Why do you have to turn around during the APFT?

SGT Sam Decker — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:17:05 -0400

In my 18+ plus years, this question has plagued me. Ever since basic training, when you are waiting for your turn to do the push up or sit up event, you are waiting in line for your grader, but are told to gave away from whomever is being graded at the time. While this practice has lessened of late, i still see it from time to time. Can anyone explain to me the purpose of this? And if in fact there is a regulation or FM paragraph that covers this? I've looked but haven't found anything. Thanks in advance.

Response by SFC Christopher Perry made Sep 13 at 2016 6:21 PM

SFC Christopher Perry — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:21:57 -0400

Always seemed more effective to turn toward the folks executing the exercise. That way you have the ability to motivate one another.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 6:29 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:29:47 -0400

I thought this was very strange when I went to Army OCS, after quite a few years as an enlisted Marine. In the Marine Corps we watch the whole thing and encourage each other. One effect of the Army method, which I don't know if it's intended or not, is that if the grader screws you over, it's your word against his because no one witnessed it.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made Sep 13 at 2016 6:33 PM

MSG Pat Colby — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:33:15 -0400

I've never seen anyone force the group to turn around. Personally, I've administered literally thousands of APFT's. It's always encouraging to see people SCREAM to motivate someone that is struggling..

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 13 at 2016 6:37 PM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:37:35 -0400

1973-1999... Never heard of it... must be another carry over from Bubba Clintons B/S political correctness non-since ...
Most of the Time the guys on the teams were there rooting each other on and making sure you got credit for all the exercises you did Especially the Team Sgt. ... and then we all started off on the runs together and it was not till the last mile we would break Team formation and go in for the extra Points...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 6:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:39:22 -0400

We don't do a APFT but rather an USMC-PFT! ;)

In the corps when I was in, the guy holding your ankles kept your count. Yes, this could lead to cheating and sometimes did. We had several SNCO and/or Officers walking through the unit as we did our sit-ups (2 min timed, 80 for max score) to enforce the honor code. However, everyone in the unit, E1-E9, WO1-WO4, O1-O6) did their PFT together. It was only the out of shape, rock of a Marine who was ever embarrassed to have witnesses.

NOTE: I listed O6 as that was the highest rank I served with in a unit.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 6:58 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 18:58:06 -0400

I only saw this at OSUT. My guard company is pretty relaxed about it. Always get guys to encourage you.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 7:31 PM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 19:31:14 -0400

May be more of a CYA for the grader. If no one else sees it, it's his word verse yours. Seems more likely than the hurt feelings deal.

Response by CSM Thomas McGarry made Sep 13 at 2016 8:41 PM

CSM Thomas McGarry — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 20:41:36 -0400

As others have stated there are no regulations that state that. If fact when I used to run the APFT I prefer fellow soldiers to cheer on and otherwise encourage their peers to complete as many repetitions or decrease their time on the run. This may be the difference between passing or failing in some cases. By the way someone can pace a soldier or otherwise encourage them during the run, just don't touch them as that is a disqualifying action per the Regs.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2016 10:50 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 22:50:46 -0400

Once upon a time it was not like that. Soldiers were actually encouraged turn the other way and encourage their struggling peers. But like MAJ Carl Ballinger commented, political correctness has taken over the PT test.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Sep 14 at 2016 6:22 AM

SFC Joseph Weber — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 06:22:26 -0400

In case the grader was helping out a buddy.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 14 at 2016 12:22 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 12:22:31 -0400

Always had the feeling that if you can't see you don't know what's going on... as in the graders either know, or dont know what there doing, or if someone failed or got the hook up.... really the sit ups are the only event that you know for sure if someone passed or failed..

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Sep 15 at 2016 8:52 PM

SSG Stephan Pendarvis — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 20:52:25 -0400

It is a command thing. LOL!!! I remember doing this from time to time. Sometimes the command will have them face forward and cheer their battles on. I thought it was always stupid to do this (face the opposite direction). Maybe it throws the graders off if soldiers are too loud.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2016 7:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 07:25:46 -0400

It was a fast way to determine between the last group and the 1st group.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2016 8:36 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 08:36:06 -0400

There's no regulation. The reason it's done is just so the person being graded doesn't feel pressured or feel judged if he or she comes up short. If the soldier being graded decides to share their score wth their comrades, then it's up to them, but the NCOs just want to make sure there's no judgement being passed on an individual who came up short. That's for the NCO to fix and bring the soldier up to standard, not his fellow soldiers.

Response by CW4 Scott Hyde made Sep 20 at 2016 12:09 PM

CW4 Scott Hyde — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 12:09:32 -0400

Good question. There are some dates being thrown around here so I had to think back and I do not recall a time when we were not told to turn away. Some places more relaxed than others but I can think of only a couple times since 1989 when/where it was not an issue. I have always assumed it was so there would not be a mommy/daddy debate on who did how many and to what standard (some lines get over, others have to bounce their chest off the ground and touch their nose to their feet, or the buddy drill for points). Could be an order (keep down heckling) thing but it seems to be a "because we have always done it that way" routine that has more negative impact than positive (no motivating others, people assume something hokey may be going on when junior pulls a 270 but has yet to make a company run). Some people are nuts about this and turning around can get some WWE going, diamond cutters form the top rope! Turn around!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2016 8:07 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:07:17 -0400

Like many trends, someone started it (probably at a training site) so that (theoretically) the graders wouldn't be distracted by the observers, and the Soldiers doing the APFT could hear the graders. Then, as time went on, people started thinking that was how it was supposed to be done, because that's how they were trained. As someone with a little hearing loss from my days as a mortarman, I appreciate being able to hear the grader, but I appreciate the motivation of/for my battle buddies more. I believe it works best when the person in charge simply asks the observers to stay behind a particular line and keep the motivation to a dull roar so the participants can hear the graders. Win-win.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2016 8:34 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:34:44 -0400

THE REASON SOLDIERS ARE TOLD TO GET AWAY FROM THE GRADER IS BECAUSE EVERY PUSHUP OR SITUP COUNTS FOR THE SOLDIER WHO ARE BEING GRADED. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU ARE THE ONE WHO ARE BEING GRADED AND THE GRADER LOOKS AT YOU AND TELL YOU THAT HE OR SHE DONT REMEMBER THE COUNT BECAUSE HE OR SHE WAS DISTRACTED BY A SOLDIER WHO WAS STANDING IN THEIR SIGHTS AND OR MAKING NOISE. I DONT THINK THAT YOU WOULD HAVE THAT THAT THEN. I THINK THAT YOU WOULD PROBABLY ANGRY ENOUGH TO SCREAM AT THAT SOLDIER WHO IS CAUSING YOUR GRADER TO BE DISTRAVTED.

Response by SMSgt John Swisher made Sep 21 at 2016 5:34 PM

SMSgt John Swisher — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:34:42 -0400

To my knowledge it is not in the Reg I it is only a courtesy to the soldier who is taking the APFT so he/she will not feel crowded.

Response by SMSgt John Swisher made Sep 21 at 2016 5:36 PM

SMSgt John Swisher — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 17:36:48 -0400

It is not regulation but just a courtesy, so the individual being tested won't feel crowded or rushed,

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 21 at 2016 6:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 18:20:52 -0400

Well, since I've been in the national guard we have yet to turn around. I agree with you all that standing in the same direction as those being graded provides extra motivation. One team one fight!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2016 12:47 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 00:47:49 -0400

I've felt that it was to protect the graders. With no one looking at the person doing the exercise, they cannot complain that they were distracted by another Soldier waiting to take their own.