Is grabbing the PT belt allowed during the sprint drag carry?

2023-04-27T21:38:49-04:00

So for the sprint drag carry, someone told a female in unit grab the straps grab her pt belt and pull with hips. I don't see anything in regs saying you specifically can't. Legal?

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Apr 28 at 2023 5:19 AM

2023-04-28T05:19:29-04:00

Aww... IDK. I would just grab the legs and drag them face down.

Response by COL Randall C. made Apr 28 at 2023 9:31 AM

2023-04-28T09:31:39-04:00

The ATP* specifies only three 'legal' grasps for doing the event. I would not allow it if I were in charge, but there is nothing you're going to come across saying "you can grasp the PT belt as long as you have one of the three authorized grips" (or the other way - "you can't ...").

The only 'intent' shown in the ACFT Field Testing manual* is that 'Devices or equipment that offer any potential for unfair advantage during testing are not authorized'. So the question becomes, "does grasping the belt give an unfair advantage?".

Regulations (and the accompanying ATPs) are generally treated as restrictive ('you can't do it unless it is authorized' or 'these are the guidelines for what is authorized') instead of permissive ('unless it is specifically unauthorized, it is allowed) unless they indicate otherwise.

Many Soldiers (especially the 'barracks lawyers') will always try to push the limits and treat the regs the other way around (as permissive instead of restrictive). Was the comment from one of the "Troops" or was is from someone with authority?

When in doubt, ask for clarification from leadership. If its authorization is ambiguous, it's up to them to decide which is which is which.
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* https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN35869-ATP_7-22.01-002-WEB-5.pdf
* https://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/acft/acft_field_testing_manual_final.pdf

ARN35869-ATP_7-22.01-002-WEB-5.pdf

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2023 10:51 AM

2023-04-28T10:51:25-04:00

Train as you fight. If that's how they see themselves doing it in an actual combat situation where they were dragging a body or a SKED, then I would support it.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 28 at 2023 11:56 AM

2023-04-28T11:56:36-04:00

For a long time there was a debate about running the APFT in bare feet, because there was no specification that running shoes had to be worn. The only people actually debating this were Barracks lawyers. Because AR 670-1 specified running shoes as part of the PFU, and the PT Test (for record) is required to be run in PFU.

I see this as the same basic thing. The ATP specifies the grips and makes no mention of adding a PT Belt. Therefore arguments to use the PT Belt are a non-starter.

I can see the argument, as 1LT Private RallyPoint Member has articulated, about train as you fight. And I would normally agree. I have said, and said OFTEN, that "if it is stupid and it works, it ain't stupid." But in this specific instance, where there is a specified manner in which to perform the event, I would have to say this is not applicable.

Kind of like seatbelts....in Iraq 2003, it was all the rage to drive with no seat belt because "quicker dismount." That VERY quickly came to an end. Just because it is a "combat adaptation" does not necessarily mean we get to ignore very clear rules.