How should we handle an invalidated APFT? Is there a current Army regulation covers this?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 11:06:29 -0500

A record APFT I was participating in was rendered invalid upon completing the 2 mile run due to the distance being a little over 2.5 miles. The mistake was due to the one mile marker personnel not being present, and runners past the point of return. However the scores for the runners would have been valid had they only run 2 miles, only being 2 - 3 minutes off. How would one go about this mistake? Is the test null and void or the times divided to represent accurately a 2 mile time? Is this an automatic pass due to negligence of the test coordinators? Is there any current army regulation that would cover this?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Feb 5 at 2019 11:15 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 11:15:21 -0500

If the PT track was longer than the regulation 2 miles the APFT is null, no questions asked. There is no such thing as time adjustment. Here is the thing: can it be proved? It has happened before so it should be an issue. Many years ago, something similar happened at Ft. Lee, VA. The CG at the time asked the IG to walk and measure an official post track; the IG himself! Problem solved!

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 12:02 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:02:19 -0500

The APFT should be invalid. The commander should issue new guidance on the next APFT date and have the deficiencies corrected.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 12:03 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:03:43 -0500

APFT needs re-administered.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 12:05 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:05:08 -0500

The mistake does not only lie with the issue of just no one sitting at the 1 mile marker, it also lies in the fact that the end point was not the correct end point. What needs to happen is that, since so many people failed the run, several people (not the graders nor OIC/NCOIC) need to go out with a wheel and measure from the start point to the end point. If the measurements come out even just one foot past the 2 miles, then the test is invalid. And if they ran 2.5 miles as you say, then yes the test needs to be thrown out and those Graders, OIC and NCOIC need a serious refresher on how to conduct an APFT. Was this a new route? If so, who measured it prior to the APFT? How was it measured? A few more questions: Were there any walkers for this test and did they have the same end point as the runners?

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Feb 5 at 2019 12:12 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:12:43 -0500

Unfortunately there's not much you can do about it. The APFT is not valid because the standards were not met by the personnel administering the test. The silver lining here is that it isn't your fault so other than having to retake it, it shouldn't have any adverse impact on yourself or fellow soldiers.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Feb 5 at 2019 12:17 PM

SSG Brian G. — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:17:14 -0500

Nope, not an automatic pass. Those who took the invalid test, just did some intense PT. End of story.
It will be stricken from any record and at some future point the test will be readministered and I guarantee that this time there will be proper personnel in place. You can bet someone was locked up and standing tall in front of not just Top but the Commander.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Feb 5 at 2019 12:25 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 12:25:51 -0500

This is a great question because there are a couple of issues at play here.

First, if the course does not conform to the Standard (2.0 miles), then the APFT would be invalidated. There's no way to "wiggle the math" to make it work.

However, the unit still "ran a record APFT" on X date which means that they have to adhere to any regulation regarding retests. I'm not super familiar with Army, but isn't it 30 days between Record APTF?

This means that the commander is going to have to issue guidance (whether formal or informal) regarding the incident. 1) He will verify (or delegate) that the course is correct for the new test. 2) He will establish the new date (making sure the date doesn't violate record APFT regs).

Regarding"automatic pass," each section of the APFT is measured individually, which means they "might" be able to use the Situp & Pushup run informally as diagnostic information (but could not use it adversely to the best of my knowledge) while they could not use the Run portion at all.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 2:50 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 14:50:36 -0500

The test is administered again. It is not an automatic pass. Prepare for a record APFT, and use the results of this to focus on what you need to improve.
AR 350-1 and FM 7-22 are your references. These references address the requirements and administration of the test, but do not address what to do when such an error occurs.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2019 3:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 15:48:17 -0500

To be honest I haven't seen anything in regulation that covers the validity of APFT due to incorrect markings or people not being posted in key positions on the run. If I was the commander, I would have taken 2 to 3 minutes off the run instead of making the whole APFT invalid......

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 5 at 2019 4:55 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 16:55:09 -0500

It is Null and avoid! The command will have to come up with a. Reasonable timeline to administer a new test. It should not be within minimum timelines associated with a failur and retake. Anyway it would be hard to imagine them trying to do it too soon, and without someone outside the command verifying the distance and grade. Thank you for your service.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Feb 10 at 2019 7:26 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 19:26:52 -0500

What’s the big deal just do it again. It was never that tough to begin with and we basically did a pft about every day anyway, or at least 6 days a week, I took Sundays off. Running 3 miles, a few pull-ups and sit-ups isnt really a stretch. Funny this pft stuff keeps popping up, just do it and be done with it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2019 5:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 05:00:27 -0400

No time adjustments, just need to take another APFT

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Aug 16 at 2020 8:37 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 20:37:41 -0400

Is it just me or is this ridiculous? You simply redo the run part of the PT test to the correct distance. We did a PT test on our own 5-6 days a week, it’s not that big a chore. Takes 30 minutes or less from pull-ups, sit ups, 3 mike run.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 16 at 2020 8:51 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 20:51:10 -0400

Void the test. Give the soldiers time to rest and retest. The first order you know that unit should have verified the distance and the marker. A lot of installations have a set record physical fitness training testing site. When I took over as first sergeant I actually measured the PT test course it was a 10th of a mile short. One of my sevens questioned it and we took the measuring wheel and got it accurate.

Response by SPC John Decker made Aug 17 at 2020 6:25 AM

SPC John Decker — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 06:25:02 -0400

My last APFT was NTC Ft. Irwin, 1984. The running "track" was a straight road. 1 mile out--1 mile back. The line was a foot wide and went all the way across the road.