Running at the pace of the slowest person?

I agree and disagree. I think it's what is trying to be accomplished during the run. Monday morning ability group runs should challenge everyone in the formation (I'm a fan of the release run for this), if someone if falling out I would (in my NCO days) either designate an NCO to push that Soldier or do it myself. Now, if we are talking a Friday "motivational" run then I say keep the group together, continue to push that Soldier, but keep in mind the purpose of the run.

At some point, that slowest person will indeed pick up the pace or find themselves gone. That is typically how it works so if we are talking about a formation run, a known team/unit building exercise then yes I feel you should. If you are running regularly anyways, that one run isn't going to kill your APFT score.

Unit PT is about cohesion and morale building. If you have an extremely slow runner then it is the job of the NCO's in charge to monitor their physical fitness. The last thing you want to do in unit PT is leave someone behind...very counter productive to the whole military concept. At the same time i DO NOT believe in the ability group concept, i think that kind of PT keeps troops in their comfort zone and never improves them. Thats why you gotta have a good ole Marine Corps indian run lol

I have no problems with motivating them to keep up. I would even endorse assigning someone too pace him if he starts to fall back, but PT is an individual responsibility. My first squad leader told me "unit pt is too maintain. Your improvements are going come after work, when no one is looking". With that being said, if we are doing a team i can see slowing the pace a bit to let everyone catch a breather, reorganize, etc. But if joe is a quarter mile back, i dont see how hindering the whole team for one guy not cutting the mustard makes sense. Im sure most will not agree, and thats ok. However i want a self motivated, responsible team mate to surround myself with

P.S if i didnt already mention it, im referring to the Soldier that complains about running is too hard yet always has a baconator for lunch and a pack of Newports always near by.

During training and PT I fully endorse and support pushing soldiers to the max for building them to become better. Altering terrain and putting in a fantastic hill slows them down but only until they become proficient at it....how will they unless we do it?

Now,...due to requirements and timing chips, there are some reasons why going the pace of the slowest person is best. Take the "International Four Days Marches" of Nijmegen, Netherlands for instance (yes you can take a team there, I did the last 2 years): If any member of your team passes the electronic mat and gets read, then all team members must pass within 45 seconds of each other or all that did not are cut from the team. A real life example of why staying together is imperative albeit a not-so-dangerous one, 100 miles over 4 days is not something you want to lose your team mates on!

There are two types of group runs: Ability Group Runs (AGR) and Unit Cohesion Runs (UCR). AGR is intended for like ability runners to get the most out of their work out. These are the runs where you expect people to keep up or they don't belong. UCR is intended to build teamwork, bonding and morale (ie COHESION). Soldiers don't want to look weak in front of peers, and will put out effort to not fall out if they think their buddies give a crap about them. YOUR job as his battle buddy is to provide the motivation and encouragment for him not to give up. UCRs are not about "I'm a good runner so keep up, and if you can't you're a POS." It's "hey Battle, you're doing great! Keep those legs moving! I know you can do it!" THAT creates teamwork, cohesion and bonding.

Second, is it lack of motiviation or lack of ability? Lack of motivation is on the leadership to fix. But set's also be realisitic, no matter how hard some people train, there are never going to be as fast as people who have natural abilities and talents to do it. But that doesn't mean that they are worthless or that they aren't going to give 110%. Honestly, I'd rather have people who may not be the most gifted but I know will give me everything that they have than someone who is naturally talented, but doesn't try.

All excellent points gentleman... Im on break in class but will provide my thoughts when i get home.

I understand the team aspect as stated below. But i hated Battalion run days every week because we had to run with the slowest person it would kill my shins. It never seemed to motivate the slowest person or at least ours because that person never improved. But when we broke our runs down to company level and we then broke it down to a slow, medium, fast group. Those were great because they pushed you in each group.

Sometimes, its not the private who could care less, its the shortest people in the unit, with the shortest stride... so they don't end up a half mile behind the unit. Of course, that was the reason I was retired at the age of 28... For future reference, NEVER EVER slow down to navigate around a mud puddle on the track, when you have about thirty larger Marines behind you... and the sun hasn't come up yet. I ended up on the bottom of a 'pile on' and broke two vertabre, have three messed up discs, and went from 5'4 to 5'2...
Just ask if you can take charge of the run... and do it like you want to do it... we often changed things up for PT.

Now being a Sailor I was never a fan of the Army's forced fun group runs, but..... I agree with you with not having everyone slow down, but they should have someone with them, motivating them, I am not a fan of leaving anyone behind.