Raining when you show up for APFT: Run it or postpone?

I like running in the rain. First, you hardly expend personal sweat resources. Second, you don't overheat and can go for extended miles.

And lastly, if you start coughing and sneezing afterwards, you can blame Ebola and get a 21 day convalescent. Hopefully

Unless there is a dangerous element to the weather stick to the training schedule. It is an assessment tool but assessment with stressors and reasonable challenges is valuable. I've never seen weather impact an APFT score dramatically except for extreme heat and humidity, in which case some rain might be welcomed. Bang it out, get it done. If weather is going to impact you that much your attitude likely needs more exercise than your body.

APFT. Must be completed as scheduled .As long as the weather is not to a extreme that could cause harm to the troops. Also if you're training to be a Navy Seal.

It is more of a safety question.... if it is a light rain and will not cause Soldiers to slide/fall and get injured then by all means carry on. If you know for sure the weather will be better the next day and everyone needed will be available - to help the Soldiers achieve the best score possible - then I could see waiting 24 hours. The only legitimate reason to cancel (or postpone) an APFT is if the weather would be cause for safety concern: low visibility, ice, the track/road has not been cleared of snow/debris. If Soldiers are in good shape a little rain should not hinder their ability to pass.

You must conduct a quick review of your risk assessment and if the danger outweighs the event being conducted safely then postpone otherwise carry out the mission and event. Yes there will be soldiers that complain but guess what that is their right and when they stop complaining is when I begin to worry.

The APFT was on the training schedule approved by the battalion commander, technically only he can authorize to postpone the training. With that said, as long as it isn't a massive thunderstorm I would continue with the APFT. It has been scheduled, the unit should have trained and prepared for it, Soldiers have adjusted their personal workout schedule for it, and a little rain never hurt anyone.

I loved running in the rain. Since you asked I would continue with PT but would postpone APFT. A lot rides on the APFT if you are Army.

The point - often lost - of an APFT is that it is an assessment tool. While you can run it in inclement weather, you will not get a proper assessment of where your unit is. Unless there is some form of pressure to run it on a certain day, postpone it. Let your troops perform at their best.

When I was active, I was in great shape and the weather wouldn't matter or affect my ability to complete my tasks. You should be able to perform at your best regardless of the conditions.

I was always "taught" that an APFT should be administered only under the most optimum of conditions if at all possible. If postponing it by a day or two until there is better weather is feasible and will not interfere with other training/mission accomplishment then I say postpone it. As for the "It ain't raining, we ain't training" schizzle, I used to tell my students at PLDC (jokingly of course).."First one of you utters that crap, I will stab you in the eye with my bayonet!!"...I could not stand that frickin statement!! LOL!!

LTC (Join to see) , I would post-pone. A wet running surface increases the odds for injury. While it may not be significant, why chance it?

I failed to mention this, but I'd also want to remind you that if you end up having to reschedule, and during the period leading up to the APFT, something else happens (or weather worsens, or Soldiers go on leave or PCS or are injured), you may cause them to exceed the 12 month window for promotion purposes.

Unless there is a legitimate danger to the Soldiers on the date of the scheduled APFT, conduct the training. If a Soldier elects to not take it that day for whatever reason, then THEY will be responsible for the consequences.

If the Soldier suffers administratively or otherwise because the unit kept pushing APFT dates out, then that's a critical leadership malfunction.

Unless the weather is so serious in nature that it can jeopardize the safety of the Soldiers, you should go through it.

A drizzle shouldn't be a deterrent; otherwise you could postpone for anything:

It's too sunny/hot!
It's too cold!
It's too dry/sandy!

Weather conditions that are within a moderate range are optimal... obviously if you shut down APFTs due to rain, we'd never test in Korea lol.

Run it. Twice.

As long as there is no lightning get those soldiers out there and get their butts working. Those of my generation could use some toughening up anyway.

SFC Jerry Crouch got it right, along with several others. The APFT is a record event which will be used to compare your Soldiers with other Soldiers who will probably have tested in conditions which worked to their best advantage - so don't disadvantage your Soldiers. And don't count on them being able to retest. I saw a commander hold an APFT in a downpour (if it ain't raining, it ain't training was said!), with Soldiers posting much lower scores than normal, and tell everyone they could retake it if they wanted a better score. A very high speed young Soldier who was preparing for promotion and putting in an OCS packet planned to do that, but that weekend he was badly injured while playing ball for the unit. Surgery, recovery, profile - nearly a year before he could raise that poor APFT score. All so that young commander could look 'hooah' in front of his troops. Don't punish your Soldiers for your own pride.

Normally, as a common soldier, I'm okay with leadership having us APFT on the rain, but, if my promotion was depending on it, I'd prefer it postponed.
Is there a choice, though, as far as those who are psyched to go ahead and get it over with? Some folks run better in the rain (my buddy does).
Maybe conduct it anyway, and the ones who feel unsatisfied with their scores, let them re-take it? Maybe make it a general diagnostic unless they feel okay as a record?
Just looking at end from this end of the spectrum, Sir.

Since its a record I would say reschedule only if mission permits. The only thing is next time its raining you kinda have to do the same or it isnt "fair" and someone is going to complain.

Unless there is some reason not to postpone it, I would postpone it for the better scores. It wouldn't be wrong to continue on with it on a Saturday, but your best bet is to go with a Sunday.

For a regular Army unit, though, knock it out. You have plenty of opportunities to take a record APFT throughout the month, and they don't have to be executed at the company level.

My ideal plan of action would be to conduct PU/ SU indoors, run outside if conditions do not present a hazardous situation.

In order to really give my thought's, I would have to know how bad the rain was. If it was a light sprinkle, I don't see a issue, but if it was pouring, I would say move it to another day. I don't like feeling like I weigh more and having to run for a PT test. Now by all means don't think I don't run in my gear, and have to sprint in training. I find a PT test to be one of the top two things that stress me out. I have never fail one, and I don't just do the minimums, I think it's all the stress of what can happen if you fail. I'm in no way a lazy soldier, or unfit, but that's what it looks like when you fail one. So I personally would move it to a better day, people will pass if it's a light drizzle, or the sun is out. People will also fail despite the weather. It really boils down to the soldiers fitness level, there really is only a small chance the weather will change the outcome of someone passing or failing in my opinion. Since I stress a PT test so much though, I would like to take it in dry conditions. Lol