Upon second APFT failure separation is initiated. Is this progress? What are your thoughts?

MAJ (Join to see) Ma'am, I had a Soldier when I deployed who had failed APFT and just as separation proceedings started he would pass. When we deployed, I held him to a standard. He passed the APFT and met the guidelines in AR 600-9 for body fat. As his 1SG I felt it was my duty to help this Soldier grow beyond his own limitations. During counseling it was determined many previous 1SGs promised this Soldier a promotion which he never received and he became disenchanted. Once he passed two APFTs I boarded him and recommended to the CDR that he be promoted. The CDR agreed (knew the Soldiers history well) and he was promoted. This Soldier has maintained his PT program and Height and Weight and has now been promoted another grade.

I related that story to say, each case is still different. We must know our Soldiers, train our Soldiers, and in some cases develop individual plans which allow the Soldier that latitude to succeed. As a CDR you know the burden rests with you. As 1SG I make recommendations, but the responsibility (the blame line) is yours. That said, if Soldiers refuse, malinger, or simply cannot pass APFT, with no injury or illness which would preclude it, then they must be processed out.

Thank you for this question and the opportunity to respond.

I had a Soldier who failed every PT test since AIT. As noted elsewhere, it was virtually impossible to separate a Soldier for this reason during the height of the wars, so he stayed a PFC for five years. No matter what I tried to motivate him, he was always 30 seconds too slow, and/or 3-5 sit ups short.
A year ago, we were mobilizing to go the JTF-HOA. I pulled his NCOs in and explained to them in no uncertain terms that they were going to remedy this problem while we were at JBMDL. In the meantime, we were going to do organized PT for everyone until everyone was a go on PT. He wasn't the only no go, but he was the one that no one thought would pass.
His NCOs brought him to the gym every afternoon. They ran him all over post. They gave him a little "extra love" between training sessions.

Five weeks later, by God he passed. I never saw a troop more happy to pin on SPC rank.

I am glad that he wasn't thrown out. He might not be a career Soldier, but I know that reaching the goals he had when he enlisted, to deploy and accomplish the mission, will be carried with him for life.

How will this be applied to the reserves? 80% of the Army health care strength, is in the reserves. Being a soldier healthcare I can say we are not typically known as PT studs. Our one weekend a month isn't typically enough to keep us in shape so 80-90% of our fitness training is done on personal time. Valuable surgeons, OR nurses, ICU & ER nurses, and other personnel who take many years to train and become competent, and are not easily replaced, and in many cases are in high demand by the Army.
Will you apply the same standards to them, as an 11B infantry? How willing will the Army be to kick out a full bird COL neurosurgeon with 20 years of operating room experience because he/she failed a APFT test?
If you will not kick the neurosurgeon out after two fails, or whatever you set the standard at, then you can not be an advocate for one standard.
Does the surgeon really need to run fast, shoot straight, or carry a heavy load? Or do you want him to cut straight and true around the brain and spine?
----Just being the devils advocate----