Posted on Apr 6, 2020
Can a squad leader make us come in on our days off for 0600 PT & 1600 Remedial PT?
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Hello! I was wondering if there is a regulation on the amount of hours of PT we can do for PT a week, as my Squad leader has all APFT failures do PT 3 times a day Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 2 times a day Tuesday and Thursday, and 1 time Saturday with Sunday being the only "rest" time, I don't mean to sounds like a sh*t bag but I feel (along with the others in the group) that the excess amount of PT is causing more pain the helping, I failed my run by a minute and 8 Secs (Need a 15:54 got a 17:02) first diagnostic before all this PT I brought it down to a 16:04 then all the PT hit and I am going UP I went to a 16:32, then a 16:42, I feel a lot of pain and I want to bring this up to my Squad Leader but I'd like to have some type of Regulation or Command Policy that will back me up if possible, if they're is none, is there any advice on how I should go about making contact?
Edit: I see a lot of backlash, I just want to push that I am not trying to complain or anything like that, I am new to the Army and not sure exactly what is allowed and what isn't, as a private it's very nerve racking asking to speak to my squad leader. Thank you.
Edit: I see a lot of backlash, I just want to push that I am not trying to complain or anything like that, I am new to the Army and not sure exactly what is allowed and what isn't, as a private it's very nerve racking asking to speak to my squad leader. Thank you.
PRT (Army)
Squad Leader
Failure
Army Regulations
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 33
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You are in the Commanders remedial PT program. If they want you to workout on weekends, you work out on weekends. If you dont like working out on weekends, pass your next APFT.
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SGT Joseph Meyer
Agree with the comments about passing the next APFT. However Also Applaud you for asking for information and regulations. Means you respect the system. This situation is perhaps one of those where there may not be a written rule or reg but instead falls under the catch all...”at the commanders’ discretion” clause that gives a degree of latitude to the leader in some situations. Yours currently being one of those situations.
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**Update**
I spoke with my Squad Leader and he actually understood, while also pushing his points AND directing me to the policy letter, he stated he would like to have a meeting with everyone else in the squad that is also in Remedial PT, to discuss further PT plans as to not strain us or injure us. Overall I am actually proud of myself for being able to use my chain of command, and help out fellow soldiers who were confused and wanted answers. Thanks to all who replied and gave me tips and/or criticism, it helped out either way! HOOAH!
I spoke with my Squad Leader and he actually understood, while also pushing his points AND directing me to the policy letter, he stated he would like to have a meeting with everyone else in the squad that is also in Remedial PT, to discuss further PT plans as to not strain us or injure us. Overall I am actually proud of myself for being able to use my chain of command, and help out fellow soldiers who were confused and wanted answers. Thanks to all who replied and gave me tips and/or criticism, it helped out either way! HOOAH!
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CW2 (Join to see)
Well done. That looks like way too much PT and it'll cause injuries. The answer is to do the right PT not more PT. PRT sucks and is ineffective, but implementing more targeted PT and a plan for each Soldier will make results.
Good on your SL to understand and make corrections.
Good on your SL to understand and make corrections.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PV2 (Join to see) Thank you for your positive actions with the SL and for the feedback to RP!
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Dude, you failed a PT Test. Your squad leader is doing his job as an NCO to ensure his soldiers are PT’ing since you failed to do so on your own along with your other squad members. This isn’t out of line at all. What you should be doing instead of complaining, is making the most out of it and pushing yourself to your limit every time you PT. For the pain, you probably have weak form and bad running shoes. Go invest in some actual shoes and look up videos on how to improve running form, I suffer from the same thing after my Ranger School injury. Long story short, do the PT, pass your PT Test, and don’t let yourself fail another. They're pretty easy, and if you fail again within 3 months, you will be removed from the Army. So let that be some motivation for you.
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PV2 (Join to see)
Hooah! SGT, Not trying to complain, I'm just the only one with courage in the group to speak to my Squad Leader about it, I just feel as if he doesn't understand TOO MUCH PT can & will hurt people. I'm just trying to find info and see through his eyes before I speak with him.
