PFT failure vs. Body fat non compliance

2014-05-21T07:20:38-04:00

Which one do you feel is worse and why? I specifically did not put HT/WT failure because many of us do not meet the required weight for our height. I have not been 194 pounds or less in quite a few years, but I have no problem passing my tape test. Let's hear what the community has to offer on this??

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 7:25 AM

2014-05-21T07:25:59-04:00

Usually these go hand in hand. People who don't pass the APFT are generally overweight. Something I was told years ago that I've really found to be true... 10 lbs = 1 minute on the 2 mile run.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 21 at 2014 7:26 AM

2014-05-21T07:26:45-04:00

Option C, failure to qualify on your assigned weapon.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 7:53 AM

2014-05-21T07:53:41-04:00

There is a difference between being big while fit and big while fat. I know that our method of measuring body mass composition is not the best, but it is the given standard. We must adhere to it.

I have experience working with these individuals who may only be described as HUGE; the gym rats! However they never busy tape. I've seen others that are large in appearance and actually bust tape. Those are the ones who aren't meeting the standard. We should focus and help those.

Don't be fooled by the obese guy that can bench press an impressive amount of weight. Obese is obese! I believe our metrics give a rough or rudimentary method of measuring a portion of fitness level. Don't take me wrong, that same fat guy may be the only one pulling you out of a burning MRAP that rolled over into a pond and is 30 feet under water (it makes sense in my head). Perhaps the only one to muster up the courage to even attempt a rescue! The most frustrating case is the 300 APFT score who ran faster than I and still busted tape... There are flaws in the system, BUT NOT EVERYONE MAY BE CATEGORIZED WITHIN THE SAME FLAW.

Failing to meet the standard doesn't mean he/she is a bad Soldier!

Failing the APFT... Even civilians know we have to take one. What did the individual to IOT prepare? Career Soldiers had their entire career to prepare; why the failure? Our test is fairly simple and straight forward; push ups, sit ups, run. We should be striving for better PERFORMANCE every time. Why not? This is a key way to set yourself apart from your peers, promote competition, and Espirit de Corp.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2014 8:18 AM

2014-05-21T08:18:04-04:00

I would say AFPT failure. If you are unable to do the bare minimum requirements for an APFT, the likelihood of you being able to physically endure the rigors of "Conventional" War is greatly diminished. COIN warfare has tainted our view of what war is/can be.
The 600-9 HT/WT system is flawed in determining actual BF%.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made May 21 at 2014 12:45 PM

2014-05-21T12:45:00-04:00

SFC Gilley,

The one PFT/BMI issue I will always remember was the 0 Day of Air Assault School. Anyone who showed up for Air Assault School without a current, by their standards, APFT was given a test first thing that morning. There were some soldiers who had brought their DA Form 705 (within the last 6 months but not within whatever their time period was) but had to take a record APFT first thing at the start of the course. So there is this soldier who takes his APFT, does the Obstacle Course, to standard (which most people never do…for all of us who have done the Obstacle Course), and then complete the formation run back to the Air Assault School followed by an hour of additional physical training. The Air Assault instructors were trying to weed out as many as they could early…continually…so it was a ‘nice’ pace and distance, with lots of extra fun collapsing into the mud from push-ups, flutter kicks and mountain climbers. Finally we break for lunch and then they do the weight and height, and tape those who need it. I remember some poor…lucky…E-5 who made it through all of this only to be sent home his neck was too small.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 21 at 2014 2:01 PM

2014-05-21T14:01:12-04:00

SFC (P) Gilley, I think both are equally bad however, it is probably easier to loose 4 lbs in one day worth of water weight and a visit to the toilet than shedding that 1 percent over max body fat allowed. At any rate, I say meet standards in both area and soldiers will be good to go.

Response by SSG Jake Turner made May 22 at 2014 1:13 AM

2014-05-22T01:13:31-04:00

Being physically fit is far more than simply passing the tape and PT tests. It is a life style change that each of us has to equally accept. Being physically fit as an abundance of advantages from being able to increase your ability to survive in combat to reducing the chances that you get sick. As a leader it is our duty to teach our Soldiers the in and outs of their chosen profession but also teach them how to eat healthy. To answer the question honestly they are equally important and everyone knows what the standards are and how to stay above them. However, I would rather have someone that is a pt stud and 1% over their body fat. As opposed to someone that was a pt stud and physically fit. The reason that I say this is because they know and understand the value of hard work and can be taught how to eat a little cleaner and lose that 1 percent. I have met some Soldiers who only have physical fitness as their claim to fame and have trouble meeting that standard in other aspects of their profession.

Response by PO1 Derrick Miller made Mar 13 at 2015 5:40 PM

2015-03-13T17:40:36-04:00

I would say PFT failure is a far bigger issue than body fat non compliance. I think I passed one Body fat test in the 9 years I was in but could always pass the run/push ups and sit-ups. If you can't pass a fit test then there is a possibility you can't do what is expected or need of you on the job, or if you are in combat. Being overweight is just hindering one person, but if they can still do what is required I never really saw the issue. But for my height I had to weigh 189 lbs. Last time I did that was a freshmen.

Response by SSgt Paul Esquibel made Jan 15 at 2019 9:28 PM

2019-01-15T21:28:11-05:00

Well from an Air Force perspective they needed to keep the waist and neck measurement that we used to use based off the Army standard To at least offset genetically bigger and wide hip personnel I’m 6 foot four and I look like a linebacker and I had to maintain a 39 inch waist or less in order to offset the points in order to pass My average weight was between 250 and 265 and I still managed to run a 1.5 in under 12 minutes max my push-ups and sit ups out Unfortunately the waist measurement is a force shaping tool