Posted on Oct 24, 2015
AR 600-9, is leadership doing their part to ensure compliance?
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As a young Private fresh outta high school and joining the military I was a little out of shape to say the least. I joined at 25% body fat and 30 lbs over weight. I had to be tapped every time a pt test was done and was on the verge of getting kicked out of the Army. Until I stepped it up and got my weight under control thank you to no one but myself. Now I see all kinds of people who are obviously over weight are not on any profiles, but refuse to better themselves and have a professional appearance while in uniform. Of course there are certain things that can play a role in someone not being able to lose weight but what about having no will to fall within the Army standards and the soldier still gets away with it because the leadership doesn't do their part? It's frustrating to see a soldier unwilling to put the effort to get right and the leadership lets them slide by. How do we fix this within the military?!
AR 600-9
Leadership
Readiness
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 12
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SSG (Join to see) at 31 years old, after losing 88lbs, I joined at 23% fat. For joining at my age, the max body fat required is 28%. With that amount of pounds lost, I have loose skin at my belly which makes it uncomfortable, to say the least, every time I get taped. I was just taped this last Thursday, 6 times, yes, you didn't read wrong. The first 3 times my PSG didn't know where to tape me and kept saying it wasn't fair because you can tell from the rest of my body that I do workout a lot but my belly skin just doesn't get tighter. Imaging how frustrated I get when I see somebody out of shape and I'm here working twice or three time harder just to pass the tape. I care for myself, I work for myself, I can't fix the system, less at my rank. So, until I have responsibility over someone, I'll keep working on getting myself better and showing that there's no excuses to be out of regs.
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SSG (Join to see)
Congratulations losing that weight, I will tell you though I tape about 23 percent, but I do not look that big. My pt score is always high good thing I am 49 years old, but my point is if that is 23 percent then we need to evaluate what we are doing. I see soldier all the time on the weight control program that are not nearly that big.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) I have a friend in the ABCP that I refuse to think my body fat % is lower than his. His neck is just too small for his body, he looks skinny. When he told me he got flagged, I was really surprised and suddenly understood all the discussions posted here related to the topic.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see) thanks! If Tricare doesn't cover it, then I'll save to pay it myself. After all I've been working out, if the skin hasn't get tighter at this point is really hard to believe it will get better.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT(P) (Join to see) - yeah that is why I think the military needs to either re evaluate their system or at the very least throw the current standard away because it is not even close to accurate. I know of situations where a soldier actually gains weight to make tape to increase their ne k size, and it works because their waiste is not being taped properly
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Call the shot, just as you are doing SSG (Join to see). You will see some Leaders are more concerned with not wanting to hurt feelings because they may feel the Trooper might go to the IG or EO route while it is a failure of leadership to not enforce the standards. Those same Leaders are actually hurting those that do meet the standards because they are not calling the shot on the mediocre troops. When you have the shot, take it!
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SSG (Join to see)
CSM, I couldn't have said it better! I've told many people before and I'll keep telling them. I'm not here to make friends I'm here to service this great nation of ours and do it proudly and coherently. If I make friends along the way there the true friends I need in my life. I'll take every shot I can CSM!
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LTC Eric Coger
A lot of people are pretty short-sighted on hurt feelings. My 1SG and I enforced the standards and as a result of chaptering out quite a few Soldiers who were not making the standard, we ended up having the highest re-up rate in 10th MTN Division, during the surge, in garrison, with most opting to stabilize at Fort Drum. Top Soldiers want to be around other top Soldiers and they want to see fair and equal application of published standards.
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I understand what you are trying to say that it's all up to the person to decide how they look like in uniform. I think the main concern is the standards itself. I can pass the pt test no problem with flying colors and still get taped. I think that the standards need to be changed. It needs to be accurate. I'm considered over weight due to having more muscle than fat in my body. It doesn't make sense to me at all. I'm just heavy for my height. 5"6 180lbs. Average 280 above pt test but still get taped. I really do think it's the standards.
But I do see obese soldiers who don't care at all and still slide due to favoritism. But that's none of my business. One day right will overcome wrong doings and it'll catch up to those that don't care. Karma will catch up!
But I do see obese soldiers who don't care at all and still slide due to favoritism. But that's none of my business. One day right will overcome wrong doings and it'll catch up to those that don't care. Karma will catch up!
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree if your pt score is above 260 leave the tape alone. The army has their pt test which is used by commanders to determine fitness, if a soldier does well leave them alone. The tape test is not accurate anyway all you have to do is go to the wellness center and you will find out how jacked up it is
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT Kristin Wiley - everyone is different and I agree with you bit at the same time we need to understand that taping a soldier is not nearly as accurate as looking at the pt test which is the army standard to determine fitness correct?
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SSG (Join to see)
I agree I get taped also but it seems like my hips are what gets taped not my waste
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