Should the Army support MOS specific PT tests? I personally don't agree with it. As an Infantryman, I think all PT tests should be the same. What do you think?

Should the Army support MOS specific PT tests?

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Posted >1 y ago

Can someone please tell me where this USASOC policy that requires a 270 and above on your PT test is at? I've looked every where. Not even my S-1 can find it nor does the group s-1 know. Thanks

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I'm all for minimum standards for all Soldiers. However, The APFT is somewhat outdated. I don't ever remember reacting to contact then subsequently running two miles. Make a practical physical fitness test to establish the base line fitness level regardless of MOS then they can add to as needed.

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SPC Andrew Craig

Posted >1 y ago

hell no , we should all have the same standard regardless of age,gender,or mos. you may call me a fatty pog for it but i think the only change should be to change the weight standard a bit, i have seen far to many excellent soldier (who max their pt tests) miss promotions,and get chaptered for weight standard violations, i think a standard is still needed, but it need tweeked a bit. for instance, i had a soldier spc locklear that got chaptered for overweight, but the guy was a powerlifter. the man could lift the front end of a hwmmv by himself but couldn't pass tape.

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SGT Ben Keen

Posted >1 y ago

Again, this goes back to a standard being a true standard. Regardless of your MOS, if you are in this age bracket you are required to do many push ups and sit ups and run this fast to MEET THE STANDARD.

Another way to look at this, as a commo guy, I had reels of CX11230 cable that weighted a heck of a lot. We had to drive in 3, 5, 7, and 9 foot long grounding rods, carry antenna masts, lift the antenna heads, dig cable trenches and on and on. Would that mean the Signal Corps should have a PT test that reflects the necessary activities in regards to what ever 25 series the commo guy falls into? What would be the standard there? Run 2 miles with a 15 meter mast over your shoulder?

Again, the standard is THE standard for a reason. It should reflect the base line requirements to wear the uniform because really, at the end of the day, you can find yourself getting JOT on an MOS that you never thought you would be doing but is needed to fill a gap in the MTOE.

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SFC Joe Ping

>1 y

No it should remain on PT Test for the whole Army.. next thing you know these people will want gender specific PT Test so that no one fails to qualify for a branch of the Army.. Although the current PT Test proves nothing, other than you can do push ups, and situps and run fast.

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SGT Ben Keen

>1 y

Isn't the current APFT gender specific?

And I agree it really only shows one's ability to do push up, sit ups and run fast.

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CPT (Join to see)

>1 y

SGT Keen,

You are looking at the issue in only one way: if the standards were lowered for some MOSs. That's not what I am saying. Would you still be against if a 250 APFT became the minimum for units with more physically demanding day-to-day requirements? A Soldier with a 180 is meeting the standard, but in most units, he/she would be treated like a PT failure because of the unreasonable attention placed on that single metric. In some units, a Soldier with that level of fitness would be a liability during day-to-day ops (not just combat). In others, it would be no issue. Wouldn't it make sense to guide Soldiers to the right MOSs and units by creating higher APFT minimums? At the same time, let's stop torturing Soldiers who meet the minimum standards and stop wasting training time and money on more PT for Soldiers who don't have jobs that require higher levels of fitness.

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MSG Bo Lathrop

Posted >1 y ago

Wow.. I should have elaborated more in my initial response!

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CPT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

Look througout history, specifically the last 13 years and see an Army at war. Why should an infantryman be held to a different standard than that of a noninfantryman? Does anyone remember Jessicia Lynch? Her and her unit were in a combat zone ambushed and they were not infantry unit!

Every soldier should be held to the same standard: officer, enlisted, and MOS specific because when we deploy we are a soldier first, and those who cannot physically take the punishment of deployment should be weeded out.

Thats not to say infantry doesn't do more PT, because they do, and I dont expect those who work, say in the pentagon or non deployed status, to be held to say an olympic athlete status, because we all have a role to play in the Army. But we can have a common standard of fitness because when you are on a convoy you are all the same to the enemy...

One last thought: How many non-infantry units deployed as infantry-type roles?

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

Sir, how were Jessica Lynch and her unit affected by their fitness standards? I seem to recall them getting lost in a vehicle.

PT tests are a bunch of bull anyway. I have to do pushups, situps, and run. Ok, I work on those three areas only and bam pass my pt test. Unless the pt test mirrors the Crossfit games this will happen. The change needs to be in the mentality of the Soldier. If the Soldier wants to physically fit then the Soldier will be physically fit. Walk into the gym after work and take a look around. Some Soldiers do the minimum because they are not motivated to achieve more. The question should be how do we motivate Soldiers to become physically fit again from unit PT?

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SGT Ben Keen

>1 y

There was more issues with that transportation company beyond PT. They failed to maintain their weapons properly, failed to do a proper pre-convoy inspection, had poor leadership involved and ignored S2/G2 reports of enemy movement in the area. No amount of PT could have fixed all that.

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SSG (Join to see)

>1 y

True, I don't how it was brought into the conversation and I agree with your last comment.

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SGT (Join to see)

>1 y

He was just using her as an example to convey that even non combat MOS soldiers see combat. Regardless of if her PT was part of the scenario, his point is still valid that all MOS are technically "combat" MOSs in the wars we fight today.

So we should all be held to the same standards because you never know when an 18Z will look at a 92G and say you are going on patrol with us tomorrow!

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MAJ (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

As MOSs become open to all and we attempt gender neutral standards, yes. This will be away to ensure that all Soldiers are able to perform the same basic physical tasks.

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