A soldier asked me if they can take pre work out before a PT test. Can you do that?

keep it simple 800mg ibuprofen and a caffeine pill

I am not aware of any official regulation. I heard of one unit not letting soldiers smoke for an hour before a test but never anything about pre-workout or any other supplement. I would advise testing it out before doing it on one. Give yourself a mock APFT and take pre workout. That way, if it messes up your run, you won't get yourself flagged or something.

When I was a fitness monitor, we did not allow anything prior other than straight water. I'm sure it varies from command to command (unless there is a specific reg regarding such). Our thought was that we didn't want them taking anything that would alter their performance that wouldn't readily be available to them in the field.

Go ahead. It will just make you itchy and puke on the run.

I'm a Marine. Puts hands on hips and in a load roar laughs.

As a leader I would advise him to be cautious, and ask what type he is taking. Realistically he can do whatever he wants, telling the Soldier no is not enforceable. Its only 4 minutes of exercise and a little 2 mile run. The Soldier shouldn't need supplements to perform this, and if the Soldier is in decent shape, or takes the pre-workout regularly it will have a negligible effect. I would only be concerned about a raised heart rate during the run.

Good question. I honestly don't know. I would think this would be a question answered by a Master Fitness Trainer and a Nutritionist.

Yeah, you can. But you'd be an idiot. Preworkout supplements weren't made for endurance, they were made for slight bursts, they were made for lifting. If you're looking for endurance, build up to the training over two months with increasing difficulty, take it easy from 3 days before the event, drink a Pedialyte throughout the day with water the day before, and there you go.

It's a PT test. If you need a preworkout for a PT test that is sad. I was maxing my PUs and SUs and scoring 70+ on the run at 5'9" 215 pounds and 18 percent body fat. Guys that take a PW before a PT test are the same ones that say they save energy on the the PUs and SUs so they can do good on the run!!

Took a powered substance that a friend called "Agent Orange" before a pt test. Not sure what it was, didnt ask questions, I was always weak at pt and wanted any edge I could get. Drank this stuff, which was terrible, drove to base and waited around for the test to begin. By this time i was looking for heavy furniture to move! Did my best ever on the push ups and sit ups, started the run and made it 500 yds feeling like GOD! then it was 2 min of puking my guts out. Finished the run with about 30 sec to spare. Felt like shit the rest of the day. I never used that stupid shit again!