Is it the right answer to make a Soldier take an APFT right after being positive for covid-19?

2020-08-03T15:33:07-04:00

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.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Aug 3 at 2020 3:39 PM

2020-08-03T15:39:02-04:00

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).

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2020 3:40 PM

2020-08-03T15:40:22-04:00

Active, Guard or Reserve and does the soldier have a passing record APFT currently?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2020 4:14 PM

2020-08-03T16:14:02-04:00

That’s very hard. If the chain of command is aware of this and this is the entire story, then I honestly don’t know. I would never as a leader put myself in this position.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2020 5:42 PM

2020-08-03T17:42:46-04:00

I'm pretty sure an order went out that said no more APFT unless someone is flagged or for school. I really recall the SMA saying the APFT is dead...

Sick call can't give a profile but they can give them quarters if they still have symptoms...my boss just had 10 days of quarters and tested negative.

As someone else said, even have her go to the ER day of and say she has symptoms. She'll get quarters.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Aug 3 at 2020 6:18 PM

2020-08-03T18:18:24-04:00

Sick Call.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2020 7:06 PM

2020-08-03T19:06:32-04:00

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.

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 3 at 2020 7:31 PM

2020-08-03T19:31:38-04:00

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.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2020 8:59 PM

2020-08-03T20:59:01-04:00

Well that’s one way to lose your command.......

I would ask if the CO asking this SM to take a record apft has done a proper risk assessment for said activity. If they say yes and something bad happens to the SM well they might as well pack up their office and polish up that resume.

If this is the total story then this is just poor leadership in my opinion. If this soldier has always done well with PT and all other parts of their career then I don’t see why they would risk their health and career by making them take a for record APFT 2 days after COVID quarantine was over. Most likely this SM has bronchitis or pneumonia. They need to get to the ER and as others said I’d go the day of the scheduled APFT if that’s what it takes.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2020 9:59 PM

2020-08-03T21:59:39-04:00

I guess the confusion with the command team might be the MILPER's pertaining to COVID-19 don't say ***IN GENERAL*** Record APFT is on hold. The MILPER's I am finding are saying that APFT's are waived or the latest record is locked in until further notice for those specific situations where a current record APFT is needed as part of the process.

So while I guess an APFT can be administered for the sake of it, once an action is levied against the soldier for that APFT score the soldier is going to have a host of MILPER's to reference against the command team because it looks like essentially any conceivable scenario needed an APFT after the COVID-19 cut off date has a hold in place MILPER.

Response by CPO Robert Foster made Aug 3 at 2020 10:00 PM

2020-08-03T22:00:04-04:00

This is asinine, common sense should prevail. The Company has a beef if they refuse to wait for the SM to see his PCM.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2020 5:58 AM

2020-08-04T05:58:30-04:00

Absolutely not. In fact, it is DIRECTLY against guidance in multiple fashions, COVID 19 risk mitigation and the Army APFT policy. Poor taste, unsafe, and idiotic.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Aug 4 at 2020 2:29 PM

2020-08-04T14:29:59-04:00

Hell no. This is one of those where you plead with your command using all the points in your CoC. If they persist, sick call at the earliest opportunity. Get it on record. At the very least they will test the SM and put him on quarters or should.

And then a call to the IG. This is an all round cluster that needs addressing now before lives are detrimentally impacted.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2020 3:42 PM

2020-08-04T15:42:52-04:00

That Soldier need to go to the emergency room asap...... he could possibly have pneumonia, which is nothing to play with. Tell SM don't wait for appointment with PCM. Once pneumonia sets in, it will be hard to reverse....... APFT should be last thing in mind.

Response by 1SG Jerry Betances made Sep 14 at 2020 2:13 PM

2020-09-14T14:13:17-04:00

At this point the BDE Surgent should have , in place a contingency for this type of issue .
if not , then I would agree . recommend to the Command Group at your Company Troop Battery Level that SM's who recently were released from quarantine complete a diagnostic two weeks after RTD.
That is looking after the Soldier and allows a base line for improvement upon completion of the diagnostic ACFT .
additionally any SM that is RTD should receive a Profile prior to his return to the unit . allowing the SM to to condition himself for that Diagnostic ACFT.

Response by SMSgt Bob Wilson made Oct 5 at 2020 4:56 PM

2020-10-05T16:56:14-04:00

Ya know, Doctors can work miracles with paper. The good SM is not deployable in the present state. If the APFT is given, the recovery time may be extended or worse. Again, management a serious case of rectal cranial inversion.

Response by SPC John Tacetta made Oct 7 at 2020 9:32 AM

2020-10-07T09:32:09-04:00

This is so wrong, but that's chickenshit for you. I'm amazed the Medical Officer is even letting this happen, and to a SM at that.. Hey, they can work you long, but they can't work you hard! Given a direct order: show up, go through the motions, challenge the results.