Posted on Oct 25, 2014
Should the Military award those who can Maintain a High/Max PT Score?
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I know some units allow their Soldiers to do PT on their own if they score a 290 or above, but never does this really happen.
If one can cont to pass at a high score of 290 or above should they be allotted to do PT on their own as long as they cont to maintain that score? As an award they would be able to train themselves more for what they need instead of what they are told to work out.
Myself gained more fitness, strength and everything else when working on nights and we went to the gym everyday. I know what I needed to improve on as well had a great work out routine. When it came time for PT I just cont to improve and esp out shine the men.
Opinons?
If one can cont to pass at a high score of 290 or above should they be allotted to do PT on their own as long as they cont to maintain that score? As an award they would be able to train themselves more for what they need instead of what they are told to work out.
Myself gained more fitness, strength and everything else when working on nights and we went to the gym everyday. I know what I needed to improve on as well had a great work out routine. When it came time for PT I just cont to improve and esp out shine the men.
Opinons?
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 16
Definitely. I am personally think it's a waste of time having soldiers who are in top shape and able to get a 290 and above doing muscle failure when he or she can do that on his own. Also, this serves as an incentive for the soldier to continue exceeding the standard and motivate others to do the same as well. At the same time, it's important to occasionally have company with all the soldiers present to stimulate espris de corps. Other than that, SMs with high PT score should be awarded for their hard work and discipline.
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SGT Jason Anderson
Sure. If you are above excellent in PT, work out alone. And when you are the best in whatever your MOS is, you can do that alone. And when you get really good at everything, you can be your own army.
Hell, how do you think Rambo got to work alone all of those years, anyway???
Hell, how do you think Rambo got to work alone all of those years, anyway???
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SGT (Join to see)
SGT Jason Anderson I'm sure CAPT Baxter Goodly isn't asking to do his own pt everyday all day. Just as a few people have stated, a few times a week is nice esp when your platoon is doing body weight muscle failure. Why hold someone back say myself which didn't do anything for me when I could hit the gym and gain!
Random Note:
Btw there are some people who are soooo hooah in todays army they are their own. Look at half these NCOs (no offense to anyone) I had quite a few that thought that once they got that 5 pinned they were greater then gods s**t.
Random Note:
Btw there are some people who are soooo hooah in todays army they are their own. Look at half these NCOs (no offense to anyone) I had quite a few that thought that once they got that 5 pinned they were greater then gods s**t.
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SP5 Sam Green
At my command if you were able to max the PT test, there were more perks than just do your own PT, we didn't have to assemble for battalion assemblies(It was voluntary).
What was interesting is that I easily maxed the PT test, by a wide margin, but I was very athletic.
There was one other guy in my company named Durkey that also easily maxed his PT score, and he was a 2-3 pack a day smoker. We were good friends and his smoking and maxing PT tests always had me shaking my head.
What was interesting is that I easily maxed the PT test, by a wide margin, but I was very athletic.
There was one other guy in my company named Durkey that also easily maxed his PT score, and he was a 2-3 pack a day smoker. We were good friends and his smoking and maxing PT tests always had me shaking my head.
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I think so. Being allowed to PT on your own shows a unique level of trust from the unit leadership. It's a privilege most soldiers would be proud to have and therefore an effective motivator for soldiers to up their score. If soldiers are consistently getting 290 or above (there aren't many in most units) then they're doing something right. They're likely doing additional PT on their own to maintain that kind of score so reward them occasionally - once or twice a week. Why not?
But I agree with CPT Hermida that PT has a greater purpose and unit/group PT is essential on so many levels. Been in for over 20 now and many of you will understand when I say that some of the most vivid memories I have are of colossal group PT sessions...that time we ran 10 miles...that time we got lost while TDY at Cherry Point...the grueling buddy carries up "Cardiac Hill"...or that time my shoe fell apart and my squad encouraged me to keep going to the end...bloody toes and all.
Group/unit PT is critical to unit cohesion and individual leadership development. One of the things I love about PT is the fact that we're not wearing rank. PVT Snuffy can (and will) lead stretches or call cadence which might not ever happen otherwise. It's an opportunity to exercise leadership and put into practice ones motivational skills.
If someone has a bad PT day or falls out for some reason...they learn from it, others learn from it, and tomorrow is another day. In the end everyone goes to breakfast, puts on the duty uniform and switches focus...until tomorrow morning and then it's game on again! Group/unit PT really is essential to the Army experience.
But, I see no reason why soldiers that excel couldn't be rewarded once or twice a week for superior physical fitness. It's just one more method of rewarding soldiers for exceptional service and motivating others to do the same.
