Have you been legally helped in an APFT? Have you helped somebody in their test?

I tell the grader to let me know when I hit 100 then I switch to sit-ups for the remaining minute. Then I jump up immediately and do a warm up mile. I do vehicle inspections while waiting on everyone else.

Does having your Team Leader, Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant running behind you yelling, screaming and promises of killing you if you fail the run count as legal help?

Fm 7-22, Appendix A, Paragraph A-36. "The scorer counts the correct number of repetitions out loud, repeats the last number of the correct repetitions when incorrect repetitions are performed, and verbally corrects push-up and sit-up performances."

The FM is pretty clear--scorers need to count out loud for every repetition. If they don't, there's definitely room to challenge the validity of the test, as it isn't being conducted to the published standard.

There are actually an enormous amount of requirements regarding administration and setup and execution for the APFT; in my limited experience (19+ years taking APFTs), most folks have very little idea about what the standards actually are for an APFT.

For example, on my last APFT: neither the test OIC or NCOIC knew the standard for recovery time between events (no less than 10, no more than 20 minutes, determined by the OIC or NCOIC), and tried to make me do the situps after a break of 7 minutes; the NCOIC attempted to make corrections on my pushups (for allegedly having my feet more than 12 inches apart, per his uncalibrated eye; per the FM, only the scorer (NOT the NCOIC or OIC) can make corrections on repetitions); the location of the push-ups and sit-ups was slightly downhill (so pushups were of the decline variety, and thus harder, and situps were of the decline variety, and thus easier); the run route was only 1.96 miles, as measured by numerous GPS devices; and one portion of the run route exceeded (again, as measured by GPS devices) the authorized 3% grade. While all of us taking the APFT passed, had any of us wanted to challenge the validity of the test, there was plenty of evidence for all results to be cancelled.

Ideally, leaders would understand these requirements and plan appropriately. Often, though, leaders half-ass the conduct of the APFT.

My issue with this post is the fact that you need to be noted at 39 with a passing score of 42. Or for that matter when someone else said 39, it was a believable for you. From the way you have worded the question it sounds as if you were wanting to hit 42 and stop, or hit 42 and then just skate it until time complete. Wrong answer. I understand that this isn't in relation to your topic but you should never place yourself in a position to be uncertain if you're passing or not. There is a whole lot in our profession that we do not have control of. APFT/H&W is something that is completely on the soldier.

When I take a pt test I don't even consider the "passing" standard. In my book, simply passing, is below standard. Given your age and the fact that your still early in you career the question you should be asking is how fast am I going to hit my max?

In essence this is your profession, this is your career, do not put your livelihood and the livelihood of your family in the hands of someone else.

If you're weak at sit ups in particular take the time in the day to knock out some 2minute drills. We do a lot of hurry up and waiting. Taking 2 minutes to bang out sets of sit ups will help you in your next PT test.

To finally answer your question I don't know of a time I've been legally helped. Certainly never to pass.

In OTS my roomie was in danger of wiping out because he could not make the required time in the run ( I forget what the required time was). When the day he had to do it or wipe out I ran with the 1st group and qualified with my time. Then I ran with his group pacing him. He was about to give up when I turned around and started running backwards calling him every name in the book (and a few that could not be printed). He got angry and tried his best to catch me. HE PASSED. And, he did not catch me until he calmed down.

While this experience is dated and not the APFT, I did have "legal" help one time while at VMI over a decade and a half ago. Our test was different. Maxing the test meant you needed 20 pull-ups, 90 sit-ups in 2 minutes and a 2 mile run in under 12:01. All the official times I took the test my freshman year, I maxed the sit-ups and push-ups no problem, but never got there on the run.

There is additional motivation for your score other than it just being a requirement while at VMI. 1 - your best score during the semester counts as part of your grade for your required physical fitness class each semester. 2 - if you max the test at any point during the year, it counts officially towards your physical fitness grade for the entire year (both semesters) and you don't have to take the test again until the following year.

My roommate over the summer before my sophomore year was a cross country runner. He knew exactly the pace to run to max the run part of the test since he had done it every time. I helped him improve his sit-ups over the summer and he helped me on my pace. More importantly, he also ran the test with me at the beginning of the next year and let me pace off of him the entire time in order to beat 12:00; a pace that was actually about 30-45 seconds slower than his normal 1-mile pace. I got an 11:57 and I know the only reason I did is because Cy was right in front of me the entire time yelling at me to keep up with him on every lap around the track. He maxed his sit-ups too. It was nice for both of us not having to take the test again for the rest of that year.

What's an APFT? J/K!

I was not but my boss was by his pacer during the run event. I was the time keeper and started calling out the time as he neared. He almost stopped and looked upset. The SFC had told him the wrong time during most of the run to get him to pick up his pace. He passed and word spread. The DCO even went up to the SFC and said I hear you lied to your boss. The SFC just replied, "he passed, Sir". The DCO smiled and walked away.

Oh, yeah, padded run times intended to scare you seem to be a staple of the Army....

I usually tell my grader something similar - I usually like to be told when I hit 40 and then in increments of ten after that. I'm a horrible counter while performing s/u or p/u, so it benefits me to know when I hit 40 and how to max out from there.