Does every MOS/Rate need the same level of fitness? What about an MOS/Rate specific PT test or events?

It seems like I'm seeing a lot about "one standard", "everyone's an infantryman first", etc. So I would just pose this question... is that just within the Army or within the military in general? The reason I ask that is because I have read numerous comment about maintaining that military standard, military readiness, military fitness, so on and so forth. If that's the case, then I would argue we're already failing in that regard by having four different fitness standards, one in each service, in addition to the added requirements for the Special Operations community. I'm sure you could argue that the reason this disparity exists is because each service chief has looked at their service's mission and set a minimum fitness standard that they believe is necessary to accomplish that mission. If that argument holds for why the different services have different requirements than why would that same argument be invalid for different branches within the Army?

A few other thoughts, when you look at the increasing nature of Joint and Combined units in the military today, the missions aren't even that different, especially with what we've been doing the last 13 years. Take a large Role III facility down range, say Kandahar or Bagram. Inside that facility you are likely to have Army Medics, Navy Corpsman, and Air Force Medics all doing the same job, treating the same people, yet with three different minimum fitness standards. This example doesn't just apply to the medical field though. Different pilots of different services all on the same airfield, flying the same aircraft with different standards. Army and Marine artilleryman with different standards. My point isn't to insist that we should all be the same, just merely to point out that these variances already exist within our military.

As far as the logistics or conducting multiple different PT tests within a unit, I agree that it would be more difficult than it is currently, but if you talk to any of your fellow service members assigned to a Joint or Combined command you will realize that they are already doing that successfully.

If this were something that were actually to happen, I feel like a different test by CMF or Branch vice MOS would be the best way to go. It wouldn't be quite as troublesome as each MOS having their own and I feel like the physical requirements for the different MOS's within each CMF/Branch are more or less the same regardless of the actual MOS within that Branch.

What ever happened to every soldier is an infantryman first? When I joined the Army back in 1980 that was the mantra! Though the tactics have evolved over the years because our enemies have "changed" the USSR is no longer with us in its former status but Russia lives on. The battle field is dynamic and you never know where the enemy will strike! Everyone everywhere is a target. Why not train everyone to be prepared and fight back? Give everyone a fighting chance and train them properly.

Every Soldier must be prepared to fight for his or her life and unit. To accomplish the mission! It starts with training their bodies and minds. They must be physically fit and technically proficient at their MOS' , AFSC' etc.

Anything less would be a poor rating on an OPR or NCOER. Leadership would be letting soldiers down if they lowered standards. They already have higher standards for Special Forces.

Lowering the standard does nothing but lower the quality of the Army as a whole. Train harder if needed, don't lower the standard.

When a deployment comes around the possibility of a base mostly smaller and more isolated ones run the risk of being overrun and if that happens then everyone no matter the MOS becomes infantry and should pick up there weapon and fight off the enemy and should be able to perform any and all duties that could come with a firefight such as picking up or dragging wounded that could weigh anywhere from 200-300 LBS with all there gear on or have good enough cardio strength or endurance to run in full kit to different fighting positions and lowering the standards for different MOS'S doesn't make me as a infantryman feel comfortable going out on patrol with attachments of other MOS'S

So if you're in an HHC will you have to run and tabulate different tests and scores for each MOS? "Infantry here! Armor over here! Admin line up over there. Light Wheel Mechanics there. Chaplin??? Well Sir, do what you want I suppose."

The practicality is impossible. Also remember, at the core, we are all Soldiers. In combat the enemy doesn't ask what your MOS is, they just shoot or blast you. Remember Jessica Lynch? She was "just" a supply clerk. As a Soldier one must be proficient in all aspects of soldiering, and have a base level of field-craft, one of which is good fitness.

A combat fitness test seems appropriate for Infantry units seems legit, hell even the Marines are doing it...we can't let them have all the glory.

I feel that that is an awful idea. As a 91 series I would hate to see what our pt test would consist of.

The Dictionary says, "Physical fitness can be defined as a general state of health and well-being or more specifically as the ability to perform aspects of sports or occupations. Physical fitness is generally achieved through correct nutrition, exercise, hygiene and rest. It is a set of attributes or characteristics seen in people and which relate to the ability to perform a given set of physical activities".

My opinion is regardless of what organization a person is in I think everyone should have some form of fitness. Being healthy is not a bad thing.

Even being 1 pound overweight can present problems for anyone. Obesity can help explain some conditions people may have, such as: High blood pressure, Heart disease and stroke, Type 2 diabetes, High cholesterol, Joint problems caused by extra weight, Trouble breathing, including sleep apnea, in which you briefly stop breathing while you're asleep and Gallstones.

Being healthy is GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Army could have approached their downsizing plan almost solely on fitness levels. We know so much today than we did ever before on not only what a fit, healthy body is, but also how to get there. The Army, and perhaps the entire US Military, IMO, has always been decades behind understanding. Even the food in our chow halls has the potential to be awful with all of the unhealthy options available.

With that, one standard, a hard standard, that involves a test of strength and mobility, and better food in the chow hall would not only reduce numbers significantly, but also in the long hall reduce health expenses.

There should be one standard male and female. End of story the military is not for every man or women. You receive 2 fails in a row you get put on probation and have a choice of going to a camp to work on your physical ability and PT and if you still can't pass. Your gone. No exception it will include all lvls of officers and NCO alike
However what I think should happen will never happen because there is to many politics and to many people that would complain about it not being fair

Every Marine a rifleman.