for members whose fingertips were the only part of their hands touching their chest the entire minute of their test, and they didn't have a single rep taken away. However, if at any point a member's fingertips break contact with their chest during a rep, that rep doesn't count. This is, once again, according to AFI. If you're grabbing your shirt, rep doesn't count; once again according to AFI. Big BS in the quoted part of the OP is "the elbows must touch the knees only...", nope, straight bullshit. I literally watched people every day touch their elbows to their thighs and the lowest part of their shoulderblades to the mat, and those reps are counted. Biggest issue in the situp portion of the test was hands breaking contact with people's chests or shirt grabbing. That's what gets reps to not be counted.
We had meetings every single morning, and were often briefed about how members, supervisors, and shirts were upset that all of a sudden the AFI standards were being enforced in a much more strict manner. The FAC civilian has had multiple meetings with Chiefs groups, Shirts, and commanders. People are wondering why "If an O-6 had issues why hasn't he raised a stink and gotten it fixed?" It's because the FAC's standards aren't being misenforced or misinterpreted. We've had multiple Brigadier Generals, to include the JBSA commander, come through the FAC and give nothing but praise, to include coining the FAC civilian even after several of the general's pushups were not counted.
Additionally, the FAC does not allow supervisors directly in the room with Airmen; the only people allowed in the testing area are Shirts, Commanders, and CEMs. However, a pacer/supervisor can still observe from outside the room; the door is transparent glass and affords a view of the entire room. We had shirts and CEMs down all the time observing, and the message I was getting when my time was done at the FAC was that Lackland's chiefs and shirts were in support of the FAC. It's not going to change anytime soon.
tl;dr Airman rumor mill and misinformation paints horrible picture of the Lackland FAC; it's tough but it's not violating AFIs. People are pissy because they've never had to do pushups/situps in accordance with the AFI, shitty pushups/situps have always been counted and let slide.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask.