Posted on Oct 4, 2014
Raining when you show up for APFT: Run it or postpone?
35.6K
158
80
4
4
0
So I was in this situation this morning where I showed up to the APFT and was faced with the choice: have the test or postpone it due to weather. Do you say "if it ain't raining we ain't training" or do I postpone until tomorrow when the weather will be nicer as this is a test and the test matters for advancements for about four people taking it and promotion packets for some NCOs and officers?
What would you do a why?
What would you do a why?
Posted in these groups: 
APFT
Meteorology
APFT Meteorology
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 45
No danger to troops (light rain, etc) then continue on. If soldiers aren't happy with their APFT results, there is always a retake (which I would make available next week (or drill weekend) if they feel so inclined to take advantage of ;)
(12)
(1)
Suspended Profile
It is too easy to move the test date. You cannot offer the RECORD APFT again for 90 days from execution. The REG states atleast 90 days between tests. Might as well do it right and move the date. I have enough whining from some on a beautiful day that I would hate to see the line of complaints when it is an easy solution.
COL Randall C.
1SG Eliseo Navarrete, actually the regulation states that there will be a four month separation between tests. You're probably thinking of the requirements to retest Soldiers that fail the APFT within 90 days. Either way, Soliders doing a make-up or restesting because of APFT failure are exempt from the four month rule.
I can't tell them they they are going to take a record APFT within the four month window (except for APFT failures), but if they want to retake it because they want to improve their score, they are free to do so.
I can't tell them they they are going to take a record APFT within the four month window (except for APFT failures), but if they want to retake it because they want to improve their score, they are free to do so.
(1)
(0)
Suspended Profile
LTC Cudworth, that is correct in the pretense you are using. I was referring to the Soldier that fails and we want to let them retake it the next day. I wouldn't do that. The Commander would counsel them advising that this counts as a 90 day record. If they fail again, they are out.
Lt Col Michael Hills
My dad was Army (family joke is that me joining the Air Force was as much rebellion as he would tolerate) and he always said if it ain't raining, it ain't training so if we train like we fight, long as no threat to the troops (i.e. lightening and such) I say suck it up and knock it out. Honestly, if you are that close to the bubble that rain impacts your ability to pass, you aren't where you need to be.
(2)
(0)
11
10
1
If a light rain, execute training. If heavy enough that you feel safety will be impacted, reschedule. Getting wet, in and of itself, shouldn't affect performance. (exceptions for monsoons.)
Personally, I prefer it to lightly rain, or drizzle when I run the 2 mile.
Personally, I prefer it to lightly rain, or drizzle when I run the 2 mile.
(11)
(1)
SFC Brian Mattson
Run it, Battle does not wait for the weather, so we must learn to cope with it and use it to our advantage
(3)
(0)
6
5
1
There is something about running in the rain that makes it great. I say go for it and do a long run...as long as there is no lightning.
(6)
(1)
CPT Jacob Swartout
LTC (Join to see) giving the four Soldiers an option to do an APFT the next day is your choice. It may or may not give them a better score. All four may actually prefer it and I would ask them as long as you can say that there is no real danger or chance of high injuries from running in the rain. Like my last command told us, light rain shouldn't stop anyone from taking it. Good leaders can make a smart determination when knowing if it is too risky or just fine to conduct an APFT in rain. A heavy rain storm than yes, postpone it. I didn't fully read your post yesterday as I was skimming down RP for a quick minute. I have taken 2-3 APFTs in the rain before and STILL passed without any problems. Rain doesn't bother me. COL Vincent Stoneking COL Randall C.
(2)
(0)
Sometimes you just got to ranger up. If you train in perfect conditions you are cheating yourself.
(4)
(0)
SFC(P) (Join to see)
CPT (Join to see), Temperature is one thing sir, that's not something you can avoid, however, we should set our soldiers up for success. While running casually in the rain may be peaceful, trying to conduct push-ups, sit-ups, and run the two mile as fast as possible in the rain can lead to injuries, which can take your soldiers out of the fight.
(1)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
If it is dangerous or involves unusually high risk that may determine if it is a go. Ask someone taking a APFT on Alaska or in fort Irwin. You can't always train how you want. Weather is a factor how to complete the mission and not whether you complete the mission.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
I think no one is suggesting severe weather but lighter rain. As a Meteorologist I get the need to train under adverse conditions and know what to do when those conditions exist. It is also good for forecasters to understand this by being embedded as much as possible. Combat weather forecasters are a hedge like a medic against injury.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
I think it depends. If it is a light drizzle, press on. If it is actually raining, it becomes a safety hazard, and I would probably have to say try again tomorrow.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
If it were a regular PT morning, definitely suck it up and get ready to get wet and dirty.
