How many SNCOs and Officers do PT with your troops every morning?

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 19:06:00 -0500

I'm still a junior NCO, but my favorite part of everyday is PT. For me it's an opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the day, motivate my Soldier's to have a great day. I'm typically the most senior in PT formation everyday. With there occasionally being a SSG there.

Soldier's ask where the PSG, LT, and Cheif are at all the time. I understand with rank comes privilege, and that certain circumstances may prohibit you from PT certain days. My question is, How often do you as a SNCO or Officer do PT with your troops? And eo you realize how much it actually motivates them to sew you out there putting in work with them?

I really like this quote from SMA Dailey:

"What I tell soldiers is the first thing to do to get every day right is to get 6 to 9 [a.m.] right, and that's PT," he said. "It might not be the most important thing you do that day, but it is the most important thing you do every day. Because a soldier who's physically fit will look and feel like a soldier, and if you look and feel like a soldier, you'll act like a soldier."

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 7:08 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 19:08:15 -0500

Sorry for the typos. Second question: Do you realize how much it motivates them to see you out there, putting in work with them?

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Feb 20 at 2015 7:13 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 19:13:07 -0500

Well, I am AF so we don't PT every day as a unit. But my flight does a flight 5K every Friday where all the personnel (SNCOs and Officers included) get up and do a early morning run.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2015 10:33 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 22:33:28 -0500

I like to go PT with everyone when I can. However, I will tell you there is a different dynamic when I am there. PT is one of the things that junior enlisted can lead and learn leadership from. If I am there as part of the group, the junior enlisted look to me and not the PT leader for instruction, this can be a bad thing. It can also be a good thing when I come across someone sandbagging and tell them to move along normally they speed up. Little tip if the old SNCO with blown out knees and slow ass run pace passes you, either you need to stop slacking and move or readjust your workout plan because you will probably fail your next PFT.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 18 at 2015 1:01 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 13:01:15 -0500

Have things changed so much since I retired in 1994 that is even a question?

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Feb 26 at 2016 8:45 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 08:45:02 -0500

If you are a leader and your unit is PTing thats where you belong, There should be every effort made by the command to ensure there is little conflict between PT and other functions.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2017 1:07 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 01:07:36 -0400

Related question: For Staff Officers on Brigade or higher staffs, do NCOs and Soldiers expect/want us out there with them for PT/PRT?

Response by Capt David Bays made Feb 16 at 2018 6:37 PM

Capt David Bays — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 18:37:40 -0500

Towards the end of my time in the AF, we had to run (or walk if we wanted) a mile and a half EVERY year. The standard was so low that it was almost impossible to fail, but many failed.