Posted on Jan 8, 2015
Does every MOS/Rate need the same level of fitness? What about an MOS/Rate specific PT test or events?
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I really hope this happens. Not all MOS require the same level of Fitness. I wouldn't use it for an promotion packet against all MOSs as it wouldn't be the same for everyone but I would like to see additional events that address some of the specific tasks that are measures of fitness for some MOSs. For infantry I would add pull ups or even a ruck. If you were a mechanics you might have to be able to hand carry a certain weight over a short distance. I would let senior NCOs in that MOS decide what they would require. The Army should not make every MOS have a different tst. This would impossible. But an example of how this would look is that any one in combat arms or in a combat arms unit would be required to perform pulls and a ruck. If you were in a field medical or medical support unit you may have to do a body drag.
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Be advised. The standard should not be LOWERED. The base APFT with 180 should not be lowered. I think it should be higher. I think it should be especially higher for some areas, such as the combat arms. What this would look like is using the standard test for everyone but adding an additional event. So if you are a soldier that doesn't much physical labor you wouldn't be effected by this. If you were a combat engineer in the 82ND you would be required to a bit more.
*****************************EDITED*************************************
Be advised. The standard should not be LOWERED. The base APFT with 180 should not be lowered. I think it should be higher. I think it should be especially higher for some areas, such as the combat arms. What this would look like is using the standard test for everyone but adding an additional event. So if you are a soldier that doesn't much physical labor you wouldn't be effected by this. If you were a combat engineer in the 82ND you would be required to a bit more.
MOS
APFT
Fitness
Edited 9 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 198
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Every branch of our military should maintain the same standards. If you are special forces your standards would increase.
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It should be one standard all the way through, we go through Basic training for what reasons?
To learn the Basics of becoming a soldier and an infantryman.
When the chips fall, that artillery unit has to pick up their weapons and fire at the whites of the enemy say as the infantry, that mechanic will have to draw his M4 or whatever and return fire, same as the infantry.
We should all be held to the same standard regardless of MOS, that's my opinion.
How about we stop trying to make our soldiers weaker and instead try to help our brothers in sisters who are taking their own lives.
That should be the focus of the military at this point in time.
Not "should we make our Joe's weaker?"
Again, my opinion.
-Sgt Hunter
To learn the Basics of becoming a soldier and an infantryman.
When the chips fall, that artillery unit has to pick up their weapons and fire at the whites of the enemy say as the infantry, that mechanic will have to draw his M4 or whatever and return fire, same as the infantry.
We should all be held to the same standard regardless of MOS, that's my opinion.
How about we stop trying to make our soldiers weaker and instead try to help our brothers in sisters who are taking their own lives.
That should be the focus of the military at this point in time.
Not "should we make our Joe's weaker?"
Again, my opinion.
-Sgt Hunter
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CPT (Join to see)
Who are you quoting as saying making their Joe's weaker? I would raise the standard. I also don't understand how everyone in the Army is infantry. We are all soldiers. A lot of the tasks that many perceive to be only infantry are not that. They are generic skills that all soldiers should have. Infantrymen should master them. I don't think a regular should will be on the same level as an infantryman. But then I wouldn't expect an infantry to be as proficient in calling for fire as an FO.
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I'm not in the Army, but I've worked with them in the past. I can't believe this is even a legit idea. I believe if you join the military, then everyone should be fit especially to meet at least the minimum requirements. There should be no debate about if PT should be different because of your job. If you don't like PT for that branch, then join one with less standards.
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CPT (Join to see)
The question really is not about lowering the standards but raising them. Should certain areas in the army have higher standards. A question for seeing you are a corpsman is what fitness test do you take. Do you take the Marine test or the Navy test?
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If anything, they needs to raise the standard not lowered it. We are all needs to perform the same level of Fitness as an Infantryman or Combat Mos to every aspect as much as we can. Train to fight and train to get stronger because deep down all of us are Soldiers first and our priority is to engage and destroy the enemy, whether you like it or not.