Even though FM21-20 does state, weather and environmental conditions does not inhibit performance, we all (most) know better. If it's a light rain, I would continue to administer the test. If it were a freezing rain, snow, etc I would and have postponed the test. The PT test is an individual measure of my Soldiers performance. I give them every opportunity to give there best. True Story: As the HQs 1SG, the PT test had been on the training schedule for 8 weeks out. The morning of the PT test, it was raining (not to hard, but it was windy and pretty darn chilly). The Bn Cdr and CSM were also scheduled to take the test. I swung by the Bn Cdr office on the way to the test site to make he was reminded. He said, "Not today for me 1SG, to wet and cold!" I said "Roger that, Sir!" and went on to the PT Test site. Everyone was there (about 25 Soldiers). I called them to ATTENTION & AT EASE and informed them the test was postponed as it was to wet and cold! Now that caused a big round of cheers and hoooahs! After dismissing the group and heading back to my orderly room, the CSM who had been standing at the rear of the formation, came up and said, "Mack, what the hell?". I informed him, the test was canceled as it was to wet and cold. He said, "That's BS, it's not to wet and cold for me!" I said, "No argument from me, but he wasn't the Bn Cdr, who said it was for him, and if it's too wet and cold for him, therefore its to wet and cold for my Soldiers. He smiled, and said, "OK, I get it, Good move" and off we went to the mess hall.
Every Soldier out there knew the Bn Cdr and CSM were supposed to be out there. Self-serving decisions by leaders impacts morale...and morale can impact a Soldiers output and desire to excell. I remembered many mornings as a young Troop out there in cold, wind, rain, snow, doing PT and wondering why so many of my leaders decided to just not show up that morning, but it wasn't to wet, cold, rainy and snowy for me and the other Soldiers and young NCOs out there.
It was my call to make as 1SG.
Do what you think is best for your Soldiers....with all factors other than weather considered.
Even though FM21-20 does state, weather and environmental conditions does not inhibit performance, we all (most) know better. If it's a light rain, I would continue to administer the test. If it were a freezing rain, snow, etc I would and have postponed the test. The PT test is an individual measure of my Soldiers performance. I give them every opportunity to give there best. True Story: As the HQs 1SG, the PT test had been on the training schedule for 8 weeks out. The morning of the PT test, it was raining (not to hard, but it was windy and pretty darn chilly). The Bn Cdr and CSM were also scheduled to take the test. I swung by the Bn Cdr office on the way to the test site to make he was reminded. He said, "Not today for me 1SG, to wet and cold!" I said "Roger that, Sir!" and went on to the PT Test site. Everyone was there (about 25 Soldiers). I called them to ATTENTION & AT EASE and informed them the test was postponed as it was to wet and cold! Now that caused a big round of cheers and hoooahs! After dismissing the group and heading back to my orderly room, the CSM who had been standing at the rear of the formation, came up and said, "Mack, what the hell?". I informed him, the test was canceled as it was to wet and cold. He said, "That's BS, it's not to wet and cold for me!" I said, "No argument from me, but he wasn't the Bn Cdr, who said it was for him, and if it's too wet and cold for him, therefore its to wet and cold for my Soldiers. He smiled, and said, "OK, I get it, Good move" and off we went to the mess hall.
Every Soldier out there knew the Bn Cdr and CSM were supposed to be out there. Self-serving decisions by leaders impacts morale...and morale can impact a Soldiers output and desire to excell. I remembered many mornings as a young Troop out there in cold, wind, rain, snow, doing PT and wondering why so many of my leaders decided to just not show up that morning, but it wasn't to wet, cold, rainy and snowy for me and the other Soldiers and young NCOs out there.
It was my call to make as 1SG.
Do what you think is best for your Soldiers....with all factors other than weather considered.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
No lightning then the show must go on LTC (Join to see) . It might actually help in the running. You run faster – This is a fact; ask any runner. When running in the rain, you are focused on getting out of the rain rather than how far you’ve actually run. Your sights are set on the finish line and you are able to run at a faster pace. I love a raining day.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Run it. I've run plenty of PFT tests in the rain, I've shot on the rifle range in the rain. Just because you get a little wet should not mean you can't perform.
(2)
(0)
2
2
0
Push it until tomorrow; if this is important for promotion/school admission, why add an extra hurdle.
(2)
(0)
CPT (Join to see)
How do can you confirm if the weather will be any better the next day. Minus it being high risk I don't see why you would push it over another day. We had it rain on the day scheduled for the PT test. They still did it. We didn't have any failures or issues. You can always find a reason not to take it if you look hard enough. When you push it off you will have to evaluate what reason is good enough.
(3)
(0)
SFC (Join to see)
Sir, if they fail a PT test because it is raining then they were not prepared to take it in the first place. Maxing the minimum is not the right answer.
(1)
(0)
LTC (Join to see)
I don't disagree with either of your points; here is where I am coming from (all based on a hypothetical situation in a thread). If I have NCOs trying to get into a competitive school (RSLC ?), I want to give them any advantage I can to succeed.
I understand people see it other ways, I just see that "easy fix" as me working to develop my leaders...I'd move the test one day if I thought it would help.
I understand people see it other ways, I just see that "easy fix" as me working to develop my leaders...I'd move the test one day if I thought it would help.
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google