Posted on Aug 3, 2020
Is it the right answer to make a Soldier take an APFT right after being positive for covid-19?
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I have a SM who tested positive for covid-19 and the SM quarantine ends soon and the SM still has shortness of breath. The company is making the SM take a APFT 2 days after they get back. Is there anything that can be done to help? Before its asked they already made an appt with their pcm for a profile but its after the APFT and sick call can't give them a profile only their pcm can.
Posted in these groups: 
Coronavirus COVID19
APFT
Coronavirus COVID19 APFT
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
This just has sooooo much wrong creeping into my bones about this. I can see where the Command wants to perform a diagnostic to see where they are at....but two days after quarantine and with the SM still stating they have SOB is just too much of a risk in my book. I would recommend the SM go to the ER at the hospital to speak with a provider there that can write a temp profile excluding them from the APFT.
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LTC (Join to see)
I weep for the end of the garrison battalion aid station. This needs evaluation and documentation but the ER is not the place to do it. Find a competent 68W and let them run interference so get you to your PA.
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SSG Paul Headlee
Its a safe bet that the test reults will be an anomaly. Where's the benefit? Was he a chapter candidate before he aquired covid? Serious case of poor judgement.
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It doesn't take a big brain to realize that a soldier just coming off a respiratory illness is going to need some reconditioning time. Is there some reason we haven't been told yet why the command has its panties in a bunch to test so soon?
Unless the soldier was an absolute "shitbird" who'd used up his last nerve with me:
_If I were an NCO, I'd go up the NCO chain as high as I could as fast as I could saying "WTF?"
_As a junior officer, I'd do the same up the officer chain. Plus, I'd assign the soldier to some duty that precluded his participation in the scheduled PFT, then beg forgiveness. I would reschedule the make-up PFT a couple of weeks down the road.
Unless the soldier was an absolute "shitbird" who'd used up his last nerve with me:
_If I were an NCO, I'd go up the NCO chain as high as I could as fast as I could saying "WTF?"
_As a junior officer, I'd do the same up the officer chain. Plus, I'd assign the soldier to some duty that precluded his participation in the scheduled PFT, then beg forgiveness. I would reschedule the make-up PFT a couple of weeks down the road.
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SGT (Join to see)
The SM is not by anymeans a shitbag one of the hardest working SM I've meet. They also have always excelled at P.T for whatever reason the chain of command wants everyone to take a APFT. We have pleaded our case up and get the normal you're taking one. I'm convincing the SM to go to the ER to get a profile there because they do still have covid-19 symptoms that we also brought up to the chain of command. The SM is hesitant to do so as to not look "weak". I was hoping someone would have regulation or a memo to help our case to the command.
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Maj John Bell
SGT (Join to see) - Keep up the fight, good soldiers deserve the loyalty of their NCO's I'd use whatever the Army's open door policy is called, go straight to the CO. If his answer does not make absolute sense to you, go higher. Even if it is after the PFT has been run, and even if the soldier aces it. There a lot worse things to have on your gravestone than "He fought the good fight, even though he could not win, and wouldn't stop."
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MSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - Not really a case of reg or memo...it's a case of their life. Literally their life. Life, Limb or Eyesight. There is no way in any Hell would I ever make a Soldier run 2 miles when they are still SOB after COVID. I see two possible outcomes. 1) They finish the run.....and live....but fail to meet the time; 2) They go into respiratory arrest and die. I see no valid reason why BN and Company Level are even entertaining this idea and willing to risk the life of this SM. Absolutely unacceptable.
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I am likely mistaken (wouldn’t be first time) but...I was under the impression that PFTs (different name for every branch) had been suspended because of Covid? Is that not the case? Or was it the case, and now it has reverted back to normal?(although every gym in the works is closed).
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
CMSgt James Nolan - You're thinking through the AF lens...the Army does things harder, not smarter.
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CMSgt James Nolan
SFC Kelly Fuerhoff all of my thinking goes through my initial indoctrination to USMC. Most of which followed me to AF, to the dismay of some....
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TSgt Carl Johnson
I have to agree with CMSgt James Nolan and SFC Thomas Foreman, it smells like bad leadership to me. SFC Kelly Fuerhoff, I was a TACP with 1st CAV, Ft. Hood, for a couple of years, and I get what you are saying, but I had hoped that the Army would have improved somewhat since then. Oh well.
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SFC Kelly Fuerhoff
TSgt Carl Johnson - It is bad leadership - and they are usually the ones who think harder, not smarter. It's been the same for 16 years and counting I've been in...4 more to go.
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