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: 352
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Maxing the test isn't a concern of mine for my commanders. I strive to max it but I'm built for it more so than others are. I do expect leaders to put forth the effort to do their best though. Fat and lazy commanders should not be commanders in my opinion. But just because a guy can't run 6 minute miles is not a disqualifying offense in my book.
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CPT (Join to see) Yes, and it should. As a young Soldier and as a new 2LT my leaders were lead by example, follow me, PT beasts. That is was I learned, and emulated and then required. It was also how many of my bosses differentiated between officers, and it was a screening criteria for me as a leader/commander. I expected every officer to max their PT test, qualify expert, and look impeccable in uniform. I was in the Army for close to 33 years and I always aimed for maxing the APFT, and most times I did, until the twilight of my career. Even then, I never scored below a 290. On my last APFT I did better than most Soldiers taking the test.
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COL David Pelkey
With all due respect, a high PT score does not indicate leadership ability and should not be used to distinguish officers. The test is designed to be pass/fail. That is what goes on the evaluation and why there is a difference between an FM and an AR. I’ve had superiors use the PT test to rate officers and always lost respect for them. It was an indication of a commander who didn’t take time to get to know his troops and created a command climate that drove junior officers to spend more time at the gym then with their soldiers. I had a peer once who was top blocked for maxing the PT test, yet he didn’t even know the name of some of his Soldiers.
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CPT (Join to see) if the Commander fails their test then it is a strike against them. If they pass no change. If they brag and make a huge deal about getting only 300s and if you do not you are nothing then maybe I would have already judged them.
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Commanders should do their best on the APFT. Whether the commander maxes the test or not really doesn't matter as long as they pass. If the commander raises the standard for the unit and enforces it then I believe that they need to be able to meet that standard. Other than that though I believe that their leadership is the most important trait.
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Well they always pass pretty good on the Infantry side. So I looked more at decision making to determine if we had a buffoon as CO or not. I was pretty lucky and all my CO's passed in that department of making good deciisions and attempting to limit BS. Best CO I ever had was with the 101st Airborne (SF long tab patch). Can't beat that and yes he was a PT Stud and beat most of the 18-22 year olds with his stamina on runs and other events.
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I once had a commanding officer who said he wanted his LTs to be PT studs. He said that at least they could shoot, move, and communicate. I said if that is the case, the LT should just shoot himself. He is there to lead and if he can't lead, he needs to be gone. I f he meets the standard, that is all he has to do. Since he is leading Soldiers to death's front door, he better know how to lead.
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My last CO maxed out his PFT while wearing a gas mask... made everyone hang their head... no excuses!
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My BN Cmdr at Schofield was a PT stud for sure and it was only one of the many reasons I respected the heck out of him. He set the pace and it wasn't slow. That said, the only way a commander loses my respect is to actually fail any portion of the test. We all have off days. If he/she wants to score the minimum, I'm ok with that. Just don't fail it.
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I would be happy just to see my commander take and then pass the test. My last commander ran the Boston Marathon but the commander before him I don't think took it once while at my last station. At one point he wanted the PT Manager to just give him a passing score because he was to busy to take the time to do the test or go to the gym.
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CPT (Join to see)
I've seen more than a few "leaders" pencil whip PT tests. It's a sure for way to lose the respect of your troops.
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SSgt Michael Cox
The thing that pissed me off the most was that it was an aircraft maintenance unit and because of the down sizing that had begun it was constantly around 12 hour shifts daily and we were still expected to do our gym time on our own after work and take our pt tests, but he felt that he should be exempted.
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Back in the old days...... before GPS and cell phones, I'd have gladly taken an XO or CO that could read a map over one that could do a hundred pushups. We changed XO's in Europe like changing socks. All very healthy specimens, but the first T intersection baffled them.
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