Posted on Feb 28, 2014
Gauging performance on alternate events for the APFT.
18K
3
5
0
0
0
Soldiers taking the Army Physical Fitness Test must take and pass three events: the push up, the sit up, and the 2-mile run, unless they have an approved physical profile. For the Army, we have alternate aerobic events; there is an option for a 2.5 mile walk, 800 meter swim, or 6.2 mile bike test. Unlike the run, these events are pass/fail and are not assigned a score based on performance. Do you think the Army should establish a scale to score these events, or is it better to have them as pass/fail?
Posted in these groups: 
APFT
PRT (Army)
APFT PRT (Army)
Edited 10 y ago
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 3
2
2
0
They should definitely grade these events. There's no point in trying to bust your butt when barely passing and blowing it away net you the same results.
(2)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
I have P2 no run profile. For my age bracket the time limit on the 2.5 mile walk is 37:30. I always average around 29 minutes for the event and get the same "pass" as the guys who finish in 37+.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
I do not see why there can not be an established scale for the alternate event. In the NCOES they use the average of the P/up & s/up events to allow all individuals compete for honors, either adopt that for across the board scoring or develop a scale so that those with a P2 could conceivably receive a better rating on their NCOERs.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
For the run, it averages out to be about 1 point per every 4.5 seconds under you finish. Why not do something similar for the alternate events? In my age group, the max for the walk is 37:30. If you finish in 37:30, you get 60 points. triple the time to 1 point for every 12 seconds under. So if you finish the walk in 29:30 you "max" that event. If you've ever done the walk, you know you have to be really humping it to finish in under 30 minutes.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Leave them as pass fail. If you can't do one of the required events your score shouldn't matter. Just pass. I know too many high ranking officers and ncos that have permanent profiles and still get promoted. If push ups, situps, and running 2 miles are so important, a profile should be the same as a fail.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google