https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The Officer's role in team building and Physical Training -- Leading from the front or motivating from the rear Mon, 21 Jul 2014 04:11:18 -0400 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>The Officer's role in team building and Physical Training -- Leading from the front or motivating from the rear CPT Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 21 Jul 2014 04:11:18 -0400 2014-07-21T04:11:18-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=183060&urlhash=183060 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div><br />Me personally Sir, I rather see an officer in the front leading the troops SFC Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 21 Jul 2014 11:59:10 -0400 2014-07-21T11:59:10-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=183180&urlhash=183180 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Your goal should only be to do the best you can. If you sandbag-it, you can't get mad at your guys for doing the same.  You don't have to be the top, but you shouldn't be the bottom either.  Never quit, and never let your guys quit.  CPT Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 21 Jul 2014 15:15:46 -0400 2014-07-21T15:15:46-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=183369&urlhash=183369 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Not everyone was born to be a PT stud. You should strive for your personal best and in doing so encourage your soldiers to do the same. I was never a sprinter, but in my prime, I averaged a 13:30 on my run. One of my team leaders in Korea when I was newly minted used to like to play duck-duck-goose as part of PT - actually a good training tool - and knew I was slow on the start. Inevitably I'd end up chasing 3/4 of my section before I got to sit down again. A few laughs at your expense here and there motivates soldiers. MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca Mon, 21 Jul 2014 21:18:39 -0400 2014-07-21T21:18:39-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=187770&urlhash=187770 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>As far as hanging back intentionally to motivate Soldiers, that is really more of an NCO role. You can do it once in a while, or if all your NCOs are absent from that particular PT session. In my experience, NCOs take pride and a bit of pleasure in motivating the slow, weak, or hung-over. You just need to make sure it gets done and in an acceptable way. Ultimately though, I would discuss this with your PSG/Section SGT/ Senior Enlisted Advisor and get their take on it. Nothing like an LT walking into a new unit and changing everything based on a rally point discussion forum... MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 27 Jul 2014 20:41:28 -0400 2014-07-27T20:41:28-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=187795&urlhash=187795 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>PT and Team Building activities are great opportunities to create camaraderie; they give you a chance to interact with all of your Soldiers. You should be there and you should be paying attention. You should know how your NCOs are leading Soldiers. You should be keeping your eye on your PT "projects" - you know, the ones who are flagged or near flagged and tell you how hard they are trying...you should know for yourself whether or not that's true. If instead you are out there breaking people off, yelling, running in front of everyone and showing off, you're blowing it. Yes, some Soldiers will be motivated by the "beat the CDR game," and you can do that some of the time, and it's fun, but not all the time. If you are doing that, you are being Joe, so who is doing your job?<br /><br />I also see a lot of officers skipping PT altogether or showing up at the formation and then heading off to the gym with other officers. Not OK if you have troops. Even if you are a staff officer and have a section. See your officer buddies at lunch. CPT Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 27 Jul 2014 21:22:40 -0400 2014-07-27T21:22:40-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=187918&urlhash=187918 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am at a bit of a lose for words here. I am not sure of the context of this. I do feel that an LT shouldn't mentor junior enlisted. As an officer I strive to set the example. It is not my role to get the weak soldiers to do better. If that soldier fails the APFT he has to answer for that and so should his first line leader. If the officer is trying to work with a soldier you may be taking responsibility away from that first line leader. If an officer is the one pushing people I would have to take a long hard look at the NCOs in the platoon. I would PT with and even monitor the progress but I wouldn't get directly involved unless required too. CPT Private RallyPoint Member Sun, 27 Jul 2014 23:47:30 -0400 2014-07-27T23:47:30-04:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/when-it-comes-to-pt-and-team-building-individual-exercises-should-officers-strive-to-be-the-best-or-to-get-underperformers-to-try-harder?n=187920&urlhash=187920 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Both? LTC Paul Labrador Sun, 27 Jul 2014 23:51:38 -0400 2014-07-27T23:51:38-04:00 2014-07-21T04:11:18-04:00