Do you wear headphones during unit physical training and physical fitness tests?

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:24:02 -0400

When I first came to an Air Force base and saw Airmen wearing headphones in their PT gear while conducting unit physical training, I lost my mind. Ive never seen that in my career before. Then again, the Marine Corps does not allow you to wear headphones during unit physical training, physical fitness tests, combat fitness tests, etc. You have to be in civilian attire or be PTing by yourself if you want to wear headphones but even that is met with restrictions for many Marine Corps installations have base regulations prohibiting you from wearing headphones while running or biking on roads.

Anyways, I think the Army is somewhat on the lines of this? What about the Navy? How do you Airmen feel about wearing headphones whenever? Marines, do you think our rules are over kill or is it a good thing to keep our image clean?

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made Apr 25 at 2014 6:35 PM

MAJ Steve Sheridan — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:35:27 -0400

You are right, Army does not allow headphones during Unit PT or APFTs.

Only time I've seen Soldiers in PT uniform with headphones is at the gym lifting weights, but not during am PT hours.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 6:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:36:37 -0400

I'm stationed on an Air Force Base and I see it all the time at the Base gym. For the Army to be in our PTs it is prohibited at all times to wear headphones. It is written directly in to the Army Physical Fitness Test regulations that we are not authorized to wear head phones or play music while taking the test. I've seen other soldiers try to do it still, usually when they're working out with their chain of command that's doing the same thing. I've learned that it's easier to talk to the hire ranking one with some tact and remind them and let them take care of it. Otherwise you're asking to start a shouting match with a lot of heavy projectiles around you. A lot of ways people get around it, particularly when you're in a hazard duty pay area, and you're not authorized to wear any civilian clothing, is to wear the tan shirt with the pt shorts. So you're technically not in uniform but you're not in civilian clothes. For Air Force, I'd look up their PT regs on it.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 25 at 2014 6:42 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:42:00 -0400

I think the Air Force regulations are a little lax on the headphone issue. Whether it is a motivational tool or distraction for people doing their workout, it should not be allowed in uniform and especially on the street.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2014 6:03 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 May 2014 18:03:34 -0400

As you noted, the Air Force does allow the use of headphones during physical fitness testing. I am not sure about during unit PT sessions. While they do allow it on the track, most AF Bases do not allow them while running on base. I can understand that rule as it pertains to safety and situational awareness of your surroundings. As for wearing them on the track during the PT test or in the gym during personal training, I think it should be allowed in every branch. Why? If music can motivate me and help me push the extra mile, lift that extra weight, or shave a few seconds off my PT run, so be it.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2014 2:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Aug 2014 02:08:43 -0400

I was allowed to run wearing headphones once and it was far and away the best APFT run time I have clocked to date... though it may have had something to do with the fact that I'd just redeployed from nearly 8,000 ft above sea level Paktya province to 2 ft above sea level Okinawa. Either way, I enjoyed it and wish the Army would change the reg to allow it.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Aug 17 at 2014 6:24 AM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 06:24:23 -0400

I went running once while at Aviano with headphones. In civilian attaire and totaly forgot. I was way away from everybody on the back side of the runway so I only got counciled by one SSGT to not do it again. oops.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2014 6:34 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 18:34:56 -0400

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member we are not authorized to in the Army. We are not authorized on post roads either. You can in the gym though. I enjoy being in the Reserves in that aspect where I can run on my own with headphones elsewhere, though I miss the structure and pt partners. Regardless no music or headphones during pt tests.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2014 4:02 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:02:56 -0500

Yes. Every time. I always wear headphones when working out, and ESPECIALLY on PT tests.

I'm not sure why the Marines don't feel like headphones are unprofessional, especially in light of findings that listening to music improves physical performance.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2014 4:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:24:06 -0500

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member i agree with you, i lost my mund when i was stationed at ROBINS AFB. Headphones in a PT uniform is just nasty. Matter of fact, i had to get familiar with Air Force Instructions to even correct some Airmen that were doing OUTRAGOUS uniform violations that others were too scared to do. One example includes an Airmen with his cap backwards...imagine how well that went when other Airmen said I was too hard on him?!?

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2014 5:55 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 17:55:51 -0500

Though the Air Force does allow use of headphones during fitness tests, I do not use them because they simply are not comfortable. I instead let the music play aloud from my cell phone whilst carrying it in my pocket.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 5:33 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 05:33:54 -0500

I think there are a lot of rules with regards to PT that is overkill.

Headphones should be allowed if you are running on a closed road to vehicular traffic and you are not in a formation run. They should also be allowed if you are in the gym trying to get a workout in, be it during PT time or any other time.

I am deeply disturbed by senior leaders making rules that they believe will keep us being professional without providing deep thought on the matter. i.e. Shaving while on leave or over the weekends; wearing the PT uniform in the gyms on post even on the weekends; no headphones anywhere.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made May 17 at 2015 12:30 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 17 May 2015 12:30:51 -0400

I never wore them doing any type of unit PT or PT test. I was surprised as a BN XO in an Army Reserve unit when the BC brought out a tape player (dating myself) and listened to music during his 2-mile run. Now as I no longer do unit PT, I listen to music all the time when I am working out, running or bicycling. I have always wondered how much music would affect scores, especially on the run. I thought it would be interesting to do a test program at a basic training unit with one company listening to music and another doing it the old school way.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 17 at 2015 12:55 PM

SrA Edward Vong — Sun, 17 May 2015 12:55:16 -0400

I have never had unit PT because of my career field so I'm not sure what the requirements are, but we are allowed to have headphones on while doing the AFPT test on the track. I don't see it as a big deal, as long as it's for the track.

