Posted on May 5, 2015
Am I the only one on here that thinks PRT is useless?
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I've been working out for a long time and I find that I could use my morning PT sessions doing something more effective. What are your thoughts?
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Working Out
PRT (Army)
Physical Training
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 17
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I have had conversations on PRT more times that I care to remember. While I am not the Army's biggest advocate for the program, I am a senior leader within the Army's ranks and I execute it as an assigned mission, with the greatest level of energy that I can.
That said, I can tell you that I spent one and a half years as an AIT Company 1SG and one year as an ALC 1SG and we planned and executed PRT daily during my time with both units. Within my AIT company I designed the PRT plan and it was not only progressive and detailed but also filled with rigor. I did not allow Soldiers to just show up and meander through the workout. I literally got in the middle of formations and pushed myself and other Soldiers. At the NCOES I put more ownership of the program on my SGLs but again, I stayed plugged in and ensure the intensity was kept high.
The program is prescriptive but not intended to limit those developing and executing plans with it. It is too easy to say that the regulation limits us but in reality, it is often us, as leaders, that are limiting ourselves. If you are not getting a single thing out of any workouts within the program I would ask that you look to see what level of intensity you are putting into it. There are many Soldiers that need to supplement daily PRT to achieve individual fitness goals and that is to be expected. Remember, the Army is not designed to make everyone super, it is designed to get everyone to a certain level and maintain. Super is on the individual.
That said, I can tell you that I spent one and a half years as an AIT Company 1SG and one year as an ALC 1SG and we planned and executed PRT daily during my time with both units. Within my AIT company I designed the PRT plan and it was not only progressive and detailed but also filled with rigor. I did not allow Soldiers to just show up and meander through the workout. I literally got in the middle of formations and pushed myself and other Soldiers. At the NCOES I put more ownership of the program on my SGLs but again, I stayed plugged in and ensure the intensity was kept high.
The program is prescriptive but not intended to limit those developing and executing plans with it. It is too easy to say that the regulation limits us but in reality, it is often us, as leaders, that are limiting ourselves. If you are not getting a single thing out of any workouts within the program I would ask that you look to see what level of intensity you are putting into it. There are many Soldiers that need to supplement daily PRT to achieve individual fitness goals and that is to be expected. Remember, the Army is not designed to make everyone super, it is designed to get everyone to a certain level and maintain. Super is on the individual.
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SFC (Join to see)
MSG, I push all of my Soldiers to be super! If only half of them get there, at least they all tried. The main thing I dont like about PRT is that leaders seem to always be having to convince Soldiers that the program works. In my opinion, if it REALLY did work, the program would speak for itself!
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SGM (Join to see)
It is on the leaders, not the program. If you take the old 21-20 for instance, that was likely one of the most under utilized manuals out there. Leaders simply flipped to the annex covering the APFT and then just did whatever they wanted to for daily PT. I can tell you that I have never had a Soldier ask me during PRT if PRT worked. They were most generally too tired and winded. P/U S/U drills, 30-60s, 60-120s, in gear, out of gear, hills, foot marches...mix it all up and do not feel like you are selling anything. Just lead and get those Soldiers following.
Saying that the program should speak for itself is like saying the Army Promotion System is perfect and speaks for itself. The reality with any Army program is that they are not perfect but in the hands of the right leader, they will work. I think you are asking the right questions and do not fault you at all for your concerns. I just hope that you can find a way to make the program work for you and your Soldiers and keep the fire going.
Saying that the program should speak for itself is like saying the Army Promotion System is perfect and speaks for itself. The reality with any Army program is that they are not perfect but in the hands of the right leader, they will work. I think you are asking the right questions and do not fault you at all for your concerns. I just hope that you can find a way to make the program work for you and your Soldiers and keep the fire going.
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It's useless because no one is doing it right... There are FORSCOM units out there that are still doing 5 reps, and not deviating from 3 or 4 tables...
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SSG (Join to see)
I think that it should go back to the old style pt, I know that people say if you do it right that you get a good workout. But it seems like no-one is doing it right so that you can get a good workout.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
So do we educate our leaders or just throw away years of research? Personally, I'm never opposed to education..
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I don't think it's useless, but personally I do think i got more out of doing physical training the old way.
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SGT Jon Mullins
I think MMA workouts and form lifting should find their way into PRT. Something needs to tuffen up the force.
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