But I agree with CPT Hermida that PT has a greater purpose and unit/group PT is essential on so many levels. Been in for over 20 now and many of you will understand when I say that some of the most vivid memories I have are of colossal group PT sessions...that time we ran 10 miles...that time we got lost while TDY at Cherry Point...the grueling buddy carries up "Cardiac Hill"...or that time my shoe fell apart and my squad encouraged me to keep going to the end...bloody toes and all.
Group/unit PT is critical to unit cohesion and individual leadership development. One of the things I love about PT is the fact that we're not wearing rank. PVT Snuffy can (and will) lead stretches or call cadence which might not ever happen otherwise. It's an opportunity to exercise leadership and put into practice ones motivational skills.
If someone has a bad PT day or falls out for some reason...they learn from it, others learn from it, and tomorrow is another day. In the end everyone goes to breakfast, puts on the duty uniform and switches focus...until tomorrow morning and then it's game on again! Group/unit PT really is essential to the Army experience.
But, I see no reason why soldiers that excel couldn't be rewarded once or twice a week for superior physical fitness. It's just one more method of rewarding soldiers for exceptional service and motivating others to do the same.
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SFC Scott Parkhurst
I so agree Sir! I smiled when I saw "Cardiac Hill !" PT is a TEAM effort. I used to run right along side many Officer's and Soldier's alike who were just about to give up at the end of a two mile run during testing and tell 'em "worry about feeling sick AFTER crossing the line, and give it your all right now and and think about how many seconds actually do count to you passing!" And they would kick butt and pass!! And I can think of many runs and yes...even those "farts" during sit-ups and the "not suppose to laugh" giggles which brought us all closer. I felt more proud to be fit and it even made me a much better NCO and leader in fitness. My Unit busted their ass to promote me and made sure I got all the MOS's I wanted (5) and I strongly feel it was because of my PT scores AND the way I presented myself as a proud United States Army Soldier! And that's the way it should be. If you can't maintain that attitude and wear a clean uniform and let yourself go and dissect your Officer's and NCO's then maybe it's time you either get counciling and or leave the military?
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
PO2 Toby Que Military members will soon need to wear a ‘cape’ to accommodate all of the patches, awards, medals and ribbons if this proliferation of Blings continues!!
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Thought we already awarded something for it! Isn't this badge of honor bestowed upon those who get and retain physical fitness excellence? I know junior enlisted and officers who receive Certificates of Achievement for promotion points from Battalion Commanders. Is there something more warranted for maintaining one's personal and professional physical fitness? How about living an extra 10-20 years and not becoming a couch potato? I think the Army does a good job recognizing it with a patch for the uniform for everyone to know who you are and then the one's who need the points, the COAs work. For mid-term careerist, well just being a professional is enough without the recognition.
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SFC Scott Parkhurst
I think the point here CW5 Sam would be a "Ribbon" on the Uniform as well. Which I know you understand...And your totally right about the 50 points towards promotion etc. as you so well stated by the way. I personally think a ribbon would be cool as well. It just shows "marksmanship" in fitness...why not? We have it for the grande and 9mm and rifle? Why not fitness? Fitness is actually harder to get and maintain, don't you think? I have expert in the 9mm and M16 and the grande and yes I had to keep those up in order to wear those medals....but to keep my 300 was A LOT more harder and 20 years to do...not as easy as the others let me tell ya!!! I just ask that you put a tad more thought into this that's all. Thank you Sir.
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SFC Scott Parkhurst
P.S., It's an image thing as well...When you see someone with "ribbons/medals" yes you are looking at what they are and where they've been...that's natural, and tut's what they are for. Is it bragging right's? Well, maybe and may not. For me it's both. It's mostly pride for sure. It's mostly showing schools and where I've been! But for those that I know who know what the ribbons mean then the "expert" stuff kind of means a lot...I would want someone to know that "Hey, that Soldier kicks ass in the 9mm and M16 and other weapons and shit, he's in great shape too!" "Maybe I won't kick his ass!" LoL! "And I know how hard it is to get that APFT ribbon...man I sure want to EARN one of those and be fit for the Unit and see how well I'll be better for it as human". It worked for me when I saw the 9mm on a uniform...but I was police officer too and I still wanted to earn that medal though and then I ended up being a weapons expert! Backfired on me LoL! Point is...motivate our Soldiers!!!
