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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My commander is a pt stud. But that’s not the reason why we follow him. We follow and respect him because he is and excellent commander
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My commander ran PT? Who knew? Just kidding, but never cared about anyone's passing PT scores.
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My commander was a photo on the wall, As a Detachment, we never met the man in 2 years. No idea if DIRNSAPAC/CSS passed a pt test
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None of My Skippers were anywhere Close to Me. Not a thing Never Competed, Compared or Contrasted Myself against them. Now the Female Lt and Ens in the Offices on Either side of me. Yes We Got Competitive. I did have a LCDR from a Different Office in SPAWARS 620 that loved to Bust My Chops and We Would Tease Each other on the Run. "CTO1 if I catch You I'm Going to Kick Your Ass" "Cdr if You Catch Me, I'll Let You Kick My Ass".
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Well that's the beauty of it though. Look at my last Commandant. General Dunford. The guy is 61 years old and he just ran the Boston Marathon. 26 whole miles at 61 years of age. Compare that to a young 19 or 20 year old struggling to run 3 whole miles.
Leadership starts at the top and goes down. If my leadership is content doing the bare minimum, then how can I hold that against my troops when that's the example they have to learn from.
Yes, I don't expect any of my troops to be PT studs, because I'm not a PT stud myself. But you are lying to yourself if you believe it won't affect the troops.
I remember my OIC was pregnant and even though it's considered light duty, she ran everywhere and she lost all the baby weight like it was nothing. We learn from those above us.
Leadership starts at the top and goes down. If my leadership is content doing the bare minimum, then how can I hold that against my troops when that's the example they have to learn from.
Yes, I don't expect any of my troops to be PT studs, because I'm not a PT stud myself. But you are lying to yourself if you believe it won't affect the troops.
I remember my OIC was pregnant and even though it's considered light duty, she ran everywhere and she lost all the baby weight like it was nothing. We learn from those above us.
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I would be disappointed if they could not pass the APFT. As Officers, we are to be the shining example for others. I expect there to be that one Soldier in a unit that is untouchable with their score, but I personally don't expect it to be the Commander. That being said, I will not think less of them for not maxing out each event. I will be impressed and think more of them if they do max out though. As a Commander it is a challenge to hold a certain level of physical fitness given the amount of work hours you deal with daily.
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It also depends on branch and unit. Had this same discussion today after the unit APFT. 82nd ABN...anything under a unit's "minimum" and that soldier is gone. On the other hand, for a med unit...if a doctor is an expert at patching me up and keeping me alive, I couldn't care less what his APFT score is.
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Always though it was awesome when my CO maxed gave me something to shoot for as well!
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As the APFT is a poor metric for fitness, I am very neutral on their ability to succeed in by passing the APFT. I am very judgmental if they fail and am disappointed if their goal is the bare minimum. That said, I have only seen commanders and leaders fail or seek the bare minimum in AMEDD organizations.
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CPT (Join to see) - Since most of them will not work in the "read army" but in the AMEDD, no I do not see them as more diligent than anyone else. I know PTs that do not pass ht/wt or their APFT.
It's the personality that drives their willingness to succeed, not their MOS/ASI/AOC.
It's the personality that drives their willingness to succeed, not their MOS/ASI/AOC.
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Maj C Borders - I'm not sure what you're point is, so let me restate my point and you can let me know if I'm still too far off base.
LT Beggs asked if Physical Therapists tend to do better (I assumed he meant on the APFT since we don't have many command opportunities). I replied that we don't. I know PTs that do great, I know PTs that fail at all ranks.
I don't blame the MOS, I blame the person if they can't pass the APFT in most cases. But since we were talking about the Army, where members spend 5 days per week getting paid to work out, we need to understand that most PTs work in the AMEDD which is assure you has different standards from the rest of the Army.
LT Beggs asked if Physical Therapists tend to do better (I assumed he meant on the APFT since we don't have many command opportunities). I replied that we don't. I know PTs that do great, I know PTs that fail at all ranks.
I don't blame the MOS, I blame the person if they can't pass the APFT in most cases. But since we were talking about the Army, where members spend 5 days per week getting paid to work out, we need to understand that most PTs work in the AMEDD which is assure you has different standards from the rest of the Army.
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I apologize, gentleman. When I said "real Army" I was talking about physical therapist the are assigned to operations units such as the BCTs vs those assigned to MTFs. I probably could have phrased that better.
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CPT (Join to see) - there are higher expectations of medical people in the real army. That's a phrase the AMEDD doesn't like to hear and you can get the hairy eyeball for saying it, but that's because perception is reality. In a BCT position, medical personnel are always scrutinized a little more so the vast majority will up their game and perform in ways they will not have to in the MTF. I think the term fits.
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