Posted on Feb 23, 2015
Why meeting the standards is not enough anymore?
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Have you heard this before?
“Yes, you passed the APFT, but you didn’t maxed”
“Yes. you qualified with your weapon, but you didn’t shoot Expert”.
What are your thoughts?
“Yes, you passed the APFT, but you didn’t maxed”
“Yes. you qualified with your weapon, but you didn’t shoot Expert”.
What are your thoughts?
Posted in these groups: 
Standards
Standards
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 18
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If you just meet the standard, no degree of separation from your peers. So, who's going to lead?
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SFC (Join to see)
SFC Jackson, indeed, I agree 100% with you. But if you read the discussion tread is about of, why is not enough to meet the standards? Not everybody is a 300 APFT shot expert with his assigned weapon. But they qualified and meet the standadrs. Maybe they Excell in others area like MOS proficiency, or they have or are natural leader's. I know you have to stand out in order to promote and be competitive. But that is an individual responsibility and how hungry is he? to accomplish and Excell and get promoted.
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SFC Michael Jackson, MBA
I think you said it best, "you have stand out in order to promote and be competitive"
if you're just meeting the standard, then you arent standing out. That's when become not enough.
The miltary heavily emphasize PT and weapons. If you dont maximize the few opportunities to get notice, then its the individual's issues
if you're just meeting the standard, then you arent standing out. That's when become not enough.
The miltary heavily emphasize PT and weapons. If you dont maximize the few opportunities to get notice, then its the individual's issues
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I always loved hearing the same thing regarding PT (scored a 275) from a commander who was overweight and on profile. And that BS is why I'm glad I transitioned out of active duty.
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Suspended Profile
As a brand new Squad Leader I remember getting corrected (ass chewed) by the BDE CSM for having my side burns to long "still within standard" he told me as a NCO we exceed the standard even in things as little as that. It really stuck with me and I try to adhere to that still. Though I have always had a naturally competitive edge and try to be the best in everything that I do. If someone try's there best and can only do the minimum standard but when people can do more and chose not to that drives me insane.
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I agree that leaders should encourage their soldiers to exceed the standard, but I don't think they should demoralize those that meet the standard by making it seem that the standard should really be this high even tho the army says it only needs to be this high. I saw this a lot with my infantry companies and saw some of the dissent it caused. I addressed it quickly and even mediated discussions between soldiers and leaders. Often those leaders don't realize the impact it is making. Old Army vs. New Army.
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Did you strive for C's or A's in school?
We're not here to award mediocrity, but to push Soldiers past their limits in order to become better than who they were before.
(Sorry if that sounded rude, just giving an example)
We're not here to award mediocrity, but to push Soldiers past their limits in order to become better than who they were before.
(Sorry if that sounded rude, just giving an example)
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SFC (Join to see)
Well I strive and studied for A's but occasionally have a C's. Does that make me a bad student? I don't think so. I agree with you, everybody should strive to better themselves and try to succeed or have high goals, but not everybody accomplished that. I'm asking, for example, what is wrong if a soldier despite their best efforts does not get for example 300 in his APFT, but he met the standard , he passed. What's wrong with that? Oh you didn't score 300. Sorry!! Really? Mediocre definition IAW MERRIAM WEBSTER dictionary "Of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance. As I stated before if the soldiers gave me, his best effort, and performed to the best of his abilities, that's all I ask for. If his best performance was meet the standard so be it. I will called mediocrity when a soldier do his bare minimum and then stop, that's for me is mediocrity. Like I said not everybody can maxed out, but they passed and meet the standards.
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SFC Richard M.
There is nothing wrong with it, but we have to score based on the established standard. I have only scored 300 once in my career and never gotten 40/40, though I've gotten close several times.
I do believe that a passing APFT score that is below 200 isn't good enough, regardless of the efforts given by the Soldier. In that scenario, a plan of action needs to be formulated to help the Soldier raise his score to a more acceptable level. We need to prepare these soldiers to compete with their peers on measurable standards even if they don't make the military a career. Simply meeting the standard won't help them at all.
I totally get the point that it makes no sense to establish a standard and then tell soldiers who meet it that it's not good enough. But I will always push a Soldier regardless of how good they are until they hit the max. One thing I will never do though, is belittle a soldier for not maxing anything. I can't fault them for not achieving that which I could never do myself.
I do believe that a passing APFT score that is below 200 isn't good enough, regardless of the efforts given by the Soldier. In that scenario, a plan of action needs to be formulated to help the Soldier raise his score to a more acceptable level. We need to prepare these soldiers to compete with their peers on measurable standards even if they don't make the military a career. Simply meeting the standard won't help them at all.
I totally get the point that it makes no sense to establish a standard and then tell soldiers who meet it that it's not good enough. But I will always push a Soldier regardless of how good they are until they hit the max. One thing I will never do though, is belittle a soldier for not maxing anything. I can't fault them for not achieving that which I could never do myself.
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Meeting the standard should never be the objective, however meeting the standard is an acceptable outcome.
Perhaps there were some unwritten standards in place that you didn't know about.
Someone may also simply believe you are capable of more than simply meeting the standard and want to help you excel.
Perhaps there were some unwritten standards in place that you didn't know about.
Someone may also simply believe you are capable of more than simply meeting the standard and want to help you excel.
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SFC (Join to see)
Roger. I was asking in general. I know some units have their own standards. I got that. and I also nknow that not everyone can score 300 APFT no matter how hard they train, or shoot 40 out 40.
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I believe as long as the Soldier gives maximum effort in the performance of the APFT or range I am happy. I can attest not everyone can score a 300 on an APFT but they may able to shoot 40 out of 40. Then there are others who can score 300 and barely shoot 26.
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