Should we get rid of organized PT?

I hear what you're saying and I'll go out on a limb here and say that organized PT will go away around the same time that they do away with the reflective belts!!

Nothing like running in a formation in boots and utilities singing cadence up the hills of Camp Pendleton then to the pool swimming while dragging your buddy then doing squad pushups and lunges, then having to indian run it back while passing sandbags. When I was a boot, our Corporals and Sergeants smoked us and when I was them, I did the same. Nobody complained about not benefiting from PT. The Corps loves team work not "I"ndividual.

As much as I hate organized PT, It serves its purpose. Team building, instruction etc. I think it should be kept at the squad level and below. Better to train our Juniors on how to properly train etc. If you find yourself outside of that squad type enviorment then PT should be more relaxed and informal.

I can assure you it doesn't improve unit morale.

Really torn on this issue.

I think there is definitely a place for organized PT in that it helps build esprit. As someone else mentioned, there is nothing more exhilarating and proud than running in formation to a Jody Call. However, to truly stay in shape, one needs to do more than just the organized PT. Therefore, I lean towards the idea of a combination; some days of organized PT and some days of individual (possibly supervised) PT. The reason I say "possibly supervised" is that, in my experience, I have seen many folks consider individual PT sessions as "personal time", not "physical training". I think the way to combat that is to have "organized PT" (i.e. calisthenics, formation run, etc.) once or twice a week and supervised gym time on other days, also allowing for time for individual runs, etc. As always, time is a factor that must be considered in scheduling such a program.

I know that I am an old, fat retiree now and I feel like the retirees at the bar at the club who think the Army needs more PT... easy to say when you don't have to do it. But I thought I'd just put my two-cents worth into the discussion.

I don't like organized PT. Half of the time, some other company business has to be taken care of during PT hours anyway (urinalysis, shots, etc.). I know what my body needs in order to stay in shape, and I like targeting my workouts to address different things like body fat, weight loss, or running at different times. I see a lot of posters on this thread bringing up junior soldiers and how we should do organized PT to train them. I submit that they get plenty of PT instruction in BCT and, when they get to the "real Army", they have a sound base of knowledge in the nuts and bolts of physical fitness. I say, make PT an individual responsibility and make the Soldier accountable. Technically, PT is already an individual responsibility and unit PT is designed for maintenance only, not improvement. What I mean is, put the onus for physical fitness and weight/body fat standards completely on the Soldier. The wheat will separate from the chaff, and next thing you know, we won't have a problem getting rid of 30,000 Soldiers by next year! If a Soldier has a substandard APFT score, or is overweight, then their NCO should counsel them on their deficiencies, request a detailed plan from the Soldier to correct those deficiencies, and warn the Soldier that another failure could result in his or her dismissal. If we constantly hold junior Soldiers' hands on minor stuff like doing PT, how can we expect them to develop the confidence, maturity, and competence to be leaders later on? Professionals understand that fitness is part of the job and will act appropriately. Unprofessional Soldiers will blow it off and fail. Fine with me. I only want to work with professionals anyway.

I do not like organized PT, not even a little bit. From the very beginning of BCT we are told PT is an individual responsibility, but then told to do PT in a very prescribed manner, at a specific time, for a specific amount of time (train to time, regardless of standard?), which may or may not be beneficial to the Soldier for a variety of reasons. If the Army is going to say it's an individual responsibility, then treat it like one. If not, then say so and at least be consistent.

I love to work out after work, That's when my body responds best to training and I can take out the frustrations of the day on the weights and on the track. I've heard some say that organized PT builds esprit de corps. I have never known anyone to actually look forward to 90 minutes of PRT. Yes, it sucks, we're all sucking in it together but afterward no one feels any sense of team because the program is so regimented we can't really have any fun or joke around with each other or compete. Mostly I feel annoyed because I wasted 90 minutes and didn't get a good workout.

You can build esprit de corps in other ways, such as Obstacle Courses, Spartan Races, or if you're in Colorado Springs you can have a unit hike up to Pikes Peak. There are better ways to build unit cohesion then organized PT.

PT is an individual event...organized PT is supposed to build the team. That said I hate organized PT 75% of the time. We do organized PT on Fridays as recruiters we are fairly spread out. All winter long we played dodgeball. It was fun about twice then I lost interest. Now that the weather is nice we run every Friday. I hate it because as the sole female in my company that runs I'm trying to keep up with a bunch of jack rabbits in a formation run. I don't mind it all the time but at a certain point it kinda kills my motivation.
Organized PT should provide a variety of things and if you don't get enough out of it hit the gym on the way home.

I'm responding as both a soldier and a High School teacher:

I would love to get rid of organized PT, as I too prefer the gym on my own, BUT the students, aka future soldiers, first need to be taught how, and then need to be taught how to teach it to the next generation.

All really good responses but when were we able to conduct PT on our own, I havent seen it in 13years. Before we can allow Soldiers of all ranks to go off on there own to conduct physical training they need to be trained; yes basic should have taught them the basics but ask your new Soldiers to perform a proper PRT session according to FM 7-22. They properly can not. I see it cycle after cycle the so called gym rat in shape super trooper cannot give a proper PRT session or do the exercises correctly and fall out of runs.I enjoy organized PT; it allows me to push my Soldiers physically and mentally.