Would you prefer to work with somebody more physically fit, or with more job proficiency?

In aviation, a crewhief's skill translates to lives saved. Bring back the Specialist ranks!

I think the point of this question is, why is there a minimum standard for PT and not for job performance? Fail a PT test twice and you are looking at a chapter, fail at your job twice and you may get a negative counseling.

However, score a 300 on your PT test and you get a badge, a day off, top of the list for schools, possibly a COA/AAM etc. Where is the rating for work performance? Yes, you get your monthly counseling which will say great job but there is no special badge, no reward, other than the P.O.B.

The Army puts more emphasis on Physical Readiness than they do on MOS qualification.

Job proficiency, you can get a 300 all day on your APFT, but if you are unable to perform your job then you are really not contributing to the whole of your unit, but you must maintain the army standard so fitness is important.

Back to the original question, I would prefer to have soldiers that are more technically savvy than physically fit. Now I am not saying that I want a master at their skills and overweight and can’t pass a PT test.
I believe as a soldier physical fitness is part of every MOS, I would prefer to work with someone that can meet the minimum requirements for the military and is technically competent rather someone who cannot grasps the concepts of his profession but can smoke me in PT.

I have had some injuries that have caused me to not be able to do the PFA run, I've had waivers, but I am always the first to get the job done, teach and or explain the proper way in how to perform what the job requires. Me being able to run has no impact on how I do my job. I am with in standards just a little broken. Honestly if I had a guy that was a little over weight but performed his job above and beyond required I would take him over the guy that could pump out those push ups at an "excellent" rating but knew jack about his every day job. I hate having to pick up the slack for others on a daily basis. Good for you for passing your PFA that takes an hour once every 6 months that's great, now go learn something, and get to work.

Fitness is important both from a health and military bearing point of view, but as long as the SM is within standards I find proficiency to be far more important. Scoring an "Outstanding" vs. a "Good" isn't going to make the least bit of difference if we have to react to an inbound missile.

And why not both exactly?... Fat and smart or fit and dumb, so either they lack discipline or lack intelligence, sounds replaceable to me, I'll take both, the latter can join the other 99%.

It is my firm belief that the more physically fit you are, the more self discipline and motivation you have. As long as the Soldier is not a complete knucklehead and is willing to learn, then the job proficiency will come in a much shorter time, than instilling self discipline.

That depends. Is physical fitness part of the job proficiency?

The way that you phrase the question, job proficiency is the obvious right answer. But it's not an either/or. For a lot of jobs, physical fitness is extremely important. Infantrymen have to walk long distances with heavy loads. EOD guys have to be able to move in heavy bomb suits. Everybody needs to be proficient in the basic warrior tasks and drills because everybody is potentially a target.

If it were just an IT professional stateside, then physical fitness isn't important. Dude can sit around and eat all the Fritos his heart desires and slowly fuse with his couch. But every soldier needs to be able to fight, and in that regard physical fitness is an integral part of job proficiency in the military.

Everyone should be able to physically perform their job and of course it may depend on the job. If I were infantry I would hope everyone was more fit than say someone who works on a nuclear sub. In the same token the medic had better be very proficient, I don't care how many push-ups he/she can do when performing their job (real world).