Has anyone found a way around the nerves before an APFT test, or does it last forever?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 19:36:50 -0400

after almost 7 years in the army we all still get nervous before the APFT, even when there isn't any doubt that we will pass? Has anyone found a way around the nerves or does it last forever?

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Mar 16 at 2019 8:45 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 20:45:30 -0400

SGT Private RallyPoint Member channel the energy into the events. 22 years active Duty. 4 1/2 as a cadet. Same way.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 8:46 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 20:46:51 -0400

I think so long as you care about your APFT score, you'll always be nervous right before taking the APFT.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 10:49 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 22:49:37 -0400

I try my best to be first up. Then I just get it over with. If you are nervous and are having to wait in line, that nervousness can build up.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 11:01 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 23:01:12 -0400

This is natural - and will likely continue throughout your career. I utilize the MRT skills of Real-Time Resiliency and Energy Management- it truly works for me.

Response by SSG(P) Drew Hunnicutt made Mar 17 at 2019 7:28 AM

SSG(P) Drew Hunnicutt — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 07:28:51 -0400

The best way around the nerves is to prepare and be confident you will do well. If you are a SPC (P) or a SGT (P), then of course you want to max to get as many promotion points as possible. Otherwise, just take the test and do your best. Use the nervous feeling as motivation to better prepare for the next APFT. I try to take two approaches to things that will potentially worry me by asking a simply question; can I do anything about it? Yes) then just do what I can and not worry. No) then it is out of my hands and worrying is only suffering twice.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2019 9:25 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 09:25:29 -0400

Forever.
It has nothing to do with worrying about pass/fail. It's about doing your best.
If you played any sport in high school and/or college, it happened there too before every game.
I got the nerves before every APFT where I was going to get over 290 as a young man, and I still get it now when I know I don't have to worry about pass/fail for the old man scale.
Also happened before every high school football game, college football game, college rugby match, and every rugby match during my first ten years in the Army.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Mar 17 at 2019 2:28 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 14:28:09 -0400

I learned to recognize the feeling and accept that I will be nervous. Then focus on the activity at hand. It has been done before. It will be done again.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2019 6:45 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 18:45:46 -0400

After almost 12 years I still get the nerves...just means you still give a crap. I hope that never goes away. Keep caring because I think it fades at some point and you’ll be ready to hang up the uniform at that point.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2019 6:51 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 18:51:20 -0400

Always a bit of anxiety even though I never doubted whether I would pass for 20 years.
I practiced doing push ups more strictly than normally graded, which gave me confidence. Once the pushups were out of the way it was over, because that was really what my final score would be based on since I could max the situps and run.
To help with the pushups, I ran in place and did side straddle hops when I was third in line. Having an elevated heart rate helped delay the onset of muscle failure for me. I would do 30, then sets of 10, then individual, until the nerve agent set in. I always asked the grader to count out loud, even though they should.
Sit ups, I'd do 40 within the first minute, then sets of 10, and stop once I confirmed I had maxed.
For the run, I'd warm up by running 50 yds, and then run in place until just before the start. For me, this elevated my respiratory and heart rate and permit me to reach the stride I needed to max the run within 100 yds. I knew what pace I needed for each lap, and wore a watch to track it. I'd get as far forward as I could and break away from the main pack to avoid being slowed.
Hated running, so I used uphill sprints and fartleks to train for the run.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Mar 18 at 2019 12:39 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 00:39:16 -0400

I always tried to be in front of the line for both push ups and sit ups. Burn that energy then for the run!

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 18 at 2019 5:12 AM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 05:12:17 -0400

Familiarity breeds contempt. In addition to all my other PT on active duty, unless in the field, my Friday PT routine always ended with a Marine Corps PFT.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 18 at 2019 7:17 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:17:05 -0400

19 years in, still feel the same...

Response by SGM Glenn Dawkins made Mar 18 at 2019 10:48 AM

SGM Glenn Dawkins — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 10:48:15 -0400

I think we all get the nerves prior to the APFT. The only thing one can do is to be prepared and get a good night's sleep before the evnt.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 18 at 2019 7:20 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 19:20:26 -0400

Incorporate a "practice" PFT into your training regimen. Perform all the events in order, and mentally track scores for each event. When the actual PFT comes due, it is less stressful. Like just another trial run, but with score keepers.