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I don't see why not. I earned 300+ if you can say that...I always earned above the 300 every 3 months for approx. 20 years of my career. I got 289 I think at basic entry and then 295 at graduation. Then it was 300 the rest of my career. Not to mention every time I had to go to schools. So yeah, why not an award? I worked very hard to keep it up and lead by example including going to Master Fitness Trainer School. I then had our Unit make a really good passing grade and higher moral and that I got an award for. But I didn't join the Army for awards but I think it helps one to keep striving when one is recognized for their strengths. I liked the patch we got to wear on our PT's if you got over 290. I remember Soldiers wanting to earn those. That is what I worked so hard for and wanting my Soldiers to earn for themselves and for the Unit and that meant a much healthier stronger minded and bonded Unit.
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SGT (Join to see)
I did quite a few ad-a-boys as well. If I didn't the have time to them with training, layouts, fields, I would take my guys out to lunch or bring them their little foods that they enjoyed, like a dog with a treat when you tell it to sit haha.
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SFC Scott Parkhurst
Ditto that Sgt.! You have to do what ever it takes to maintain moral and just to simply have "fun" and to gain each other's respect.
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SP5 Sam Green
That's pretty remarkable you kept that level throughout your 20 year career. You should be proud of yourself, that's no easy feat.
Back in basic, the drill sgts didn't like the fact I could best the PT test from day one. If I had a do-over I'd have hidden my athletic ability, but because I didn't, I did so much KP duty my fingers are still pruned from pre rinsing dishes.
.... But then again I did basic at Leonard Wood in the dead of winter. KP kept me out of the elements.
Back in basic, the drill sgts didn't like the fact I could best the PT test from day one. If I had a do-over I'd have hidden my athletic ability, but because I didn't, I did so much KP duty my fingers are still pruned from pre rinsing dishes.
.... But then again I did basic at Leonard Wood in the dead of winter. KP kept me out of the elements.
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SFC Scott Parkhurst
Ya I thought about not "showing off" at first but I thought that since I was 31 and seeing a bunch of 18 to 22 to year old "kids" not being able to hardly do any push ups and doing poorly on the sit ups ...I thought I better lead by example. It actually scored a lot of points and made my life easier with 99.9 % of the DS's. And I was doing it in the 18 to 25 year old category. KP in the winter huh....smart guy! LoL! I always felt that being a good NCO was to lead by example and that also means PT....Thank you for your kind words.
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Sure, the award is being allowed to stay in the Army. It has been my experience that just because you are physically fit does not mean you are a good leader.
Take my situation for example.
As a brand new private E I owe you one, I was 17 yrs old, built like a pencil and a PT stud. Due to my PT abilities I was continually placed on a pedestal above my peers as though I were somehow superior to them. I had no idea how to do my job, no leadership experience, no knowledge of Army life, traditions, standards, etc... You get the picture. However I was viewed as top notch.
Now 26 years later, my knees are shot, multiple back injuries, deployment related injuries, and other age related ailments. I can no longer PT like I could then, but I have a quarter of a century of experience in peacetime and two wars. Referred to as extremely knowledgable, dependable with exceptional leadership skills. However no more pedestal, viewed very differently, passed over merely because I can't PT like the rest of them. Illogical?
Take my situation for example.
As a brand new private E I owe you one, I was 17 yrs old, built like a pencil and a PT stud. Due to my PT abilities I was continually placed on a pedestal above my peers as though I were somehow superior to them. I had no idea how to do my job, no leadership experience, no knowledge of Army life, traditions, standards, etc... You get the picture. However I was viewed as top notch.
Now 26 years later, my knees are shot, multiple back injuries, deployment related injuries, and other age related ailments. I can no longer PT like I could then, but I have a quarter of a century of experience in peacetime and two wars. Referred to as extremely knowledgable, dependable with exceptional leadership skills. However no more pedestal, viewed very differently, passed over merely because I can't PT like the rest of them. Illogical?
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SGT (Join to see)
Those who can pass & exceed their standard why not allow them to take a day or two to hit the gym a week. Those who are on profile (like myself was for a little due to knee problems) still got "out" of pt, or any of the others who were on profile got to in a sense get out of PT. Those who can cont to push themselves why not allow them to do it in their earned free time?
Just because you or others can't pass a PT test doesn't mean take it away from everyone else. It sucks but as a SFC it should do you honor to see your lower enlisted striving to get that day off to hit the gym. I know as an NCO if that were the case & I couldn't pass my PT test due to injury I wouldn't punish the whole lot. I would love to see those guys who max their pt test out to be able to "dip" out of platoon pt and go hard in the gym.
Just because you or others can't pass a PT test doesn't mean take it away from everyone else. It sucks but as a SFC it should do you honor to see your lower enlisted striving to get that day off to hit the gym. I know as an NCO if that were the case & I couldn't pass my PT test due to injury I wouldn't punish the whole lot. I would love to see those guys who max their pt test out to be able to "dip" out of platoon pt and go hard in the gym.
