How to differentiate personnel's rank during PT? Choice #2 worked amazingly in Hawaii.

Rank on PT belts? What SGM got an “excellence” bullet for this stroke of genius? Reason #542,951 that I kiss my DD214 every day.

In the 70s there didn't seem to be a problem with rank during PT. We always did it at 5am, nobody out but our company. CO always led, 1st Sgt took up the rear, Lts were with their platoons. When we did PT there was no rank, we were all soldiers and respected each other. Worked very well that way. Jump school July 1972, PT, no rank there either, Col. Was no different than a Pvt. Worked well there too.

I liked it better when it was all one color. You have to rely on your professionalism. But I know I’m old-school and that is gone now.

Is this really a serious issue, not being able to identify officers from enlisted on the PT field? It begs the question, Is unit cohesion so poor that juniors are unable it identify seniors, and vice versa?

So the Army color codes it's personnel? HAHAHAHA !!!!! And they tease us Marines for eating crayons. At least we poop rainbows after a snack.

Alibi...who was the "genius" who thought up that color scheme and make it a "Sniper Check" in the theater of combat???

Good evening. I for one feel that the PT belt as gone to the way o really frigging stupid. When did common sense stop being the rule of the day? Never wore reflective belts but vests when one was a road guard, other then that who in formation or running by themselves were in any danger of being run over?? Considering certain streets were blocked off with guards to prevent people from driving on said closed road.
Ft. Hood, Ft. Carson, Ft. Knox and other posts I was stationed at, we didn't wear reflection anything.
If some 1SG, CSM wanted to correct an NCO out of formation calling cadence, got pulled from his place of operation, I found that the PSG was right there to step in to address the 1SG or higher. It was never an issue. But there is always that one peckerhead.

Also, when did it become a norm for an EM getting his shot group tighten, gets the idea that they don't have to listen to you bc you, the NCO, aren't from their unit??

Not being in the Army but spending a significant amount of time on Army posts in my career, I assumed (incorrectly I guess) the purpose of PT belts was for visibility day and night to avoid soldier's getting run over by vehicles. Rank put on PT belts seems a bit of overkill. Soldier's should know who is in charge of PT and formation run's...and if they don't, a little education on Chain of Command and a bit more visibility by leadership seems in order.

Personally, when I was engaged in PT on base, I said good morning to everyone and never had a problem with anyone getting upset if I didn't attach a "sir" to it. It's PT!

Neither. PT is PT, I think the underlying issue is how to conduct oneself. Don't act like a fool and they won't get treated as one. I would say if it is a matter where rank got involved to properly identify oneself and move forward. Unless this is a conversation related to saluting in a combat zone. Singling a rank or group of individuals out goes against PT in concept.

How much time do you spend in PT gear? We never had an issue when I was in. We knew our COC, and everyone in the battalion. We didn’t have PT belts. I saw some units had iron on rank for Senior NCO’s and up.