Posted on Dec 31, 2013
SSG Philip Cotton
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We all know those service members who have a "Medical Condition" as soon as the PT test nears. At what point do you think a Service Member should be discharged for not being able to do the job. Ie. No run, No push-up, no sit-up , dead man profiles.
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Responses: 33
SSG Robert Burns
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The thing is, Soldiers don't write themselves profiles, medical professionals do. &nbsp;By saying you should crack down on profiles you are saying that you should crack down on the incompetence of medical professionals diagnostic capabilities. &nbsp;That's not going to happen.<div>What you can focus on is motivating your troops so that they aren't so intimidated by the APFT, and do as much as you can in training to prevent injuries.</div><div>If you think Soldiers are gaming the system come APFT time, well there's nothing like a surprise APFT.</div>
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1SG Michael Minton
1SG Michael Minton
>1 y
those that had profiles at APFT time, i would give them their mandatory recovery time after their profile ended and scheule their test, if they played the system and made sure they had another profile on test day, i would wait the recovery time, walk out to formation, fall out sick calls with slips already and then fallout those needing the APFT (SUPRISE!). i know how to play the game too!!! lol
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CPL Training Nco/Military Police Officer
CPL (Join to see)
>1 y
I have a legit injury. I've had two hip surgeries, and my third is in February. I have a permanent profile because of my injury. I have had 2 Army surgeons, one Navy and one Air Force. When I first went to the ER, after months of trying to push through, the drs just handed me pain killers and a profile. No X-ray or MRI. The dr ASKED me what I wanted my profile to say. I was so confused. I replied with "you're the medical "professional" you're supposed to tell me what is wrong" I complained to their superiors and that's how I finally got the MRI needed to confirm that I had broken my hip almost completely. 
It's the Drs like that one that need to be reassessed and retrained. 
However, it doesn't fall just on the drs, the soldiers themselves need to be educated on the slight incompetence in military medicine. Just because a doc asks you how many days you want to go with a "just breathe" profile doesn't mean you take it. We all know how the medical system works, get you in, get you out. They over book so they can't take actual time to assess and treat. Soldiers shouldn't take advantage of that either. 
And at the end of the day, the Soldiers taking advantage and playing the game will get theirs. Just like 1SG^ said, they play the game, we as leaders play it back. Eventually they have to take one. They fail, bring on the flag. 
That is what needs to get cracked down on. I have seen too many soldiers in need of being flagged for APFT and Height/weight that aren't. 
Army is all I have, the second my recovery from surgeries are over, I take a PT test. I won't be one of the ones kicked out. And if those injured can pass...then those lazy can too. If not, move aside, let those of us that want to stand in the ranks get past you.
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SSG Aircraft Powertrain Repairer
SSG (Join to see)
10 y
14yrs, five deployments, multiple training exercises, WTU, kidney surgeries, broken foot, broken hand, bursitis left shoulder, knee problems left knee..... No permenent or temporary profiles for me.....I still run 16min 2miles, 60 su, and 45 pu.  So why should a fresh out of boot Soldier receive one?  Parental guidance prior to entering.  As children we were motivated by parents to play all summer outside drink from a hose and come in after dark.  Now days parents bury their children with video games, fast food, and laziness.  Teenagers don't grow up the same way we used to.  Illustration a car runs for 100k and is doing great all maintenance is completed it will run for another 100k.  Now take the same car run it for 5k and let it sit around for 13yrs it probably wont start its totaly corroded needs oil engine and transmission replaced.  Get where I am going here the laziness for the handout/gimmee generation is crippling the system so yes we wont question medical personnel but we can get them motivated and muscles moving so they can try to get off these profiles.  I watch every graduation class that comes through AIT as an instructor at least 20% are on profiles and will graduate with those profiels to their first units I just wrote a blog on here about it.  It frustrates the living crap out of me but the Army has these standards for a reason and we as Leaders have a responsibility to adhere to them.  If the Army wants a force of broke 18-25yrs olds then they should not expect much out of it in the way of performance.  If the Army wants a force fo Warriors it will change its policies to represent that.
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SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL
10 y
Well said.....
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SPC Christopher Nutter
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Being a medic, this is a problem but in the opposite way. We have guys that don't want to go to sick call because of the negative stigma associated to it and the "just tough thru it" attitude. When it is something small that could be taken care of relatively easily or could as simple as a seven day profile to allow to recover. Instead, we have individuals who try to gut thru it and end up with a serious injury which results in a long term profile, or a permanent profile. Discouraging soldiers to get checked out is a major issue the military faces. As a medic, it is our job to look over a soldier and see if it could be something major or if it is merely a minor injury. If necessitated, getting the PA, involved to check them out for further evaluation (after building a certain level of trust with the PA in your ability to diagnose and understand the different tests for different injuries). When it gets near PT test times, individuals that are seeking treatment it is on the medics and PA to, test, diagnose and treat. There are many alternatives to the running events but to discourage a soldier to not go on profile or get treated for an injury is wrong.
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SFC Platoon Sergeant
SFC (Join to see)
>1 y
maybe they just don't want to see bad P.A's
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SGM Matthew Quick
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6
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In many cases, Soldiers begin their 'training programs' a few weeks prior to the APFT and 'overdue it' causing injuries.

Physical fitness should be a daily ritual and apart of your life...not just something to do a few weeks before an evaluation.
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CPL Paul B.
CPL Paul B.
>1 y
Completely agree with you, I believe in hard work, and perhaps units creating a sort of collaboration of their platoons to promote physical activity after work hours. Not only does it build unit cohesion, but what strengthens their bodies will strengthen the unit as a whole.
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