Posted on Mar 4, 2016
SPC(P) Information Security (Is) Analyst
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Going by the books gets old.... How do you use PT as a morale builder?
Posted in these groups: Imgres Physical TrainingLogo no word s FitnessIncreasingmoraleretention Morale
Edited 10 y ago
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Responses: 32
CW3 Aviation Oct
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Competition will promote team building and you will enjoy pt
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SGT Forrest Perez
SGT Forrest Perez
10 y
I agree chief,I loved PT when my SFC made it as a competition
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MAJ Staff Officer
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Change it up a bit. We incorporate all kinds of physical fitness routines including Insanity, ruck marches, off post scenic runs where Soldiers can wear headphones, gym rotations, etc. It cancels the monotony of CD 1/2/3.
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SFC Retired
SFC (Join to see)
10 y
My unit does same. We even incorporate yoga, hook up a computer to a tv and play some of the yoga classes from youtube.
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SSG Emergency Action Controller / Ops Nco
SSG (Join to see)
10 y
So what do you do when a soldier gets hurt and you can't validate your pt session because it wasn't in the FM?
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MAJ Staff Officer
MAJ (Join to see)
10 y
This is where leaders accept prudent risk. For every session that isn't in an FM, have a complete DRAW to mitigate hazards and ensure you follow the 8 step training model (heavy emphasis on RECONing the PT site for suitability and rehearsals).
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SSG Joint Network Node (Jnn) Section Sergeant
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Variety, variety, variety. Competition like chief mentioned is always a good idea. If you have a command that is willing to listen draw up a PT plan that you think will be fun and give your PLT a good workout.
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How do you make PT enjoyable?
SGM Retired
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Plenty of good responses. Let me add combining military skills with PT. For example:

Land navigation with running. Set out a compass course with markers visible at about 20 feet.

Buddy carry. 1st leg you carry your buddy, then he carries you on the second leg.

Stretcher race. 1 person in the stretcher, and 4 on the poles.

Your imagination (and a Risk Assessment) are the only limits.
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SFC G2 Ops Mcp Ncoic
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1. Stop making "JUST" the SSG and below conduct PT. Where does it say that once you reach a certain rank you don't lead PT anymore. You're an NCO. It's your job to lead PT, do it.
2. Do the prep work. And incorporate more than the usual same old routine. And if you requires you to extend the time...do it. Or maybe start the PT session early if you can.
3. Competition helps too. Provide a prize of some sort.
4. Get the profiles involved. Not everyone likes being on profile and not ever person on profile is shamming, they legitimate injuries. Take the time to gather their profiles so you can see what they can and cannot do.
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MSG First Sergeant
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I think most folks have said it, Variety. I had a Soldier ask me one day when I was 1SG how come I never Zonked the formation and I kept pushing the edge. The answer is simple, if I have to get up at 0500 to go do something I am going to make it worth my time. Doctrine tells us unit PRT is supposed to be a sustainment program. I think that is beyond stupid. If I want Soldiers to think they are warriors then I have to train them like I think they are warriors so they believe it. Push the edge. Convince them they can go the extra quarter mile, then show them they can really go the extra mile. Show them they can rep out one more, then show them they can dig deep and get 3 more reps. So how do you do that?
Competition and Variety. Don't train for the APFT. The APFT is the check on learning to see if you are living the correct lifestyle as a Soldier, it is not the event to train for. Like the difference between teaching Soldiers to shoot and teaching to qualify. Let your imagination be the limit. I had my Soldiers running Golf Courses, up mountains, and any other place I could. I never wanted to present the same view twice in a week. Make full body workouts. We would flip railroad ties, throw tires, lift ammo cans, sledge tires. Smoke them with their canteens. Combatives. Push trucks, pull trucks. If you can think about it, put it on paper and make it happen.
Squad on squad competition is great. especially when the Platoon leadership gets into it "yeah SSG Smith you talk good, but third squad drug your butt on that run...." Having Company leadership by in is great. I had Soldiers live to smoke me or out run me, and I made them work for it. The moment of pride on a Soldiers face when he is looking at me coming into the finish instead of me looking at him.
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SSgt Carpenter
SSgt (Join to see)
10 y
Don't train for the APFT. The APFT is the check on learning to see if you are living the correct lifestyle as a Soldier, it is not the event to train for. Like the difference between teaching Soldiers to shoot and teaching to qualify.

That is absolutely excellent MSG.
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WO1 Network Circuit Engineer
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My NCOs try to incorporate team building activities, not necessarily sports, but some competition based exercises. I find that sports and these team building exercises allow soldiers to get a good workout, during PT hours, and they may not even realize that they are working out, but having fun. I find that leaders that consistently do the same old PT and PRT workouts have trouble keeping soldier morale up during PT, and it is because they're bored of it.
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SSG Food Service Specialist
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We usually make it a competition winning teams gets late work call or breakfast, etc etc
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SGT Writer
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Combatives, shuttle races, crossfit-style workouts based on integrity, skip it. . .
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LTC John Regan
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Mix it up and get away from the daily dozen. I used martial arts, yoga, and a few other things. Softball game that used pushups as penalties for errors, strikes, etc. Once we lined up half the battery on one side and half on the other - and had "chicken fights" charging across the field (that was a doozy.) I also have a five day combatives type program designed to fit into a PT schedule I can send you.
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