Do the chain of command have the authority to make a soldier take an APFT every month if their score is not 250 and above?

2016-04-27T09:47:06-04:00

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 9:50 AM

2016-04-27T09:50:52-04:00

Heck No, Army standard is 60% every event. That makes 180. Soldiers are highly encouraged to score and achieve higher than the standard but if someone meets the requirements then they are good for those 6 months or 1 year.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Apr 27 at 2016 9:52 AM

2016-04-27T09:52:14-04:00

Yes... The Soldier needs to count this as a blessing because most units would have chapter the Soldier out of the Army after the third attempt.

Response by SPC John Van Valkenburgh made Apr 27 at 2016 9:53 AM

2016-04-27T09:53:18-04:00

They can do a diagnostic APFT pretty much whenever they want. As often as they want.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Apr 27 at 2016 9:53 AM

2016-04-27T09:53:57-04:00

Put it on the training calendar or make it part of a unit SOP for physical fitness improvement program and you bet.

Wake up each morning and think...today? ya why not.. Sure that too.. though the first is a much more professional and organized way to see results.
The APFT as a standalone event is a terribly physical training event.....so doing that event as the days physical training is a waste of time.

Using a Diag APFT monthly as a measure of general fitness to determine if the SM should continue with remedial PT would be best done in a positive light ... I would (did) make it optional monthly .. the program had a Diag set for 90 days after entering the remedial PT program... If a SM wanted to opt out of the remedial program, they could request a APFT.

Correctly resourcing an APFT monthly is a huge waste of time unless there is a valid need.. Like say you are running an HHBN at teh DIV or CORPS level, and in order to cycle through all that leadership and supporters with a record APFT annually, you may need to due one each week for 3 months, or one a month for 6 months.

In theory the HHBN company commander is in charge and has the authority to stop all daily business and order a Company APFT . The reality is, life at the DIV or CORPS level does not stop for anything... Taskings, info requirements, reports due, investigations ordered from higher all still come pouring in every hour, of every day. And that takes the primary staff, the department chiefs,. the other leaders, and all of the supporting staff to some degree.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 9:56 AM

2016-04-27T09:56:51-04:00

I will answer this with a statement. My BN CDRs command is all Soldiers scoring less than 70% in each event will take a diagnostic every month until they reach 70%.

Response by CPT Charles Creed made Apr 27 at 2016 9:56 AM

2016-04-27T09:56:56-04:00

Diagnostics all day. For record should be for a reason: you're due your annual, school, promotion points/board, etc.

Response by SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz made Apr 27 at 2016 9:57 AM

2016-04-27T09:57:08-04:00

Forget the score... What as a leader do you prefer to have, an average Soldier or an excellent one? Kudos to that unit.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 10:02 AM

2016-04-27T10:02:08-04:00

Active Army and AGR Soldiers are required to take 2 RECORD APFTs per year. There is a minimum requirement for 4 months in between them. Reserve Soldiers are required to take only one, but most commanders have a requirement for them to do it twice. Diagnostic APFTs are a commander's tool to gauge a unit's fitness. They can be administered as many times as they feel the need to.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Apr 27 at 2016 10:07 AM

2016-04-27T10:07:20-04:00

Technically, the commander can have as many diagnostic APFTs as he/she deems appropriate.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-04-27T10:35:14-04:00

answered your own question...Chain of Command...

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 10:36 AM

2016-04-27T10:36:18-04:00

That is why it is termed...Chain of Command.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Apr 27 at 2016 11:40 AM

2016-04-27T11:40:48-04:00

Command can make a soldier take a diagnostic PT test as many times as they want.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 11:49 AM

2016-04-27T11:49:02-04:00

Not a record APFT, those are only allows twice a year.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 12:11 PM

2016-04-27T12:11:23-04:00

If they say so....the reg requires it twice a year. Just remember..... You can add to a reg but cant take away. Personally i dont think its a good idea but hey....who am I?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 12:36 PM

2016-04-27T12:36:38-04:00

Nothing saying they can't, however so long as you pass the records they can't hold a failed diagnostic against you in terms of separations process or admin flags. However, they do have the authority to set unit specific PT standards and quite a bit of pain and suffering can be induced over it. You are bound by UCMJ and refusal of a lawful order, like taking an APFT, would be grounds for an article 15 action at a minimum which could include an admin reduction in rank.

