Is giving an APFT 3 days before PCS leave really necessary?

SGT Ronnie Warford Take the test and pass it with a score over 250. Maybe you can get the vaccinations rescheduled, but take the APFT and give your best.

There should be no reason to take another PT test, since the APFT is good for six months.

I'm adding my voice to the chorus saying "suck it up"...but I don't necessarily think the commander is right in doing what he's doing.

Do the APFT, then go get the vaccinations. Take your time coming back for them.

Personally, I don't mind taking the APFT, I would mind the last minute notice yanking my schedule around the afternoon prior, when I'm about to go on PCS leave. I guess 1/3 - 2/3 is bullshit.

When I PCSed away from 1st PERSCOM when I was active duty, they had me on staff duty NCO in the middle of the 1 week I was clearing, even though there was a policy saying once you have clearing papers, you come off the duty roster. I had to suck it up.

I think you already know the answer, but I certainly can understand the frustration. Go ahead, take that deep breath, shake your head in bewilderment at what they're having you do, and then drive on. On the upside, you'll have yet another "Army story" to share someday.

It really bothers me when I see this stuff. APFT and weapons qualifications scores are easily quantifiable, so a lot of commanders use them as a metric of success. Command climate not so much until it becomes a major issue. It is a disservice to the SMs if they are only given a day's advance warning-especially if the (unstated) goal is to improve the company average since the Soldier's have more time to prepare.

BL: No, its not necessary, but it is a lawful order. Yes, you can be given an APFT at any time, but if you are in compliance and not due for a record I'm not sure why they are forcing the issue. Especially since it is so close to your transition. Personally, I feel this is what open-door policies are for.

I'm not 100% sure but I'm betting if you do some digging, there will be a policy letter or regulation somewhere that says that medical clearing appointments take precedence over PT, but that's a long shot. You may just have to work around the appointment.

The question definitely falls into a grey area between standards and norms. As for the standard, AR 350-1 stipulates that yes, a Commander can administer a PT test whenever they wish, but for it to be a record it MUST be stated as a record before hand and there must be a minimum of 4 months between records. If you have a current test from 2 months ago, it's up to you to decide if that's a battle worth fighting or not.

As for the norm, I'd agree with most of the other NCOs here. Suck it up, knock the test out of the park, don't gripe about it, and set a good example for your junior Soldiers. Then you can move on to your new unit without having burnt any bridges.

You already have an appointment for necessary pre-pcs requirements that must have at least 24 hours notice to cancel or change and its viewed as an excuse? I agree with SGM Marquez, its pretty arbitrary. If you must take it, pass it; and move on. However your command should be allowing you the appropriate time to clear (10 working days prior). While that doesn't exempt you from much unless of course you have an appointment....

The Army is rife with commanders whose concerns and policies are different than common sense dictates. Sure, the commander wants you to do well when you get to your next unit (a reflection on their leadership skills?). 30 days out is plenty. And that "250 or do it monthly" thing is a bit overboard. I had a similar thing when I was retiring. 2 months from terminal leave, my company commander started asking why I wasn't at PT. I don't know, maybe because I was a CW3 with over 20 years in and I was retiring having spent most of my time in the 10th Marine Regiment and 82nd Airborne Division added to the fact that I couldn't care less about an APFT at that point in my life? The actual answer is this... As a young Lance Corporal in Okinawa PCSing to Camp LeJeune, I missed regular PT 2 days before I rotated. My boss, GySgt Bloomhoff told me "You aren't short until your plane lands at Los Angeles". I was at PT the next day.

Technically they can schedule an AFPT any time- because you are suppose to be fit all the time. As you said- Co policy is that all under 250 will take AFPT every month, and your score was under the line. So until you sign out of the Company- you are stuck with their rules.