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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.
Posted in these groups: 
NCO Academy
APFT
NCO Academy APFT
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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Always seemed more effective to turn toward the folks executing the exercise. That way you have the ability to motivate one another.
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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.
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CW4 John Beebe, BS, DML
Sir,
You nailed it! This question has plagued me for my 30 year career. I only have seen this in a school environment and it usually was accompanied by some of us turning around anyway to watch. We saw very inaccurate and poor grading from graders that were questionable. Some of the PT maniacs were failing the test and others that could not pass were barely passing. "Transparency?"
You nailed it! This question has plagued me for my 30 year career. I only have seen this in a school environment and it usually was accompanied by some of us turning around anyway to watch. We saw very inaccurate and poor grading from graders that were questionable. Some of the PT maniacs were failing the test and others that could not pass were barely passing. "Transparency?"
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CPT (Join to see)
Chief, I agree with you. I did 75-80 pushups once and the grader counted 39 of them (my bare minimum to pass at the time), and he acted like he was doing me a favor to give me the 39. Nothing I could do about it.
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SGT (Join to see)
It also shields the grader and the SM from being seen when the grader allows push ups that shouldn't be counted because of nepotism and other crap. I've seen some really bad push ups being allowed.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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SGT (Join to see)
In the Army, the NCOs and the testers would face those taking the test, but those waiting in line were encouraged to turn around. There were always at least three sets of eyes on each person taking the test, so I don't think the underhanded accounts were the reason.
I feel it was far more a PC thing, as we integrated females into every line. Or rather a CYA moment. EVERYTHING that could be considered a way to complain was taken out of the manual it seemed, so this looked more like a way to keep people from "performance anxiety" type claims.
I feel it was far more a PC thing, as we integrated females into every line. Or rather a CYA moment. EVERYTHING that could be considered a way to complain was taken out of the manual it seemed, so this looked more like a way to keep people from "performance anxiety" type claims.
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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..
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SSG Mike Merritt
I don't know when you were in MSG, but since the first APFT I witnessed until now, I have never saw anyone not be forced to face the other way during the p/u and s/u event and I probably rival you or exceed you in numbers of administering/grading the APFT.
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SGT (Join to see)
I'm in the Guard and they order us to turn the other way almost every time. I think it's a ridiculous thing to do. Let us encourage those that are struggling. More have passed from that little encouragement, even if it's one s/u or p/u, than those who don't receive it.
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I only saw this at OSUT. My guard company is pretty relaxed about it. Always get guys to encourage you.
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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.
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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...
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...
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LTC (Join to see)
Since you never heard of it during 7 of the 8 years of Clinton's term, why would you think it had anything to do with him? And why would you think any POTUS gives a shit or even has any idea what the Army does during a PT test, especially a miniscule detail like that? I guess if you blame the president for everything, no one has to admit that many of the problems in the military today stem from the leaders in the Army today.
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SSG Lyle O'Rorke
LTC (Join to see) - The way it gets attributed to a certain POTUS is the simple fact of the time when it came about and the changes that occurred due to their policies. Just like instigation is attributed to Truman.
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