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SFC (Join to see)
SGT Amber M, I never " get out of PT" merely because I have a profile, I just don't do what I can't do. When the doc tells you at 45 you need complete knee replacement you just kinda lay off leg day. LOL But I still do everything else I can.
The problem is leaders who DONT make soldiers exercise within the confines of their profiles.
The problem is leaders who DONT make soldiers exercise within the confines of their profiles.
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A Soldier who can max his PT score does not need to do PT with his unit because what ever he's doing is working.
But if this Soldier happens to be a squad leader, that Soldier should be running squad PT with the intent to improve the squad's score.
But if this Soldier happens to be a squad leader, that Soldier should be running squad PT with the intent to improve the squad's score.
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SGT (Join to see)
Agreed to a point SGT. When I was an NCO it would be nice on muscle failure days to actually be able to take my muscle failure to the gym to actually get a work out in. Even to have the gym brought to us or allow squad PT and have the Squad leader work with their guys one on one. I would have even preferred that but on rare occasion does that happen (at least with my unit it didn't).
You could say the same tho to those leaders who are on profile and don't work out with their Soldiers. My guys who needed to improve on the PT joined me after work for a gym session. Seeing me in there busting butt after work for an hr motivated them more then anything and helped them improve.
You could say the same tho to those leaders who are on profile and don't work out with their Soldiers. My guys who needed to improve on the PT joined me after work for a gym session. Seeing me in there busting butt after work for an hr motivated them more then anything and helped them improve.
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CW5 Sam R. Baker
Back when I was a NCO< it was a challenge to have the best squad or platoon average! We worked our butts off trying to always better the next unit, exactly what the Army needs to get back to, albeit I am not exactly where the rubber meets the road much anymore, I suspect that morale and esprit de corps in waning, the overweights and chapters show that.
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Yes & No.
Unit PT serves two major functions. Physical Fitness Training and Unit Cohesion.
The first is to get people up to a higher level. The second is to make people a better team.
Allowing people to PT on their own potentially meets the first goal but is counter to the second goal, therefore a balance must be met.
Assuming that there are 3-5 hours of dedicated PT time on the training schedule per week, how much time can we reasonably remove?
That said, how much of that is actually used to progress? That would happen "off time" anyways.
Unit PT serves two major functions. Physical Fitness Training and Unit Cohesion.
The first is to get people up to a higher level. The second is to make people a better team.
Allowing people to PT on their own potentially meets the first goal but is counter to the second goal, therefore a balance must be met.
Assuming that there are 3-5 hours of dedicated PT time on the training schedule per week, how much time can we reasonably remove?
That said, how much of that is actually used to progress? That would happen "off time" anyways.
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I would disagree to reward anyone for meeting PT standards. That is just it, "meeting standards". In fact, I sometimes wonder why the Army changed their PT uniform from combat boots, fatigues and t-shirt to sneakers and shorts. Also, changing the PT Test from a 6 stage PT Test to a 3 stage PT test. Yes, I know that I will receive flak and hear that reasons for changing the uniform and standards were due to unfounded benefits of the other requirements and that sneakers were adopted to prevent injuries. Before you respond, I get that. But the first question you will need to ask yourself is: "Do we go to combat in sneakers?" Just my thoughts all these years and in no way to offend anyone.
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They should be given the Army PT patch if they get a 270 or above with 90 in each event. In my battalion if you get 270 or above you get a COA and for 300 or higher they get an AAM (one within a 3 year period).
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SFC Scott Parkhurst
My Unit we had to maintain 290+ every 6 months or year to keep the patch. And for me personally I HAD to maintain my 300 every 3 months if that! I was pretty hard on myself. I was the only MFT in my Unit so I had to lead by example and I was always going to schools too and I really wanted to impress the school with a high score to show them that my Unit was squared away! It did get me very far and my Soldiers and Officers alike really did try harder for themselves and for me ...because they saw how hard I worked with them on and off duty to get them into better shape. Couldn't believe I got an ARCOM for it! Unit got a high APFT score and that Sir made me very proud!
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We used to give PRO PAY for those who tested high, why not PRO FITNESS PAY, since it too affects readiness?
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SGT Michael Glenn
I was awarded for my maxing out on PT tests, I received numerous presidential fitness awards with a patch that I could have worn on my PT Uniform, but seeing how many in my unit received this award , it never really meant much to me and I thought that all of the Army was as fit as we were until I went to Germany and my jaw fell open.
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