Profile PT: Is It Efficient Enough?

2015-03-05T02:38:02-05:00

If you spend long enough in the military, you will get hurt at one point or another. If you have 5+ years and you haven't been on at least one profile, then I don't know whether to be impressed or confused.

Whether permanent or temporary, when you are hurt there are certain limitations to what you can do. Do you feel the military is doing enough with these personnel? Do you think 3 saunters around "the block" is enough to ensure those people are staying physically fit?

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2015 2:51 AM

2015-03-05T02:51:12-05:00

The Army has directed that reconditioning PRT be conducted at the battalion level. That means it is the CSM's job to ensure that it is conducted properly. Properly means that it is doing what it is supposed to be doing, which is rehabilitating Soldiers. If profiles are just falling out on their own or in buddy groups the CSM is eventually going to get crushed when the Division CSM stops a couple of those "walkers" gallivanting down the street texting on their cell phones.

All profile Soldiers should be gathered in a central area and broken down by type of profile, red, amber, green (I usually allowed the green to do PT with their platoons). There should be healthy NCOs to take charge and facilitate each group as they conduct PT, preferably those NCOs are Master Fitness Trainers. I allowed early accountability for the groups if they were using the gym so they could get there before it got crowded.

The PA is a huge part of this and I held the medical platoon sergeant responsible for ensuring the PA was tracking. The PA should be making the determination on what group the profile Soldier should be in, or a doctor if injury is above the PA's pay grade.

Building the Soldier Athlete has some good examples of exercises for each group and a lot of the PRT 7-22 exercises can be modified for profiles. As leaders we do a terrible job of taking care of our hurt Soldiers, with just a little effort you can rehabilitate them and get them back in the fight.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2015 2:53 AM

2015-03-05T02:53:12-05:00

Not in the least.
I think if we are truly trying to reinforce the Soldier-Athlete program than we need to get sports medical professionals at the Brigade level at the very least. This will allow us to develop a individualized program that should help us keep the Soldiers that can recoup from their injuries.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2015 3:58 AM

2015-03-05T03:58:19-05:00

Absolutely not with a caveat. It's not that profile PT isn't enough, it's that we're doing it completely wrong. We should be focusing on putting these service members on the right track to recovery, possibly via physical therapy, and certainly with supervision from a sports therapist or similar medical personnel. From what CSM Private RallyPoint Member is saying I think the Army's already got the right idea with broke dicks being directly supervised by their higher command's top SNCO. This protects against issues with said broken one's lower command, ignoring or misunderstanding the profile, and ensures that said individuals aren't slacking off. I'd say that individual rehab programs designed for the individual in question should be provided as part of their profile, with the exercises designed to aid in rehab and maintain physical condition as much as possible.

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 5 at 2015 4:49 AM

2015-03-05T04:49:31-05:00

I vote note based on my experience of course that was 10 years ago. One unit that had I was in was probably the best but no were as good I got into a disagreement with the 1SG over doing last man up runs (Indian Runs/Fartlicks) there were three of us that were run at own pace and distance and we had been running together for 6 months and pretty much knew each other capabilities. I made a decision to limit the sprints because there were four of us and on that day two of the people were having bad days with their knees. Needless to say 1SG chewed me for changing his training schedule and I started to argue then realized I was not going to win and acknowledge I did change the training schedule. After he was done I politely asked if I could explain and he gave me about 30 seconds. The rest of the units I were in profile pt was a joke and most just went home early.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Mar 5 at 2015 9:27 AM

2015-03-05T09:27:36-05:00

I have to go with a no on this one, but with a caveat, profile pt like regular pt is only as good/efficient as the effort put forth by the individual Soldier. I know this personally as I was on a permanent no-running profile for the last 6 years of my career. Myself and most of the walkers I conducted our morning "saunters" pushed ourselves as we knew that we had to exert more effort to reach our training heart rates and get a good sweat going than the runners did. But I always ensured that whether alone or in a group that I did what I needed to do "get my blood going" so that I benefitted from my pt sessions, plus the 2.5 mile walk event on the APFT is no joke lol.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Mar 5 at 2015 2:22 PM

2015-03-05T14:22:20-05:00

SSG R. Aaron Houde,
I would choose being impressed. Although the first 5 years are also the most resilient (18-23).

Frankly the other posters, have it already covered. If you are on a profile or in the Corps a Light duty PT Chit, it should be about rehabilitation and not about making your sessions "look like" everyone else's PT.

Fix the broken, get them up to speed and then put them back on the line.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 5:21 AM

2015-03-06T05:21:53-05:00

I was put on profile after a jump injury and I will tell you know. I kept getting trouble because I would get fed up with the profile and just do PT with my troops. That being said risking further injury is not worth it but you will have to do other things.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2015 7:47 AM

2015-03-06T07:47:03-05:00

This is a pretty generalized question especially if one is not considering The complexity of injury or the duration of rehabilitation time. The complexity or severity of someone's injury could include such factors of injuries that are degenerative and therefore additional profiles may need to be increased but that does not necessarily define soldier.

Response by CW5 Jim Steddum made Mar 6 at 2015 7:50 AM

2015-03-06T07:50:49-05:00

I am on my first significant temp profile in 26 years due to a back injury. Physical Therapy and medicine can only do so much. Individuals must find creative ways to stay fit on their own, as it is actually an individual responsibility. Unit level PRT is a tool for commanders to assess readiness and build cohesion. It does not necessarily build fitness.

Response by SPC Chris Benamati made Mar 6 at 2015 5:11 PM

2015-03-06T17:11:29-05:00

When I was in I was hurt a few times and now know that if I had gone through some Physical Therapy in stead of waking around a track or "going to the gym" then I would have been better faster. Also, I would have learned a better way of doing things like proper lifting techniques...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 7 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-03-07T16:47:46-05:00

Definitely Not! I am sick and tired of seeing people walk around and not even trying to walk in a manner that would get a persons heart rate up.

It is very frustrating. I have so many injuries it is not funny. The Doctors cannot believe that I am capable of what I do. They say that I should not be able to function. I still score 295 and above on the fitness test.

These young Soldiers have no "Personal Pride!"

I think they should do things within their profile limitations but many try to get a "Dead Man" My answer to that is how can you drive or get out of bed?

There needs to be reality.

Every time I have been injured I exercised as much as I could. Maybe I am nutty.

Response by SGT S Sharpless made Apr 23 at 2015 1:53 PM

2015-04-23T13:53:45-04:00

I would say absolutely not. I have chronic foot pain in the left foot and my company profile was pt was going to the gym and work on "arms" or "cardio" or "legs." It was not beneficial at all and in my opinion didn't meet the physical needs of each soldier. It was a waste of time and a way to get those of us on profile out of the way. In order for profile pt to be successful I think that the person planning it should sit down with each soldier and develop a plan that will meet his or her physical needs while not exceeding the limitations of their profile.