Is It necessary to have a Soldier take a PT test for His/Her ETS Award?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:50:39 -0400

I know a Soldier that is leaving/ETSng the Army very soon. The Soldier was told to take a PT Test for him to get his ETS Award. I've never heard such thing about taking a PT test for a ETS Award ever since, Only for PCSng or any Recognition if He/She is due for a semi-annual PT Test. Why can't they just give the award and Honor the Soldier for his Meritorious Service in the Military? He is ETSng, why can't they just have the Soldier Leave the Service with ease?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 10:53 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:53:24 -0400

Is the Soldier due an APFT prior to their ETS date?

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Jun 26 at 2014 10:57 AM

LTC Paul Labrador — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 10:57:09 -0400

Honestly, it's really up to the commander.

Response by SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh made Jun 26 at 2014 11:05 AM

SFC Douglas Eshenbaugh — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 11:05:06 -0400

Last I checked there was nothing that mandated, outside unit policy, that you must give an award to a Soldier that is ETSing.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jun 26 at 2014 11:35 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 11:35:55 -0400

If the soldier is due or will be due prior to ETS then I see no issue here at all. Just because the service member is leaving doesn't mean they don't have to maintain standards.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 11:39 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 11:39:25 -0400

That seems strange. I did know a guy who was retiring and told to take a pt test to get his award however it was because he was due for one and needed one to put on the Close out NCOER. But for the sheer purpose of an award and they are getting out I think I woulda called BS on it but then again I don't really care about awards.

Response by Cpl Bryan Clark made Jun 26 at 2014 1:58 PM

Cpl Bryan Clark — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 13:58:43 -0400

I've never heard of an ETS award until my girlfriend (former Army Sgt) told me about them. Why do you rate an award for doing what you're supposed to?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2014 3:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:01:41 -0400

Just tell the Soldier to go out there and max out the APFT, it will be his/her last APFT memory from the Army

Response by SPC Christopher Smith made Jun 26 at 2014 3:27 PM

SPC Christopher Smith — Thu, 26 Jun 2014 15:27:23 -0400

I'm not an fan of awards, so I'd take it, no promise to pass, and ajust pass the tape. Go on with my life, my award is my DD-214 at the end of the day really.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2014 4:23 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Jul 2014 16:23:17 -0400

Hello SGT Gumiran. Congratulations on the promotion killa. There is nothing in the regulation that states a Soldier has to complete an APFT to receive an ETS award. The regulation does state that ALL soldiers must be physically fit at all times and should be able to perform when called upon. The regulations also state that leaders don't have to recommend you for awards either. Awards are special recognitions and not requirements just for doing what is expected. The fact that the troop is ETSing is an accomplishment in itself however; all situations are different with each soldier. I don't know the history with this troop but if I had to guess I would think that the command team is trying to update their stats or the troop is late on their APFT. Occasionally you will have that one leader who has a personal agenda with a troop and therefore jerks his/her emotional chain to make a point but I cannot say this is the case. You will have to grill the soldier. There is more to the story.

Here is a question for you? How many BN/BDE Commanders are requiring the Company commander and 1SGs to take an APFT before they retire or leave the service in order to receive an award? It doesn't pass the common sense test does it? I know CSMs and Commanders who would kick you out of their office if you came to them with trivial garbage like this. In the meantime, educate the Soldier that they have a mission, the APFT, and motivate the troop to do what needs to done to meet mission. Hope this helps. "Skilled and Resolute".

Response by SSG Robert Pierce made Jul 19 at 2014 6:40 PM

SSG Robert Pierce — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 18:40:05 -0400

SGT Gumiran,

For what it's worth...you can refer to Chapter 3, para. 4-2 from the awards regulation to verify he or she is eligible. As for a Soldier who is flagged for APFT failure or enrolled in the AWCP the unit will have to submit their award through the COC to the first GO for approval.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2014 7:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jul 2014 19:57:48 -0400

Unless that soldier needs one for an NCOER/OER or is due a semi-annual by regulation, I'm going to throw the BS flag on this one. If by chance this is a unit policy, there are bigger things in the army today than this kind of "petty shenanigans". Lastly, the 11B in me is thinking this is some CS/CSS silliness.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 10 at 2014 2:10 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Oct 2014 14:10:22 -0400

Personally, I am in a similar situation. I ETS in 2 months and they scheduled me for a PT test on the 21st. I start clearing a week and a half after that so I really don't see the point. I am not receiving an ETS award due to a strange circumstance that could only make sense in Korea (I had to put an FSTE in because I wouldn't receive orders because my DEROS was too close to my ETS date; so they gave me a PCS award on my DEROS date; now I won't get an ETS award apparently). Not only are they having ME do a PT test, they are having three other soldiers that will be chaptered out on November 3rd do one as well. The entire thing just seems unnecessary to me. I am not really affected whether or not I do the PT test; however, my first question when I saw my name, as well as the other soldiers, on the Memorandum was "Can we put this on a resume..?" haha.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Dec 29 at 2016 3:24 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Thu, 29 Dec 2016 15:24:10 -0500

Is it in line with a published/posted standard? Is it inline with an AR, is he/she due for one? Are they coming off a profile? Did he tick of the 1SG?

Response by SFC Donald Kilgore made Jan 22 at 2017 10:02 PM

SFC Donald Kilgore — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 22:02:02 -0500

As a Soldier, you are required to follow the orders of the officers and NCO's appointed over you. Regardless of the reason, if you are instructed to complete a APFT, then complete the APFT. I swear that the discipline in the military is sadly lacking these days.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 8:48 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 20:48:26 -0400

Is there any reg stating or anything stating I have to take another PT test in order to ETS? I have already received my ETS orders and I'm currently in the process of clearing .

Response by SGT Jon Hibbs made Sep 15 at 2017 2:37 PM

SGT Jon Hibbs — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 14:37:40 -0400

I was ETSing from the Reserves my last drill just happened to be the same as our PT Test. I was told I had to take it. I took the test. Command wasn't very happy with me when they saw my score. Zeros across the board. I did one sit-up, one push-up and walked a very slow two miles. Needless to say I did not get a end of tour award. Really didn't care about that as that is not why I joined the military. I joined because I was patriotic. I left after 13 yrs and two deployments.

Response by Sgt David Hutchinson made Sep 17 at 2017 10:44 PM

Sgt David Hutchinson — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 22:44:26 -0400

What the hell is an ETS award..... is that basically a you did your job so here's a cookie award? Holy crap on a crap sandwich.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2019 9:53 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 21:53:57 -0400

For an ETS or retirement award to be approved, no it's not required.

Response by 1SG Leroy Lucero made Jan 25 at 2020 7:53 AM

1SG Leroy Lucero — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 07:53:44 -0500

No, as long as he hasn’t failed the previous one

Response by SGT Duane Wilson made Jun 1 at 2020 3:50 PM

SGT Duane Wilson — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 15:50:43 -0400

Wow, unit morale much? That's poor leadership. If I was the soldier ETS ing, I'd tell them to stick the award. There's absolutely no reason to mess with a soldier this way, even if he was Joe Shitbag.

Response by SFC Danny McDaniel made Jun 27 at 2020 11:27 AM

SFC Danny McDaniel — Sat, 27 Jun 2020 11:27:02 -0400

I refused mine before retirement. I told them to keep the award because one day after retiring, it meant nothing to me. I still got the MSM.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2020 11:40 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 23:40:10 -0500

Go out there take that dive to start that medical and the inquiry that will follow