Grading the Push-Up event on the APFT with incorrect push ups?

2015-03-23T17:03:38-04:00

If you are grading the Push-Up event and the Soldier you are grading does the first 2 push-ups correctly and on the 3rd one the Soldier doesn't perform it correctly, as a grader, what do you do? Tell him "go lower" and not count that rep and let him continue or tell him to stop, have him go to his knees, explain his deficiencies and send him to the end of the line to be retested?

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Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 8:00 PM

2015-03-23T20:00:09-04:00

The way I've seen it done, CSM Private RallyPoint Member, is that you tell the Soldier to go lower and explain that the unsatisfactory repetition doesn't count. When counting, it would be 1, 2, 2 (explain why - "Must go lower") ... and allow the Soldier to continue. That's the way I've seen it done.

If all ten of the first ten pushups are done incorrectly, I would follow the instructions highlighted in your image: Stop the Soldier, tell them to go to their knees, explain the problem, and send them to the end of the line.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2015 9:27 PM

2015-03-23T21:27:34-04:00

I tell them to go lower and explain as they are doing the push up. If they don't correct it, I will stop them before 10.
I usually have them do 1 or 2 push ups before I start to correct their form before the clock starts 1SG

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2015 6:20 PM

2015-03-25T18:20:23-04:00

1SG Essig. Great post. The correct way is if at ANY time during the first 10 push ups you have to repeat ANY number, You are to tell the Soldier to go to his/her knees and explain what the Soldiers is doing incorrectly. If not, you risk not having the soldier doing an excessive amount of incorrect push ups during their first attempt. It is nearly impossible to keep up with the number of incorrect push ups and the number if total push ups simultaneously.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 10:22 AM

2015-03-27T10:22:48-04:00

I have had numerous people tell me I am too strict when grading pushups. I hate people that don't "break the plane" or "return to the start position," IE lock their elbows in the up position. Maybe I am, but I feel proper form is important.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Mar 27 at 2015 10:27 AM

2015-03-27T10:27:21-04:00

This is what I do and it aint text book or anything. When they come to my line before the get ready command I ask them to do one push up for me. If it was good, I say make them all like that, if its not I tell them whats wrong. Then we go from there. Works good for me. And no, I've never had one person fail by one pushup and blame it on the practice one.

Response by SSG Richard Reilly made Mar 27 at 2015 10:56 AM

2015-03-27T10:56:36-04:00

I just stop them. If they can't get to 10 right then as a NCO it was my duty to tell them how to fix themselves and send them to the end of the line. It pisses Soldiers (mostly officers) off but I was not there to make friends I was there to grade Soldiers. The hardest is when you get someone boasting of a 300 pt score and they say "They always counted them before". Well I am sorry if they failed you before. But now their failure is becoming yours if you cannot fix what you are doing wrong.
Note stop them on any of the numbers between 1-10 that are wrong. Even if it is number 10. Becuase if they are shit (sorry about the cuss, it is a sentence enhancer) within the first 10 they will be worse later on. Do not get past that bad push up let them think about what you are telling them and try and improve.
I will say I graded a lot of PT test becuase I couldn't do PT toward the end of my service due to injuries. And yet I would show them what they were doing and what was right...then go back to my house and take percocet...lol. Don't be afraid of getting your ACUs dirty get down and show them right and see what they are doing at their level.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 27 at 2015 11:21 AM

2015-03-27T11:21:55-04:00

I, like some of my counterparts on RP, ask the "testee" (hehehe) to do one push up and explain what they are doing wrong.
I have soldiers remove their jackets so I can see their arm going to at least parallel. I also watch for full lock out. And if a soldier does the bare minimum and gets up...I tend to loose my ever-loving mind....