Posted on Apr 29, 2017
How does your Commander's performance on their PT test influence your opinion of them?
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Do you think more or less of a commander if they get the maximum score possible on their APFT (or whatever test your respective service takes)? During my enlisted days I don't think I ever had a commander who was a PT stud. If I had a commander who couldn't pass a PT test I might honestly think less of them, but I don't know if they really need to blow it out of the water. Thoughts?
APFT
Officer
Commanders
Command
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 353
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Honestly never cared sir as long as they passed.
I judge my commanders based on their command presence and planning ability
I judge my commanders based on their command presence and planning ability
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SFC Leroy Yarbrough
SFC Leroy Yarbrough retired
No I didn’t care usually every commander I served with didn’t max but did pass. Yes they should pass and want everyone under their command to max, this is a very important part of leadership.
No I didn’t care usually every commander I served with didn’t max but did pass. Yes they should pass and want everyone under their command to max, this is a very important part of leadership.
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CSM David Porterfield
At least in the Infantry and that's all I can really speak about if you're an officer or NCO you better be at 250 or better if you want Soldiers to respect your ability to lead in combat. Lead from the front.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
Our LT was one of those, tall, long legs he could eat up distance in one stride, he always did 3 miles under 18 minutes. Simple if your a Marine you cannot fail a PT test ever, the minimums are just too ridiculous to mention. Don’t go UNK at the range, that’s unforgivable as well. Other than that I can’t ever remember any Sr NCOs or Sr Officers PT test with us. Must be a double secret thing.
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This is one of those standard vs "the standard" questions. Yep, you cant bust tape or fail. You also can't just do 181 and stand up. I was at varying degrees in my career injured. Long term injuries. It made all that very hard. I took many an APFT circled X. It was better to pass, even if you were close, than have that profile narrative on a command/KD OER.
I did not max APFTs. I worked to have them over 250. When I did that, I was always over the unit average. It also allowed me to compensate between events if I had to nurse something or other. I would sometimes throw sit-ups under the bus and focus on PU and run and still get a half way decent score. I also tried to work on other than APFT physical things to maintain appearance and overall fitness.
As for the question....I did not really care. Everyone is fighting their own battle. I had an officer work for me that spent 2-3 hours each night in self run physical therapy so he could be ready for the next day. I did not think he had a long future soldiering but I admired the grit of looking down the barrel of that everyday and still doing it.
I did not max APFTs. I worked to have them over 250. When I did that, I was always over the unit average. It also allowed me to compensate between events if I had to nurse something or other. I would sometimes throw sit-ups under the bus and focus on PU and run and still get a half way decent score. I also tried to work on other than APFT physical things to maintain appearance and overall fitness.
As for the question....I did not really care. Everyone is fighting their own battle. I had an officer work for me that spent 2-3 hours each night in self run physical therapy so he could be ready for the next day. I did not think he had a long future soldiering but I admired the grit of looking down the barrel of that everyday and still doing it.
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SPC Jesse Peeples
Ltc back at my post at the 489th we had pvt Dunbar and he did the mind over matter too he should have had a officer rank but the regs would not let him
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SrA William Mauldin
Back in 1981 our chief chaplain ran the same test. Move to a different base and have no clue if the Colonel did the test. I know he did not exercise otherwise.
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LTC Jason Mackay
SrA William Mauldin - back when I came in, once you were over 40 you no,longer took a PT test. You were still subject to body composition.
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In all truth and I am being honest. Nope, don't care. Is that the wrong answer probably. To tell you the truth I am not a PT stud myself. I hate running, in fact, I found out I show degeneration at my posterior horn of the medial meniscus. So, running is pretty much out for me now. Now, I do the best that I can and give 100% when I do my PT tests. I just never thought twice about officers. No offense sir, I just worry about my soldiers.
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SGT Robert Mcfadden
Totally agree! I hated running, most of my commanders were pt studs, but some I never saw do pt. But like you I didn't care I was more interested in my soldiers passing and not falling out of the weekly 8 mile runs without taking me with them. (Squad leaders had to retrieve fall outs, so really hard to keep up lol)
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CPT Jeff Robinette
All I cared about for myself was that could set an example for the troops under my command. Do do that I had to do more than pass the PT Test. Did Imax the PT Test every time I took it? No! But I did the very best that I could.
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CPT Jeff Robinette
I just re read your post, I've just recently had my 6th knee surgery. I've had both knees replaced. In had Level 4 Medial Compartment Arthritis in my left knee. I had severe Osteo Arthritis in my right knee. I never knew I had issues with my right knee until I went to my Aunt's funeral in Florida. I stepped into a pew to sit when I felt a hard pop in my knee. I drive back home to MD with a complete tear of my ACL.
My Orthopedist told me that the increase in fluid in my knee caused both the ACL and PCL to atrophy. That tear was bound to happen.
Getting a TKR was the best alternative for me to repair the ACL tear.
I never sisbanything with the VA. After seeing how.my brother has been cared for I won't go there.
While the first 5 surgeries in bad may have a service connection this last one is purely the result of my own stupidity..
Word of advice, later on if you hear the word OSTEOTOMY in a Dr's office get a 2nd, 3rd and maybe even a 4th opinion. It took me 2 1/2 years to fully recover from that surgery. That was done at Johns Hopkins.
My Orthopedist told me that the increase in fluid in my knee caused both the ACL and PCL to atrophy. That tear was bound to happen.
Getting a TKR was the best alternative for me to repair the ACL tear.
I never sisbanything with the VA. After seeing how.my brother has been cared for I won't go there.
While the first 5 surgeries in bad may have a service connection this last one is purely the result of my own stupidity..
Word of advice, later on if you hear the word OSTEOTOMY in a Dr's office get a 2nd, 3rd and maybe even a 4th opinion. It took me 2 1/2 years to fully recover from that surgery. That was done at Johns Hopkins.
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Sgt Dale Briggs
CPT Jeff Robinette - I’ve had 3, and have virtually nothing but bone on bone, what cartilage is there floats in and out and hurts like hell sometimes. Arthritis naturally. I bike 5 miles a day 6 days a week, I use CBD oil which I swear by, and Motrin twice a day. Both my dad and brother had knees replaced, a friend did as well and had a reaction to the Joint resulting in an amputation. So no thanks on more surgeries. Btw running is out, if someone wants to chase me he’s going to have to fight because I can’t run lol.
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