What should I do if I'm being chaptered for APFT failure at AIT?

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 21:17:35 -0500

What should i do?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 9:48 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 21:48:34 -0500

There's not much you can do outside of pleading a case with your leadership.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 10:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 22:07:41 -0500

Pass your APFT

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jan 30 at 2019 10:12 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 22:12:19 -0500

Get your civilian resume updated because the Army probably is not the place for you.

Response by SGT Scott Henderson made Jan 30 at 2019 10:54 PM

SGT Scott Henderson — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 22:54:31 -0500

Accept the fact that you just fucked up the easiest job you ever had

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 12:12 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 00:12:52 -0500

I've seen a lot of soldiers stay in but lose rank. If you're so lucky to get to stay in and take the reduction, make it your daily goal to pass your APFT. You alone know where you're the weakest. Get out and run, hit the bench press, do sit ups. If you desire to save your career, put forth an honest effort and put in the work. Ask others in your unit to help you. Change your nutrition so that it is more conducive to making fitness gains. As with anything it won't be easy and it will take sacrifice. It'll be worth the work in the end.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jan 31 at 2019 5:23 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 05:23:50 -0500

pushups.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 5:59 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 05:59:28 -0500

Please read your question, and think about it. You know what you have to do... one way or another. To quote an old slogan: Just do it.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 8:37 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 08:37:45 -0500

Be cooperative with your command team. They gave you a chance, and it didnt work out. Keep in mind, chapter process is NOT chaptered. You are still a soldier, and will be until you DD214 is in your hand. You can still be punished, and be held accountable for negligence on your part. Your command will appreciate you being an adult, and handling yourself. Dont become toxic to the soldiers to your left and right, cooperate, and who knows, maybe someone will be willing to write a letter of recommendation (wouldnt count on it).

Honestly, just make it as painless as possible. Because the Army can always make it painful of you decide to be a jerk about it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 10:16 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 10:16:00 -0500

You have two options. Option 1) Pass your APFT and hope the Commander retracts the Chapter paperwork; Option 2) Pack your bags and be ready to hit the road. There is no third option.

Response by SPC Kevin Ford made Jan 31 at 2019 10:27 AM

SPC Kevin Ford — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 10:27:47 -0500

When I first went to AIT and Ft. Huachuca I had trouble with the PT test due to the altitude (I wasn't the only one). But I kept at it, my nose clean and then passed. I never failed one after that, including the last one in AIT (I sure as heck wasn't going to fail that one, I think that last one was for record and the earlier ones "diagnostic").

I'm betting that if your attitude is/was, "hey can you help me, run the heck out of me for a week or two and I'm going pass this thing" and you follow through, you are going to be in a good spot. If you are vocal saying it's not fair or something similar, they are probably going to give you the boot and it won't just be because you failed the PT test.

Understand, at this point the failure is completely on you and the correction of it, your responsibility.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 3:18 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 15:18:25 -0500

As a Soldier, you need to be fit - both physically and mentally. I respect the fact that you want to serve your country. However, a Soldier needs to be ready to fight at a moment's notice. You should not be asking questions like, "How many times [do] I need to pass [the] APFT in AIT?" or making statements such as, " I don't know why we need to [do another] APFT if it is recorded." The questions you should be asking are "What do I need to max my APFT?" (not just barely pass or get the minimum), and make statements like, "Another APFT? Too easy." You also need to be aware of the huge changes going on in the Army. The Army is doing away with permanent profile Soldiers. If they cannot deploy and fight like they swore to do then, "Thank you for your, service, but you're not what the Army needs." We are also implementing the new ACFT. Several locations have already started running the new six-event test. The resources to improve your physical fitness are at your disposal. It is ultimately the Soldier's responsibility to utilize these resources. If you are not willing to put in the hard work then the end result will reflect this. Understand that if you do end up staying in that you will be taking PT tests constantly if you are trying to attend Army schools like Air Assault, if your company wants to do a diagnostic to see where Soldiers are at, the normal 6 month record tests, etc. I cannot stress the importance of being a physically fit Soldier. It does not necessarily mean you are a better leader per say, but it does show that you are disciplined. I will leave you with this message from the Army Chief of Staff, "If you can't get in shape in 24 months, then maybe you should hit the road." Granted, he was referring to the new ACFT but it applies to your situation perfectly.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 3:32 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 15:32:42 -0500

Don't go home and claim that you are a vet!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 3:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 15:36:51 -0500

Try going for a run brother. It will clear up your mind, and maybe even help you pass the APFT.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2019 5:06 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 17:06:32 -0500

You need to get in shape to the point that you should never have to worry about failing an APFT. Staying above minimum should not be what is sighted, rather achieving maximum is the target. Remember even if you get to a regular unit, you must be ready for an APFT at any time. This is part of your job/mission. "I will always place the mission first!" I hope that you see these things from the perspective of your leaders.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2019 9:23 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 09:23:43 -0500

SPC Private RallyPoint Member With all due respect, you have to really sandbag on PT or be injured to fail an APFT in AIT. You should be doing fairly aggressive PT every morning, and if you've failed before, remedial PT on top of that.
If you have a window of opportunity to get in shape, then you'd best redouble your efforts on getting where you need to be. For the run event, there is no surer way to reduce your time than to run sprints. 60/120s should be your three times a week workout.
If you are injured, ensure that is documented. It will be crucial for chances in getting another chance, recycled, or potentially with the VA after your service.
If you are sandbagging, you had best consider your priorities.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2019 1:17 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 13:17:36 -0500

I took 5 APFTs in AIT. Only one was record (final) but failing any would put us on remedial PT.
Were you ever put on a remedial program to improve your deficiencies?

If you want to stay in, your only option is to convince the command to let you retest and pass that retest.

In the end, there really is no other option.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 25 at 2019 5:57 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 17:57:29 -0400

You need to have a winning spirit and expect to win. At AIT I ran a few extra miles in the afternoon to prepare for an APFT for OCS.

Response by Maj John Bell made Mar 25 at 2019 7:24 PM

Maj John Bell — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 19:24:15 -0400

From now until the day you go out the gate, PT until you can PT no more. If you are not sleeping or working... PT. When you can pass and pass convincingly get some SNCO or Junior officer to monitor your APFT, or ask some other unit if you can take the APFT with them. When you pass and pass convincingly make sure you command knows.

If by some wild chance you are not chaptered, PT until you can PT no more. If you are not sleeping or working... PT. Don't stop until you are capable of a 1st Class APFT. Self administer an APFT EVERY week. If you ever cannot achieve a first class APFT score, If you are not sleeping or working... PT. Don't stop until you are capable of a 1st Class APFT