As far as for unit PT, keep it off until the run. I don't think it's a big deal wearing it around base either. I don't see it as unprofessional, or anything. I call it "keeping up with the times". We can't always be too traditional.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2015 3:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 May 2015 03:04:33 -0400

The Army has the same policy as the Marines do, not head phone during unit PT or a PT test. Only in civvies.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made May 27 at 2015 6:46 PM

SrA Matthew Knight — Wed, 27 May 2015 18:46:57 -0400

I wear them usually during the run portion of the PT test, it's nice to have something to distract the mind a bit. As far as running on my own on base, I haven't had any problems in the past. I think as long as you are only using one ear piece you should be fine. Granted I have seen people with them plugged in to both ears. I don't like it unless I am on a track or indoors as I like to be able to hear traffic and such when I am near roadways.

I would say they should be allowed in all branches. Nothing wrong with or unprofessional about listening to music while working out unless you have a PT leader who is giving specific instructions. When we still did large unit PT at Keesler the MTLs (NCOs running the show for new Airmen) allowed us to have iPods/MP3s during the running portions as we really didn't need to hear anything. You just had to have them out for the muscle workouts.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 27 at 2015 11:17 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 27 May 2015 23:17:36 -0400

I personally do use headphones whenever I am doing my PT test, because I feel it helps me push myself a little more. However whether it does or it doesn't I am not too sure because I have ran without them in the past and gotten the same results or sometimes better. Just depends if I forget my headphones that day or not.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 3:30 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Jul 2015 15:30:54 -0400

SSgt, I've never been allowed to wear headphones while PTing. After a while, I trained myself to get used to working out without the aid of music to "psyche" myself up. If I couldn't wear them during the PT test, I figured I would be doing myself a disservice by training with them. Train like you fight!

Response by Wayne Montgomery made Jul 27 at 2016 2:57 AM

Wayne Montgomery — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 02:57:34 -0400

It's great to have music to give you that extra drive when working out. But for the test or general PT I personally don't think it's a good idea. Your not going to have music in the field. That's what OR is for

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Sep 29 at 2022 12:34 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 00:34:08 -0400

I've NEVER worn headphones while running, exercising, working or even walking, in fact I don't even own any and don't plan to either. Also it's pretty hard to hear other sounds You may need to hear to warn You of hazards and its isn't even worth the risk, I always want to be aware of My surroundings. I consider wearing headphones also a safety issue for some of the reasons I mention and not just an image concern.

Response by CMSgt Eric Sanders made Sep 29 at 2022 11:17 AM

CMSgt Eric Sanders — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 11:17:15 -0400

Gunny, I'm not sure about "keeping your image clean", but certain songs or even a podcast while working out can be extra motivation and increase your output. Of course not wearing during initial muster, and possibly restricting to earbuds only would be helpful.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Sep 29 at 2022 10:09 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 22:09:48 -0400

I only wore them on a unit road march. During PT, PAT'S or APFT's, never.

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Sep 30 at 2022 2:02 PM

SPC Brian Mason — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 14:02:44 -0400

Not while in the military. Infantry unit for my first duty station and both deployment and an Armor regiment for my state NG.
Seems the standards for the Chair Force are lower. Even during a PT test, 52 Card Pickup PT, and Medic PT only wired earbuds would stay in the best.
When I do it on my own I have wireless over ear buds and wired over ear buds. I've found that music does help when exercising.
I have yet to see the Army retract and allow it but on your own time do whatever.

Response by LCDR Robert S. made Nov 29 at 2022 12:02 AM

LCDR Robert S. — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:02:32 -0500

As a Navy guy who worked aboard a Marine Corps base, I found the Marine Corps' rules to be overkill. I can see not wearing headphones while running on roads, but the base gym at Quantico prohibited wearing headphones at all. As far as prohibiting wearing headphones during physical fitness tests, unless the run is being held on a course that is open to vehicle traffic, there's no good reason to do so. If you do a few extra reps of an exercise after time expires, the person counting your reps knows not to include them in your score, and if there is any negative effect from wearing headphones while running on a track (or a closed road course) it's so minimal that it doesn't provide enough benefit to make up for the fact that some people perform better while listening to music. If you're trying to measure physical fitness, you want to measure everyone's best possible effort, rather than some people's best results and a less-than-best possible results for others. Likewise, when I was administering PFAs, I would hold separate tests with the run at the track and on the road, if there were people in the command who felt that they could get better results with one or the other.

Response by PO1 John Johnson made Nov 29 at 2022 6:26 AM

PO1 John Johnson — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:26:51 -0500

Wearing headphones (ear buds, etc.) while running is how you get hit by a vehicle that you never saw or heard coming.