Easy answer would be just to get a 250 to make your life easier, reflect better on your NCOER, and benefit your career overall. Getting a 250 isn't all that hard, and being that soldiers start to bottleneck in the E-5-E-6 promotion time frame because slots have to open it'll help ensure you are promoted on time.

Edit: However, if they do try something squirrely like slapping an admin flag on your despite you meeting height and weight standards and having a passing record APFT, that is a breach of regulations and you'd have a leg to stand on to fight that.

Response by SGT William Howell made Apr 27 at 2016 2:39 PM

2016-04-27T14:39:19-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member Just a heads up. "Do" is not "Does", but it needs to be.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 4:54 PM

2016-04-27T16:54:18-04:00

I want to know why?

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 27 at 2016 6:29 PM

2016-04-27T18:29:41-04:00

Unless the organization is taking personnel time from these troops I do not understand the issue. Fitness is the foundation for a the stamina required in a combat environment. Not sure that would be my approach but it sounds effective. What about units that do a monthly 25 mile ruck, or a weekly ten miler and on!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2016 8:31 PM

2016-04-27T20:31:38-04:00

Reservist and NG once a year but the commanders can deem fit to have diagnostics however many they like if their standards are 70 or more in each event.

Response by PV2 Robert Bowne made Apr 27 at 2016 8:55 PM

2016-04-27T20:55:43-04:00

from what i understand is that if it is done under the proper authority / Regulations , then yes they would have the authority to do so.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Apr 28 at 2016 4:22 AM

2016-04-28T04:22:51-04:00

Ha! In my day, sometimes 1 a week/while in Garrison, & the Unit standard was 270. But, getting a 270 doesn't mean you can take 110# ruck, full gear, & weapon system & march 12 hours straight. It(score) was just so you could pass Promo's & enter schools, which never came since we spent 90% of our time in the field/deployed.

So, having a high APFT was pretty much mout for 95% of the unit.

Response by SFC John Hill made Apr 28 at 2016 10:14 AM

2016-04-28T10:14:13-04:00

See AR 350-1 Training-Army Training and Leader Development; Appendix G–9. Physical readiness training
Para d (2) Commanders may establish unit APFT and PRT mission related goals which exceed Army minimum standards. Personnel who meet Army minimum standards, but fail to meet unit goals, may not be punished or disciplined. However, they may be required to participate in special conditioning programs which focus on overcoming a weakness.
Para m (2) Commanders may administer the APFT as often as they wish; however, they must specify beforehand when the results are for record.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2016 6:05 PM

2016-04-28T18:05:52-04:00

A diagnostic APFT, yes. If you are familiar with FM 7-22 (particularly part 2, Strategy), it states that the APFT should be used as an indicator of how effective the PRT program is.
If a Soldier is falling short of the Unit goal, taking additional APFT's shouldn't be the plan to help them achieve the standard. Adapting the PRT program as a whole in order to improve the areas where the Soldier is falling short should be the long term goal.

The Commander can also require a Soldier to be taped, even if they are within weight screening guidelines... (AR 600-9 Chapter 3-2 e)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2016 7:46 PM

2016-04-28T19:46:14-04:00

AR 350-1 states a record APFT will be given no less than 4 months and no more than 8 months. A CDR can have you do 2 minutes of pushups, 2 minutes of situps, and run a mile everyday if they wanted to.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 28 at 2019 6:46 PM

2019-06-28T18:46:52-04:00

reference this

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2020 1:15 PM

2020-03-06T13:15:30-05:00

No. The regulation is very clear. Twice a calendar year for Active Duty and AGR. Once a calendar year for Reserve.
Failures mat be tested at greater intervals.

Response by 1SG Ernest Stull made Apr 27 at 2020 8:22 AM

2020-04-27T08:22:20-04:00

Yes the CoC because because it's training , and as long as its on the training schedule then you are doing it as training.