Posted on Feb 14, 2014
Have we become too blase about APFT and/or H&W failure; or has it always been like this?
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I've noticed that a lot of mid-career leaders are open about admitting having previously failed an APFT or having been out of tolerance for AR 600-9. I don't have a personal issue with that, it lets Soldiers know that no one was cast into the mold of a true stud when they raised their right hand the first time.
What I do take issue with is the "no harm, no foul" attitude that some of us have taken toward APFT and/or H&W failure. We brush it off with platitudes and treat it like failing one or more of the basic, universal Army standards is not a moment of utter shame.
When did it become okay to say "Yeah, I have failed the run a few times and I've never been a good runner in the first place." again and again for years without actually working to improve yourself? When did teaching junior Soldiers to focus on neck exercises so you don't have to cut down on belly girth become an acceptable answer?
I have had the displeasure of meeting junior Soldiers who were clearly mentored by their mid-career leaders and who now believe that being at an APFT score below 200 and right-on-the-limit for body fat is acceptable. They don't see exceeding the minimum requirement as being a worthy goal. By extension, they do not commit themselves to excellence and start pulling a 9-to-5 without ever going beyond baseline requirements.
If we wanted that, we'd hire contractors.
Note: I am not referencing APFT failure due to sudden injury or some other disqualification that allowed the Soldier to pass the APFT with ease within a 24 hour period.
I understand that AR 600-9's body fat computation method and limits are a subject of intense debate. Whether there's a better way is not the point. The point is that this is the standard we must meet and we should endeavour to meet the standards that are set for us by law.
What I do take issue with is the "no harm, no foul" attitude that some of us have taken toward APFT and/or H&W failure. We brush it off with platitudes and treat it like failing one or more of the basic, universal Army standards is not a moment of utter shame.
When did it become okay to say "Yeah, I have failed the run a few times and I've never been a good runner in the first place." again and again for years without actually working to improve yourself? When did teaching junior Soldiers to focus on neck exercises so you don't have to cut down on belly girth become an acceptable answer?
I have had the displeasure of meeting junior Soldiers who were clearly mentored by their mid-career leaders and who now believe that being at an APFT score below 200 and right-on-the-limit for body fat is acceptable. They don't see exceeding the minimum requirement as being a worthy goal. By extension, they do not commit themselves to excellence and start pulling a 9-to-5 without ever going beyond baseline requirements.
If we wanted that, we'd hire contractors.
Note: I am not referencing APFT failure due to sudden injury or some other disqualification that allowed the Soldier to pass the APFT with ease within a 24 hour period.
I understand that AR 600-9's body fat computation method and limits are a subject of intense debate. Whether there's a better way is not the point. The point is that this is the standard we must meet and we should endeavour to meet the standards that are set for us by law.
Army
APFT
AR 600-9
Standards
Discipline
Posted 11 y ago
This is a duplicate discussion and the contents have been merged with the original discussion. Click below to see more on this topic...
Every day I log onto RallyPoint to see Officers, NCOs, and
Soldiers complaining about living up to the standard. We have all seen the posts about how important a 300 is then many long time NCOs chime in about how the Army standard is 180 and if that is the standard than it is good enough. Then we have hundreds of posts about how the weight control program sucks and I weigh too much and it’s not fair. Leaders and Soldiers thinking that just
because you know a little something about your job you shouldn’t have to meet that standard. There are a few posts discussing how a 110 GT score is too high and we should lower it because people are not good at tests. Then I have seen posts of people thinking that striving for distinguished honor grad and commandants list are not all that important.
I know some people are going to say things about PT doesn’t mean anything if you know your job, or if your PT is good body fat standard shouldn’t matter, or any of the other hundred reasons people have for under achievement and condoning it in their Soldiers.
My basic question is since when did just passing, barely meeting the standard or wanting the standards to drop to you instead of striving to be better become the way we do business. Is it just me? Am I the only one who sees this?
BLUF: Either you are trying to excel and not just meet the standard but far exceed it. Or…. You are just coasting by doing the bare minimum and are a detriment to our force.
I know some people are going to say things about PT doesn’t mean anything if you know your job, or if your PT is good body fat standard shouldn’t matter, or any of the other hundred reasons people have for under achievement and condoning it in their Soldiers.
My basic question is since when did just passing, barely meeting the standard or wanting the standards to drop to you instead of striving to be better become the way we do business. Is it just me? Am I the only one who sees this?
BLUF: Either you are trying to excel and not just meet the standard but far exceed it. Or…. You are just coasting by doing the bare minimum and are a detriment to our force.
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