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Yes everyone in the military needs to do the same damn pt as a infantryman! The core of what you are as a soldier is a infantry it's what you do, period. If you can't do it then you shouldn't be in. People take advantage of the current pt test as it is and it's embarrassing to stand next to someone that has a belly wider than my height! I'm not the fittest or the skinniest person in the military but I bust my ass to exceed the current standards because I believe we are more. I signed the dotted line and I know what's expected of me as a soldier and a leader.
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CPT (Join to see)
I can say that I have seen the person that shouldn't be in before. But I don't believe that everyone in the Army is an infantryman. I think they are soldiers. Just because I can heat up an MRE doesn't make me a cook. Infantry is a bit more then just returning fire and base defense. I know some soldiers do fall in with infantry and do perform infantry tasks. That is another story.
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Everyone could be infantry at somepoint regardless of mos so I think we should all have the same standard. I mean there are a few specialties that may not get deployed and maybe they could have a lower standard but I mean the standard right now isn't even that hard so I mean how much easier can you really go?
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CPT (Join to see)
I know that is a possibility but even then patrolling is not just an infantry exclusive task. MPs do that too. Know if they were told to attack a insurgent camp or destroy an enemy held base then I could see that. Or even if they manned a COP in the hills of Afghan. Being a FOB is something else.
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SPC(P) Jay Heenan
Generally speaking PFC (Join to see), it would be rare that a non-combat Soldier will do any 'patrolling'. This is however, why Soldiers become proficient in their basic Soldiering skills in the chance that non-combat Soldiers are forced to take part in operations outside their current MOS duties.
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PFC (Join to see)
But my main point is how much easier can the pt test get without us getting too easy? I mean I could see adding mos specific tasks to it in certain situations.
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SSG (Join to see)
We do all have the same basic training... but infantry training is longer and is done consecutively from basic (as opposed to AIT training for noncombat arms). They do not go through the same basic we do.
If it comes down to it, though, if you have a senior enlisted member in your convoy who is going along for a highly technical mission... he's going to likely decline command of the convoy (if he's worthwhile) and have someone who is combat experienced take charge.
Will he fire a weapon if needed? Of course! But don't make the mistake of thinking a power plant engineer is a good fit for combat leadership just because of their rank.
All that being said: the pt test doesn't have to be easier. The question is whether it should fit the realistic requirements of the service member.
If it comes down to it, though, if you have a senior enlisted member in your convoy who is going along for a highly technical mission... he's going to likely decline command of the convoy (if he's worthwhile) and have someone who is combat experienced take charge.
Will he fire a weapon if needed? Of course! But don't make the mistake of thinking a power plant engineer is a good fit for combat leadership just because of their rank.
All that being said: the pt test doesn't have to be easier. The question is whether it should fit the realistic requirements of the service member.
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In the long run this is not a realistic idea. It sounds good idea but in war you may not operate in your MOS. You could be kicking in doors or any number of other missions.
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I am now wondering what will happen to all those hard charging technical and tactical proven troops/leaders who were injured in a previous fights that now cannot perform physically as well as those not having been in a fight yet and who are fully physically capable. Will these new troops not battle proven be able to out promote those that are battle proven leaders because they can do more push ups ?. Lets think about the purpose of promotions and the 5th order of fire.
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CPT (Join to see)
Yes you are right. They will not be able to stay in the military. That is what happens. If you want to be infantry you have to have all 1's in their PULHES. If you can't get that you will be reclassed. This is the difficult choice that someone has to make. If I am not physically able to serve as an infantryman I will let the younger infantryman take my place. If they are not 100% how could you expect them to fight and keep up with the other soldiers in a firefight. If they wanted to reclass to something else like Admin or Support that is what has to happen.
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SFC (Join to see)
makes perfect sense, as far as reclassing, but then not being able to pass PT, will affect promotions, thus us stunting ourselves (army)of great knowledge and leadership influence, how would this serve us all best ?
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CPT (Join to see)
I agree with you but then we already have up and out rules. If we didn't we would have 40 year olds. I am in the Guard and have had an older soldier. He knew more than anyone else on about a bradley but there was no way he could go out and do a ruck. It is the nature of the beast.
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SFC (Join to see)
agreed, Im 55, and blessed I can still limp faster then some who are 30 years younger..
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Yes. Even as. mechanic I was assighned to a rcp. We did the same stuff as the 12bs
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