PRT or CrossFit? Which do you think provides better results?

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 19:19:32 -0500

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2014 7:25 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 19:25:10 -0500

PRT is just a baseline for soldier conditioning. Now, if you want to improve overall performance you have to go with Crossfit.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2014 7:25 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 19:25:34 -0500

I would have to say Cross Fit - no question. Not to mention - that I absolutely hate PRT.

Response by SSG Oliver Mathews made Feb 1 at 2014 9:31 PM

SSG Oliver Mathews — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 21:31:32 -0500

In all honesty, I believe that each have their place. I have never been able to get a full hard sweat going when doing PRT, but i have been sore from doing it. But for the short time that i have done Cross Fit, i was sore for days after.

When i was in Highshcool i was a Power Lifter and i played football. Something i learned early about working out is that everyone is on different levels, and everyone has different strengths. The standard Army PT PRT or good old 21-20, is a great base line and looks great to the public eye (read "Oh look at all those people doing synchronized PT"). But i dont believe that PRT or 21-20 could fully train a persons body. Much like public school it is for the "average" solider. and i understand that some commands have the 300 club where you can do PT on your own. But at the end it should be based on Focus groups.

This Focus group idea is where i have seen and felt that Cross Fit, and other outside the box/regulation PT is more effective over the long run. When i arrived at my current unit, i arrived at the same time as 3 soldiers. The command put them under me and we where instructed to do PT on our own. this is a VERY unique unit. I did not do PRT nor did i do 21-20, I focused on what each soldier needed to improve on and worked those weaknesses while maintaining the strengths. Each of the soldiers improved and we had a Team average of 260. where at the beginning it was in the low two hundreds.

If i had to say which is better? Cross Fit. But taking a Private who can hardly pass a PT test, and giving him cross fit when he is not even used to doing PT? No..

Response by 1SG Eric Rice made Feb 1 at 2014 9:49 PM

1SG Eric Rice — Sat, 01 Feb 2014 21:49:58 -0500

1SG Haro,

PRT was developed to mitigate injuries and increase soldier fitness as a whole to include those with injuries. One of the major issues is that PRT is not implemented correctly. If we actually dive more into the publication it covers a lot more than just preparation drills, conditioning drills 1 and 2, and recovery drills. It includes Kettlebell training as well which provides for a great workout. There are also alternate exercises for those with medical restrictions in lieu of having soldiers do the overhead clap excessively. My suggestion is that each Battalion, Brigade, or installation develop a Cross Fit program for those who wish to participate. As well as send an NCO to the Master Fitness School to ensure the organizations PRT program is being conducted properly.

SFC Rice

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2014 6:49 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 06:49:05 -0500

A lot of folks here drinking the Crossfit Koolaid. How about any exercise program done with the proper programming, frequency, and intensity. PRT can do this too.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2014 6:05 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 02 Feb 2014 18:05:00 -0500

No question about it, Crossfit improves overall fitness, while PRT is a joke.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2014 7:54 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 07:54:37 -0500

It all depends on what results you are looking for. They each have their pros and cons.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2014 8:04 AM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2014 08:04:10 -0500

Both have their place, it's the smart person who knows when which one is appropriate.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 4:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 04:36:45 -0500

1SG,

I dont mind Cross Fit but cant stand when it is all you talk about. Do the crossfit and get be done with it! PRT works if you use it right but here in Korea my Platoon Sergeant doesnt want to do it. All we do is the prep drill and go to the gym or run.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 9:24 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:24:22 -0500

I like Crossfit, but prefer "Military Athlete" it is more Combat Arms/Tactical oriented.

Also SGM. (Ret) Pat Mcnamara's TMAC Inc is good for long-term physical fitness for combat soldiers.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 9:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:28:37 -0500

Top I would honestly say cross fit is a much better work out

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2014 9:47 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 21:47:27 -0500

From FM 7-22

Why is PRT a mandatory training requirement?

1-4. Physical readiness training is a mandatory training requirement because it is—

 Considered by senior leaders to be essential to individual, unit, and force readiness.

 Required by law for all individuals and units.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Granted everyone wants Cross Fit, Insanity, P90x etc... Soldiers have off duty hours to do that if they wish. Lets stick with what the Army invested on. I invite some of you to do a session involving Prep Drill ten reps, CD1 Ten Reps; CD2 Ten Reps, CD3 Ten Reps and CL five reps. And than start all over again from CD1.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 9:46 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 09:46:58 -0500

What is critical to remember regardless of the physical training regimen adopted is a focus on SAFETY. With the first major, documented CrossFit injury just recently, the focus needs to return to the things we as military members have always emphasized during all phases of training, the safe execution of the task at hand.

While I would agree that many of the newer fitness models that emphasize rapid transitioning and multiple muscle group engagement is an excellent physical fitness exercise, we must remember that the body becomes fatigued as the workout progresses, and we have a reduction in ability to execute at the same level. With multiple muscle group engagement you may find that while you are executing a relatively lightly used muscle group in a later exercise, the supporting muscles may be fatigued, which can limit the ability to stabilize and execute a perfect repetition. This is when you open your body up for injury.

Regardless of the type of exercise you choose to do, ensure that you read the signs your body is giving you, and don't barrell blindly into repetition execution, ignoring potentially harmful signals that you're approaching muscle exhaustion.

Response by SSG Roderick Smith made Mar 10 at 2014 8:43 PM

SSG Roderick Smith — Mon, 10 Mar 2014 20:43:06 -0400

My CDR at my last unit was a very open and innovative individual. We started conducting PRT to standard, but it was obvious that the standard wasn't well known. We set up a sort of training program where everyone had to plan and instruct a few PRT sessions, right down to the risk assessment. Once we got that down, we mixed in one session of CrossFit every week. It was turned into a competition where Soldiers were recognized for finishing at the top in timed events and improvements over past times. It was a huge success, both with unit morale and overall physical fitness. He even sent a couple NCOs to a course to become CrossFit trainers.

There are tons of exercises that can be done with PRT. If you stick with the basic PD, CD1 and 2, RD, etc., then yes it sucks and won't accomplish much. Dig deep into the reg. There is a lot there. Some of it is even CrossFit/P90X/Insanity-esque.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2016 10:31 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 24 May 2016 10:31:01 -0400

CrossFit 100%.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2016 6:43 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:43:36 -0500

The Army just became the fattest branch in the military.... I've never liked PRT. The Army spends so much time and money on failed programs and implements them by force, regardless of the lack of meaningful results. Everything from PRT to the Army APFT is inadequate and outdated for the sustainable physical fitness of todays soldiers. My suggestion is to look at the Marine Corps physical fitness program. Obviously that seems to be working.