I failed my first APFT a few weeks ago, and I have my next APFT coming up. How long does the chaptering process take If fail it again?

I'm sure someone will be able to address the specifics of your question, but that's not where I want to go with my reply to you.

First, get thoughts like that OUT of your head!

The head game is often the most critical! I once failed a diagnostic PT test after being on profile, and my mind was not in the game. Midway through my run I thought that I wouldn't do well and was out of shape due to not working out much since my injury. It became a self-fulfilling prophesy and I failed the run by 4 seconds. But that wouldn't stand and I said "oh fuck that!" to myself, and the VERY NEXT DAY, mad at myself and knowing damn well I could do better, I smashed my run by more than 2 minutes!

On the physical side:

Focus on what you must do to pass. Put in the extra work. Find someone you can workout with and triage your workouts to focus on your weaknesses. If you suck at running...run! Go for distances beyond 2 miles and paces progressively faster than you are currently comfortable with.

If you need to work on sit-ups and pushups, do those; but I would strongly add hitting weights at the gym. I'm a firm believer in augmenting sit-ups and pushups with weight training. Pneumonia--and months of associated coughing--also helps a lot with sit-ups, though I wouldn't recommend that! ;-)

Remember, get the negative thoughts out of your head first and foremost; they only serve to self-sabotage your efforts.

You can do it. Just work the problem.

1. Are you trying to get kicked out? Like ok you signed up you tried out, but coach won't cut you so you're just trying to find out how to get off the team? If so... I understand it's not for everyone thanks for trying out.


2. If you want to stay in, and this is your first record fail, your second one has to be a diagnostic. Which event did you fail and just focus on that event. Sit ups? Strengthen your core do planks and of course master the sit up technique.

Push ups? Only one way to get better... push. Again, technique is key!

3. Run, work on sprinting and long distance

PVT (P)?

Do you want to be chaptered out? If not, forget that question. What part of the test gave you issues and by how much did you fail by. Tell me exactly how long you have until your next one and I bet I can tell you how to pass it.

Are you looking to get out of the military?? if you're still in AIT you would have to look into the regs-I'm not sure if they're TRADOC specific or not. Look into AR 600-8-2.

PVT(P) (Join to see) - I will say this in my calm, supportive voice.
STOP THINKING ABOUT HOW YOU WILL FAIL.
Put in the work and you will be fine. You can do it, just like everyone who preceded you did.
Find a buddy to motivate you and hold you accountable.
Quitting might seem easy, but living with it is hard.

PVT(P) (Join to see) http://www.tradoc.army.mil/tpubs/regs/tr350-6.pdf spells out the APFT requirement for SM in AIT training.
Local policy will dictate if you are held over in training for time to pass the APFT , or separated from service on an a entry level separation (ELS) ((Assuming you are at or below 180 days time in service, after 180 ELS is no longer an option))

But a better question is....Are you looking to succeed and pass? Or looking for a way out?
If the latter... I'll bow out and leave it to you...
If your looking to succeed tell us what APFT event you had trouble with..what your score was, and how many days you have until the next record APFT

Why waste energy on the negative aspects? Instead use it as a motivator to get on PT trail and pass. All the negative stuff is baggage that weighs you down. Use it to put the wind in your sails and pass your test. Circuit course type training builds endurance. Build some upper body strength with gym tools and then work on each event. Work on weaknesses first - meaning the events that are holding you back. I enjoyed taking Platoons on circuit runs. Good pace that all could hang with. Make frequent stops to do exercises. Then, back on your feet and keep moving. Push ups, flutter kicks, side straddle hops. They give weaker runners a breather but they are still moving and that keeps cardio working. Over time you become less winded and have more kick. After run, continue to warm down by running circles in formation, cap it off with wind sprints. Always stretch and warm up, but especially warm down. Lots of it is in the body but most is in the mind.

The Marines used to test the PFT semi-annually, I assume they still do; and board someone who failed two semi-annuals in a row, barring a medical reason. My entire time on active duty, I do not personally know of a single Marine who was boarded out for PFT failure; or know anyone who had personal knowledge of someone boarded out for PFT failure. I heard about it, but it was rarer than bigfoot scat.

I am asking a serious question? How does an individual or a chain of command get surprised by failure of a PFT? The first Friday after assuming a command, the entire unit was going to take the PFT as part of my command assessment. Anyone on leave or duty who missed the assessment PFT, had better have made it up by COB three days after they became available. And the entire command ran the PFT at least once a month.

If you weren't 1st class, I had my eye on you and my foot up your chain of command's ass. Anyone that was close to, or had failed, was taking the PFT every week, in addition to unit PT and supervised remedial PT, five days a week.

If you had a medical condition that prevented you from participating in unit PT, the unit Corpsman saw the Doctor that gave you the chit, found out what you could and couldn't do, and supervised modified PT, five days a week. Never in the entire time did I have someone who couldn't do some form of PT unless they were confined to a hospital bed. This was particularly important for musculo- skeletal injuries where muscle atrophy could take place. Anyone that was in modified status for more than a week, was weighed in weekly; to make sure they didn't get into an overweight problem.

Battle! You are not getting chaptered out! Remember back in BCT when I failed my first PT test? That was horrible and then I passed by like 1 point the 2nd time? When I got to AIT, PT was a breeze and I still don't know how that happened and how I got a PT badge, but I did! If I can do it, so can you! Get the negativity that you have in your mind and use it as fuel for your next PT test! Stop with the negativity and focus on the Positive! You will pass this next PT test! I know you can! Take care!