Abstract: Objective: Investigate the influence of physical readiness tests (PRTs) on eating behaviors among US Navy Sailors. Design: Focused ethnography using interviews and military policies. Setting: Three US Naval installations. Participants: Active-duty enlisted Sailors (n = 32). Phenomenon of Interest: Eating behaviors. Analysis: Authors analyzed data iteratively with data collection using domain, taxonomy, and thematic analysis to identify culturally relevant codes, domains, and themes. Results: Five themes corresponded with PRT timing and Sailors' perceived ability to meet standards: (1) maintain usual eating habits, (2) get ready and switch it up, (3) make weight-damage control, (4) return to baseline-PRT is over, and (5) eat whatever-PRT is canceled. In contrast to the PRT policy's goal for Sailors to maintain standards and a healthy lifestyle, many Sailors modified their usual eating behaviors to pass the test. Conclusion and Implications: Changes in eating behaviors during PRT cycles highlight a culture of getting ready vs staying ready, suggesting many Sailors do not eat a nutrient-dense diet to maintain the minimum physical fitness and body composition standards. There is a need for nutrition education for healthy weight maintenance, weight gain prevention, and healthy weight loss among military personnel.