Posted on Sep 19, 2018
Does the company commander have his own policy regarding the APFT?
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Here’s the situation. Many soldiers in my unit have a current PT card. A record APFT taken in July. However, the commander and 1SG want everyone to take another APFT. It is unclear if it is a diagnostic or record APFT. According to FM 7-22 your APFT card is valid for a year, even though we take one every 6 months. SO. What’s the right answer here? Take ANOTHER APFT with a valid PT card or no? I understand this may be a question simply answered but if I’m going to bat for a soldier I want to make sure I’m accurate with my info that is or is not in the reg. Thank you in advance!!
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Company Commander
Company Commander
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SGT (Join to see) the regulation you seek is AR350-1. Yes the Commander can direct an APFT whenever they see fit. 7-22 is a Field Manual.
Page 194. Section II App F
g. Physical readiness testing gives Soldiers an incentive to stay in good physical condition and allows commanders a means of assessing the physical readiness levels of their unit. Accordingly, all Soldiers (RA and RC) must be able to pass the APFT at any time, except upon return from deployment. Soldiers will be administered a record APFT no earlier than 90 days following redeployment.
You have to have a minimum 4 months between record APFTs, but you can Be given a diagnostic. Page 196.
(1) Commanders may administer the APFT as often as they wish; however, they must specify beforehand when the APFT is for record. RA and AGR Soldiers will take a record APFT twice each calendar year, all other USAR and ARNG Soldiers will take a record APFT annually. A minimum of 4 months will separate record tests for RA and AGR. The 4- month rule does not apply to Soldiers that must make-up a record test or re-testing for an APFT failure. A minimum of 8 months will separate record tests with no more than 14 months between record tests for other RC Soldiers (less IRR). The 8 month rule does not apply to Soldiers that require makeup testing or re-testing for an APFT failure. The intent is for all RA and AGR Soldiers to take a record APFT every 6 months. Mission requirements often prevent the even spacing of record tests. Therefore, commanders are encouraged to test Soldiers for record as close to the record test window as pos- sible. Soldiers requiring make-up testing will be scheduled in accordance with the unit Standard Operating Procedures. Soldiers requiring re-testing for an APFT failure will be scheduled as prescribed in paragraph F–5m(6) of this regulation.
Page 194. Section II App F
g. Physical readiness testing gives Soldiers an incentive to stay in good physical condition and allows commanders a means of assessing the physical readiness levels of their unit. Accordingly, all Soldiers (RA and RC) must be able to pass the APFT at any time, except upon return from deployment. Soldiers will be administered a record APFT no earlier than 90 days following redeployment.
You have to have a minimum 4 months between record APFTs, but you can Be given a diagnostic. Page 196.
(1) Commanders may administer the APFT as often as they wish; however, they must specify beforehand when the APFT is for record. RA and AGR Soldiers will take a record APFT twice each calendar year, all other USAR and ARNG Soldiers will take a record APFT annually. A minimum of 4 months will separate record tests for RA and AGR. The 4- month rule does not apply to Soldiers that must make-up a record test or re-testing for an APFT failure. A minimum of 8 months will separate record tests with no more than 14 months between record tests for other RC Soldiers (less IRR). The 8 month rule does not apply to Soldiers that require makeup testing or re-testing for an APFT failure. The intent is for all RA and AGR Soldiers to take a record APFT every 6 months. Mission requirements often prevent the even spacing of record tests. Therefore, commanders are encouraged to test Soldiers for record as close to the record test window as pos- sible. Soldiers requiring make-up testing will be scheduled in accordance with the unit Standard Operating Procedures. Soldiers requiring re-testing for an APFT failure will be scheduled as prescribed in paragraph F–5m(6) of this regulation.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you so much for the info and correction on the regulation. I greatly appreciate it!!
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The commmader can choose to administer an APFT whenever he/she deems it necessary. But the leadership team should make it clear if it will be a record or diagnostic APFT prior to administering it. Some commanders do this to raise thier APFT scores, but the right answer is that if they are trying to measure the fitness of thier unit, then they have the right. But to be fair to the Soldiers, it must be clear of it will be a record or diagnostic. The regulation you are quoting is for evaluations and awards. I recommend you speak with your PSG and have them get guidance from the 1SG. Good luck.
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Maj John Bell
Wow! I don't get it. Why shouldn't every APFT be for the record? Are things that contentious now? When ever I was in command of a unit, we ran a Marine Corps PFT The first working Friday in the month. It kept me informed on general physical fitness of the unit and the effectiveness of our overall PT program; and every one of those PFT's was recorded in the individuals training jacket. It let us manage an effective remedial PT program to keep Marines safe from the possibility failure, and conversely if the low score was an aberration, it kept the command from unnecessary over-reaction.
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SFC (Join to see)
It's not that it's contentious, it's that if you're going to have someone fail there are adverse effects that come along with it. You can run an APFT as often as you like, but the Soldiers have to be informed prior to it whether or not failing will be detrimental.
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Maj John Bell
SFC (Join to see) - I am sincerely not trying to be "thick." It seems obvious to me that physical fitness is part and parcel of military service and that inability to satisfactorily complete a PFT SHOULD be detrimental (barring some temporary medical condition). It comes down to core competency. If I had an armorer or an aviation mechanic who through insufficient attention to his/her skill levels, lost perishable core competencies, shouldn't that IMMEDIATELY effect promotion possibilities, re-enlistment potential, and overall rating?
Far too often I see questions on RP by active duty service members who fail PFT's. I cannot help but think that it is both an individual failure and a leadership failure. Individual's must be mindful that individual activity and dietary habits affect overall fitness and that unit PT may not be enough. Leadership must regularly evaluate core competency to ensure that command climate contributes its share to overall physical fitness and leaves the individual the time and resources to do their share of physical fitness. Every six months leaves plenty of time for decline. What gets inspected/evaluated well and often gets done well.
Far too often I see questions on RP by active duty service members who fail PFT's. I cannot help but think that it is both an individual failure and a leadership failure. Individual's must be mindful that individual activity and dietary habits affect overall fitness and that unit PT may not be enough. Leadership must regularly evaluate core competency to ensure that command climate contributes its share to overall physical fitness and leaves the individual the time and resources to do their share of physical fitness. Every six months leaves plenty of time for decline. What gets inspected/evaluated well and often gets done well.
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Sometimes commanders will administer an APFT to get everyone on the same page so you don't have people going out of tolerance at different times.
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