Adding pull ups to the APFT. Any thoughts?

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 08:24:47 -0400

Just a question to the community... How would you feel if the Army added pull ups to the APFT? Why or why not?

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made Apr 23 at 2015 8:30 AM

CW5 Jim Steddum — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 08:30:06 -0400

It is related to the strength required to do what we might actually need to do in combat... climb an obstacle and the like.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 10:26 AM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 10:26:19 -0400

No, I do pull ups on my own. They can't get the current APFT right! Let them fix the current mess before adding more fuel to the fire.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Apr 23 at 2015 11:08 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 11:08:37 -0400

Maybe for those who serve in a combat role.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Apr 23 at 2015 1:40 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:40:47 -0400

The USMC uses pull-ups for our PFT.

For males, Min 3, max 20. For females it had traditionally been the dead-arm hang with a timer. They are transitioning to a pull-up however, with Min 3, max 8.

You'll note that the Normalized Deviation for upper body strength between Males & Females when using this Test is HUGE.

This is not about STANDARDS. This is about FITNESS. The test measures FITNESS. A Female doing 8 Pull-ups is at the same "theoretical" fitness level as a Male doing 20 Pull-ups, for upper body strength.

That said, the deviation is massive. Trying to institute this in the Army would be insane.

The Push Up, has a much "narrower" deviation as a test between genders.

When you are trying to measure Fitness, you want to keep these tests as simple as possible, as universal as possible, and remove as many arguments as possible.

Response by SSG John Erny made Apr 23 at 2015 1:55 PM

SSG John Erny — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 13:55:49 -0400

We had to do them to Pass Airborne School, ten pull ups if my memory serves me.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 23 at 2015 4:56 PM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Apr 2015 16:56:30 -0400

Why? We aren't enforcing the standards we have now. The three event APFT is constantly failed across the board, active and reserve, but we do very little about it. So what benefit is adding another event?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 5:44 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 17:44:14 -0400

It will make me look better

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2015 6:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 18:00:27 -0400

The problems with adding pull ups are one having pull up bars everywhere. We just don't have them right now all you need is a 2 mile track or a bit of road that you know the distance of 2 miles there is no equipment needed you can do a pt test almost anywhere. also the pull up does not have a very large range of what is poor and what is excellent. I think the push up does a good job with upper body. If I was going to add something I would add a ruck. but I don't see a problem with the PT test that we have now.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Apr 25 at 2015 6:07 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Sat, 25 Apr 2015 18:07:30 -0400

Yes, they should require it. Air Force does not, or did not when I went through basic. Then I had to do 10 to get into a new career field. I hadn't done one since I was in school.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 26 at 2015 5:40 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 05:40:23 -0400

I think that, perhaps, I don't understand the question. Are we discussing the addition of pull-ups to the APFT because they are not currently included at all (GASP!) or adding more pull-ups?

Response by Capt Jeff S. made May 28 at 2015 2:55 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Thu, 28 May 2015 14:55:22 -0400

It's easy for a fat-body to do push-ups, but when they have to hang on a bar and pull that weight up, different story. Would be a good way to insure that the "lean and mean" float to the top on PT scores. You have to be able to run to the fight and fight when you get there.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Jun 26 at 2016 12:33 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 12:33:27 -0400

Not having been there, my comments are purely academic, but if I were in a combat situation the required someone to haul my injured butt out of the line of fire, I would want someone that has the upper body strength to do so.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Feb 7 at 2019 6:58 PM

CW4 Craig Urban — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 18:58:06 -0500

Yes