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SSgt (Join to see)
I see both fronts as an E5 squad leader. It's the SL's job to ensure people get better and he has every resource and right to do what he's doing, especially with remedial. At the same time there is a proper amount of recovery time to reap the fruits of labor to gain muscle. If the SL knows his stuff he should be alternating days and muscle groups. If you pound every muscle group intensely and constantly you will cause injuries. It should be a rotation of upper body one day, abs and running the next. Alter like that allowing 1 part of our body to rest does wonders. I led remedial PT and every one of my guys passed within a month doing twice a days
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SSgt (Join to see)
as a side note PRT does nothing for the most part. It's warm up exercises. To gain and not need a bunch of equipment good old fashion PT is how you get strong
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SPC Nancy Greene
Definitely Agree! However; remedial PT should be a means to an end & situation specific & individualized. I utilized aquatic fitness as a means to rehabilitate & maintain fitness standards; both while on Active Duty & as a civilian...water has extremely positive results & inherent healing powers (both physically & psychologically. just my two cents, personally & professionally SSgt (Join to see)
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Read your commanders policy letter on PRT, there should be a section in it that outlines their requirements for the program and when it can and can not be conducted. If you don't want to put in the extra work, don't fail.
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In a nutshell, if the Commander has a policy stating that is the plan of action for Remedial PRT....then YES your Squad Leader can have you come in for PRT on your days off.
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Your commander should have a policy letter on the remedial PT program, ask to see that
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NO Fool, He can just wait till you flunk again and then ask the Commanders to flunk /chapter your non soldiering butt out of the Army! Good God, YOU flunked and the chain is trying to get you up to speed and you want to whine about it. He is trying to get you trained up, Jesus- show me in your F*^(%#@ contract where is specifies a 5 day work week and I'll kiss your 4th POC.
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SGM Bill Frazer
PV2 (Join to see) - Tony It was harsh and I should not have blown my stack so bad- but then I'm and old Abn Rgr Grunt and pain let us know that we are alive. You should be able to bring almost anything and everything up to your NCO's. Questions build knowledge, when there is time asking Why- can let you see a different world. Approach respectfully, have laid out your reasons before hand. and discuss -NO arguing. In this case- you could show that in spite of the extra PT, your running times are getting worse. Gee SL, what can I do? Keep driving on Yougun.
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SFC Jeremy Boyd
SGM Bill Frazer I do get where you are coming from SGM, and my reply on your post was probably a bit passive aggressive as well in retrospect, and I do apologize for that. I came in in 1998, and I think because my 20 years in the Army straddled the time where old school and new school collided, I see both sides of the issue to be equally valid. As Shannon Sharpe is fond of saying all the time, "two things can be true." The young Soldier does need to adhere to and maintain the Army standard in all things, PT included, but also there has to be an effective plan in place by his leadership if they are implementing a remedial program. A plan that is detrimental to the Soldiers and is causing injury is no plan worth having in my book. Call me weak sauce, but 14 PT sessions total in a week and only one recovery day seems counterproductive. Just my two cents.
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SFC Jeremy Boyd
SGM Bill Frazer I also agree that Soldiers should exhaust all research options before asking. I always tried that approach first and still do. In that regard I fully agree that he should have checked regulatory guidance, then the company message board, then went up the NCO Channel before asking on here.
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Yes they can, especially if the commander has directed a remedial PT program be conducted for failures and special population troops look at the PT manual and AR 350-1,...….However, PT 3 times a day is not wise, unless the Squad leader has done a very good job of targeting muscle groups; which would be hard to do. A component of PT is recovery. If you do not plan a balanced program you end up injuring Soldiers and actually lowering their fitness level. Talk to the PSG and 1SG. Sounds like SGT high speed, means well but may be misguided.
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You should tell him "NO!" - Let us know how that works for you. Pretty sure the CO & 1SG are aware he's taking his time after hours to be there with you.
Could your low scoring have anything to do with you being unmotivated to improve yourself thus your NCO has to make you do the additional PT?
Could your low scoring have anything to do with you being unmotivated to improve yourself thus your NCO has to make you do the additional PT?
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PV2 (Join to see)
Hooah SFC! I will tell my SL "No" and let you know how long my counseling is..All jokes aside and You are right SFC when I first got to Korea I was a bit unmotivated and missed my family, another side note I missed is I was never given a diagnostic to see where I was at, so I was unaware that the air here would actually hinder my PT score, even the PT stud I came here with saw a huge drop in his score (Went from a 290 to a 220), But either way SFC, I wake up everyday motivated and ready for my orders, I refuse to quit. I try my hardest to not only motivate myself but my battle buddies to the left and right of me.
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SFC Ralph E Kelley
PV2 (Join to see) - I've been to Korea also and the mountains will kick your ass. They still do 'Warrior Walk' loaded with all your basic load, week worth's gear and team share of weapons load-out and BII?
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