What is the most appropriate way to address someone being given a false PT score, while minimizing the damage to their career?

Do any of these soldiers realize “Falsification of a Government Document” is a Federal Offense punishable via UCMJ and possible Federal indictments. As a veteran who was responsible for publishing Promotion Orders for Enlisted Personnel; there is documentation regarding the PT score. I strongly suggest the soldier in question come clean now before this turns into an avalanche. I suggest retaking the PT test and recalculate the promotion points using the new score. If the REAL score doesn’t meet the ‘cut-off scores, then no promotion. I would also recommend an Article 15 for ‘conduct unbecoming’. This seems to me to be the best way to resolve the issue with the least amount of damage to ANYONE’S career. This falsification WILL be discovered if this soldier plans to stay in the Army. Better to come clean now as an E-4, than being court marshaled at a higher rank.

Integrity in the APFT is as important as integrity in everything we as Army soldiers do as we live and uphold the seven Army values. As a chaplain, I have always felt it extremely important to be fit and score high on the APFT, because any lack of physical readiness endangers far more than myself (as a non-combatant), and as an officer in his early 50's, I also feel a great responsibility to exemplify physical readiness. I haven't scored below 270 in a long time--because I am committed to working hard at remaining fit. In fact, I am very much looking forward to the ACFT because it eliminates the age and gender allowances. "I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself." The thought that there is any soldier serving who had to falsify records (or was complicit in the act) to pass or score high on the APFT, especially to be promoted in the NCO Corps, goes against everything we stand for.

CPL Santos, the issue here is integrity. She has lost hers. Do not lose yours.
She would have to have known about the bogus score - she could have said something to the company first sergeant after the test, when she turned in her packet for promotion, at the annual review of her packet. There is nothing here to suggest her actions were self-serving and dishonest. Worse, her actions caused a more deserving soldier to miss out on a promotion they deserved. Do not follow her, keep your integrity and speak up.

I guess the real question is, how can you spend enough time in the military to gain NCO rank and still fail a PT test? I never understood how people could fail those things. Its not an Olympic tryout.

Not having to deal with PT tests (small ships usually do the PT test at the same time), I would give the person a fixed time to pass the test with AT LEAST that score she 'earned' before. I would counsel that service member that immediately after failing that test the second time I would walk them up the chain of command and charge them with PERJURY (lying on am official document(s)).

A diagnostic after PCS'ing to a new unit? Sounds like this Soldier didn't do PT while on leave.

Things must've greatly changed since I retired. When a diagnostic APFT was given, unless you stated you wanted it that you wanted it to be a RECORD APFT before you started then regardless of what you scored, it remained just that...a diagnostic and could NOT be used for points. So according to your initial statement her S1 file should've caught that when they audited her file for points and she never shouldve been promoted when the cutoff scores came out.

I mean... I personally went form a 297 to a fail in less than 6 months. It is very possible.

It’s a situation that has gone on for decades. I’ve seen pencil pushing SFC that had three chins that somehow passed the tape test every time.
Let’s not forget the pen hole expert marksman. At the paper (not pop up targets) weapons range.

I had a similar incident, while being the unit APFT nco, an 06 asked me to sign off a pt score, that I knew to be impossible so this sm could attend bnoc and get promoted, I refused explaining why, so the 06 signed it, then complained to the CO, long story short the nco failed Pt at bnoc and I got relieved and nothing happened to the sm or 06

note till given a for record PT test there is no flagging actions that should be taken, but I would look to see if there is a major change in the trend for prior PT tests given. 300 to below low passing is a sign of either a greater issues or a failure of the prior leadership to be honest with the solider and yourself.

I agree with The CW2. this person now that SHE KNOWS the PT score is pencil whipped need to have a little integrity and correct the issue

If you’re sure the previous test results were falsified - and the failure confirmed by the new test, why would you even ask this question? YOU have an obligation as an NCO to call attention to falsification of the official record. As far as your position is concerned, you want to minimize embarrassment and career damage. Why are you putting that on yourself? The people involved know what they did and know it was wrong. They brought consequences on themselves so you need not concern yourself with anything other than reporting the situation to
Since you apparently are sure, then the person in question must also know and is complicit in the falsification. The “feelings” of those involved are absolutely irrelevant. Again, Corporal, you’re an NCO. Do the right thing or surrender your stripes.

Many of us have seen this movie and some of us have starred in it. Keep it real! She got caught and will ultimately face the consequences of her action. We have all seen career ending events during our service. However, I have also have seen soldiers go down the toilet and rise from the ashes. Let's not make this thread seem like the end of the world for these soldiers involved. Tomorrow will come, and the monster we see on that day will be our only concern.

SFC A. Campbell (Retired)

She needs to get off her ass get into shape fast and pass her PT test. That or just take the damage and move on.

This should not happen from the get go!!! You knew this was not the right thing to do, it should have been stopped at the time back then. Now you're a part of setting this Soldier for failure!!!! The Unit training NCO also should have known that this Female Soldier did not previously had a 300 PT score. it has to be corrected, The Female Soldier has to come up straight along with you for knowing and not correcting the deficiency back then. Take appropriate remedial training and set up that Soldier for success!!! The new pt test coming up next year is not forgiving at all, get acquainted with it; its called the new army PT test, age and gender neutral. see; https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2018/07/09/a-new-army-pt-test-is-on-its-way-this-is-not-a-drill/.

Why did she not fix this if she knew it was wrong? If she had the chance to fix this and she knew it was false that shows a sincere lack of integrity on her part. She should suffer the consequences of her actions. Also, the NCO that falsified the results must suffer consequences for his actions too.

I’ve spent most of my life around and in the military, my father was a SgtMj in the army and many uncles cousins and brothers all have served throughout the branches. It all boils down to honor and integrity period! If she was falsely score a 300 and she knows weather she did or not, the scoring novo is Derelict in his duty as an NCO, and having obtained the rank of NCO, she is derelict for not having challenged that score. If you can’t admit a flaw in a minor level how can you be trusted on an issue at a greater level?!
The answer is you can’t. You jeopardize your honor and integrity as well as your truthfulness. Instead of worrying about her career she should get out in front of it by being honest, take the hit and do better in the future. The scoring NCO should stand before the man and take his or her lumps as well. Basically put, do what you know is the right thing even when no one is watching and you won’t have your ass in a crack. It is the backbone of morals ethics and scruples!

Remember NCO teach with the example if She or He get into a misión and something went wrong and life or jail time is in the table would you or other can Trust that soldier ... it is not matter of save your skin is matter of honesty and integrity those thing we as leaders Cannot allow to lose or forget.Talk to your supervisor and see what alternatives the chain of command find to fix that situation .drive on corporal...att sgt r rios retired.

If this person knows that she was given a false PT score and accepted it, it shows a major lack of integrity. I would not want for her, or anyone else to be in a leadership position. Both this soldier and the "rater" both need to be punished under the UCMJ, whether it be an Article 15 or a letter of reprimand or whatever. If you know that this situation, your lack of integrity needs to be addressed as well.
I was victimized by receiving a lower score than should have been received to prevent me from being deployed on a MEDRET due to being outspoken about the handling of sexual abuse of lower enlisted in my unit that the command knew about and covered up.
If you don't have the integrity to report that you KNOW is wrong in a minor situation, you will definitely not do so when it comes to a major situation.
I have had commanders and others that I had the privilege to serve with that I would die for to this day, with no questions asked. There are others that I would would have a difficult time following to the latrine, let alone in combat.