Posted on Oct 14, 2015
SGT(P) Unit Supply Specialist
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This morning I was taking my bi-annual APFT and I asked my grader to not sound off the count until I pass 39 sit-ups since I'm required to do 42. Well, there I was doing my sit-ups and I couldn't follow the count because he's voice was really low. When I was almost done, I could barely do more, I ask him "WHERE AM I AT?!" and another NCO, imitating my grader's voice, said 39! All I thought at that moment was, oh, I'm a failure, I'm gonna be flagged, I wont be promoted. I tried my hardest to do 5 more and asked again where was I, he said again, 39! Time was up, and when I thought I failed he came to me and told me, you did good I was just helping you. While it wasn't the best motivation practice, I gotta admit that it helped me.

Have you ever been legally helped in an APFT? Have you ever legally helped somebody?

The constant use of the word "legally" is because I don't want the discussion to deviate in wrong practices.
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Responses: 24
SPC Training Room Nco
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I did something similar to one of the guys I was taking an APFT with. I wasn't grading, but I had talked with our grader before we started. It was an NCO getting ready to go to Drill School, and he was really struggling with his PT test. So for the first 10 repetitions, I didn't count at all, and then I told him he was still at 1, even though he had accomplished 11 perfectly. I kept counting one, until he got to 20, and then counted from there.
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SGT(P) Unit Supply Specialist
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SPC (Join to see) I would be pissed off! Lol, but goot idea.
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SPC Training Room Nco
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It makes you work harder out or desperation to get past 1. hahahaha
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SSG Warren Swan
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I don't think what happened to you is fair, or morally correct. Had you stopped thinking you failed, they would be the first ones to try to use this lovely form on you for APFT failure. Maybe the 1SG needs to use it to tell them that what they're doing isn't funny, nor is it helping the Soldier.
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LTC Brian Weyenberg
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42??? Hope you're 81.
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SGT(P) Unit Supply Specialist
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That's the required amount Sir, not my goal. LTC Brian Weyenberg
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SFC David Davenport
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I have been a pace runner for several people over the years.
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SGT(P) Unit Supply Specialist
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SFC David Davenport I suck at choosing pacers, but badly! Last 2 pt tests, the first one told me, I will pace you but is my test too so if you are too slow I'm leaving you. Well, I passed him and he failed the test. This last one, she didn't fail but was coughing really bad for the first mile and I ended up pacing her.
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SFC David Davenport
SFC David Davenport
10 y
Try getting someone who is not taking the PT test to be your pace runner. For the majority of people that you want to set your pace two miles is an easy day.
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SPC David S.
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I use to run the 2 miles with boots on for the same reason - "I'm not going to let you beat me this year with those damn boots on."
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SGT(P) Unit Supply Specialist
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10 y
SPC David S. although I use really comfortable boots, I don't think I would run with them on. What I do, I practice my run in the evening. If I'm capable of passing the required time at 1800, after working the whole day, then I would be good fress in the morning.
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SP5 Peter Keane
SP5 Peter Keane
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Hell, boots were all we had, they wouldn't let us wear Low-quarters with fatigues.
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SSG Instructor/Writer
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The only time I encountered an issue as a grader was when the NCOIC standing 10-15 away and not in the grading position told me to terminate a soldier during Sit-ups I told the soldier to keep going. Wrote in the scorecard, and comments section and handed it to the OIC. The MSG then tried to get me on disrespect but my CoC even stated how can you tell at that distance and not in the appropriate position. It was a small victory but the soldier passed, I had the training and experience to know a sit-up. Also there are leaders out there that go “hunting” during an APFT and lose objectivity. Best to be confident and professional in your decision as a grader.
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SGT Team Chief
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I was grading an apft. The soldier failed the run by one second. Smoked the other two events. I asked what happens if a soldier failed the run by one second. No one knew the answer. I have the joe that second for I knew he was working on his run.
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SGT Team Chief
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SPC Phillip Vossler
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I was never a pt stud, i struggled with my weight, yes i was a "fat boy", never really liked doing pt, so i struggled. There was a pt test i had to take in late jan, early feb 01, that i i had to pass. It allowed me to be promoted to Spc, and to reenlist, as i had less than a year remaining, and i enlisted as a Pfc, i had a Spc (P) that i looked up to, Spc Arnold, at FT Eustis, saw that i was struggling on my run, he ran with me, and found a way to motivate me to get me to pass that run. Had it not been for him, i would have remained a Pfc, and would have left the Army at 3 years, probably, regardless of 9/11. I owe the remainder of my career to him. I served a total of 6 years 4 months and 10 days. And am 100% rated now. It makes me proud and humbled that he saw enough potential in me to do that. I am forever grateful for that true leader.
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SFC Bob Arnold
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Had a SGM at Fort Leonard Wood that would be at the 1 mile turn around point. He had everyone give him a high five to indicate they reached the turn around point. Every time someone did, he took a step towards the start/finish line, shortening the run.
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SGM Bill Frazer
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Blowing the count because you asked is not technically "legally helping", if you had asked the counter could have remained silent during the whole test, or done it by tens, etc.
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