Pt on your own? Drawdown assistance

SGT(P) Daniel McBride — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 15:11:30 -0400

With the drawdown...do you think daily unit pt should be changed to the responsibility of the individual to do pt on their own?

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Apr 11 at 2015 3:36 PM

1SG Steven Stankovich — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 15:36:28 -0400

SGT(P) Daniel McBride, here is my personal take on PT. While PT is a staple of Army culture and is something that should occur daily within a unit, it is also an individual responsibility. Let me elaborate a little. The SMA has stated that we, as Leaders, should PT with our Troops daily and that is something that is not new in our profession. PT is a time to sweat and bond with our Soldiers and to provide motivation and to even share a laugh or two at times.

In addition to that, maintaining PT standards is also an individual responsibility. My unit conducts organized PT three times a week. In addition to that, I am also out conducting PT on my own on those other two days along with lunch sessions daily. You gotta do what you gotta do...

Response by SSG Genaro Negrete made Apr 11 at 2015 4:30 PM

SSG Genaro Negrete — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 16:30:33 -0400

I always saw PT in the military as the sum of two things: Unit cohesion and personal responsibility. To that end, morning PT is not about improving your APFT score. That falls squarely under the "personal responsibility" category. Now don't get me wrong, NCO's are there to bolster and guide this personal responsibility. Yet it takes a certain level of personal motivation to get that done, no matter how high speed your NCO is.

On the side of unit cohesion, morning PT is where the team bonds. it's a shared experience that strengthens team bonds. Either all the members of the team are bitching about how much it sucked, or how awesome it was. The important part is that it bonded them. It also gives NCO's a chance to see and test their team's mettle. Who's always falling out/ falling back. Who is the first to give support and motivation. This is what NCO's are looking for in order to gauge which PFC's and SPC's merit soldier of the month/ promotion board appearance.

To that end, I don't see where any of this would be affected by the draw down. We're not hourly employees. What sparked your curiosity?

Response by SFC Kenneth Hunnell made Apr 11 at 2015 5:29 PM

SFC Kenneth Hunnell — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 17:29:39 -0400

That would be insane, look at the fat bodies you will get

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 6:06 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 18:06:17 -0400

There is no better way to start the day then getting out there and being with your Soldiers. It builds unit cohesion and moral. Physical readiness IS an individual responsibility. If you are looking to score that 300, you will have to "PT" outside the unit, considering Unit PT is meant to sustain your current physical state. I don't think "PT on your own" has anything to do with the drawdown at all. If you read what SMA Dailey just released, you will see that not only does he believe in Unit Physical Training and being around your Soldiers, he also doesn't understand why Leaders wouldn't want to be out there leading from the Front. He is also disappointed that people are doing PT in civilian clothes individually, when each post has dedicated Times for Unit Physical Training. Just a thought.

Response by CW3 Craig Linghor made Apr 11 at 2015 6:20 PM

CW3 Craig Linghor — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 18:20:04 -0400

I was always less fit when I was forced to do PT with the unit. Standards were too low. Just me though.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 7:43 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 19:43:16 -0400

If you cant make weight or are a pt failure then remedial pt as a group would make sense.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 11 at 2015 8:07 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:07:23 -0400

Units do PT not only to maintain a level of fitness but also to build esprit de corp. I do PT on my own as of the moment due to the type of detail I am on but I will continue to do my own PT when I go back to a regular unit.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 8:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:18:51 -0400

I believe PT is a very important part of unit cohesion. It's another tool we have to bring our units closer to a family atmosphere. It is the responsibility of the soldier as an individual to maintain the basic Army standard. As a leader we should push our troops above that standard, I believe the only way to accomplish that is with unit PT, weather Squad, Platoon, Company or higher. Lead by example right?

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Apr 11 at 2015 8:20 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:20:48 -0400

Am I the only who is missing the connection between the drawdown and PT?

Response by A1C Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 11 at 2015 8:29 PM

A1C Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:29:40 -0400

My squadron has optional PT twice a week, unless you got under a specific score, or are on a profile, or took a partial test. There is also a class you can sign up for to do daily PT. If you do well on your own, you don't have to go, perhaps that would be an alternative to use.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 11 at 2015 8:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 20:56:11 -0400

No unless it is an incentive for those who score high on pt tests.

Response by COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM made Apr 11 at 2015 9:09 PM

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 21:09:56 -0400

- Daily PT is both a unit responsibility while personal physical fitness is a personal responsibility.
- Daily unit PT serves more than one purpose. Other purposes include accountability, unit esprit de corps, team building, and an opportunity for a leader to assess their subordinates. Done well, unit PT can improve an individual's personal physical fitness but the average unit PT probably does not do much for an individual who is already physically fit.
- If an individual is in poor physical fitness then most likely they will require more than what daily unit PT can provide.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 1:08 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 01:08:53 -0400

PT is the something that is deeply rooted in the traditions and methods of our Army. By individualizing this take we would be opening the door to other forms of individualism that may be detrimental to our uniformed front.

Response by PO3 Tanis Huston made Apr 12 at 2015 1:12 AM

PO3 Tanis Huston — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 01:12:09 -0400

Ultimately PT and maintaining military standards is an individual responsibility. With that said though prior to joining the Navy I had to lose close to a 100 lbs, if it wasn't for recruiters in not only the Navy but the Marines and Army having faith and taking me under their wing and PTing with me every day I never would have be able to join. Fast forward to being the service weight had always been a challenge for me whish aided in the challenge in staying motivated to run and with unit PT it gave me the motivation from friends, from people I looked up to, that helped me maintain my PT standards and better them even.

I understand the debate that we should all have personal responsibility for our destiny but in the end we all have a struggle that someone in our unit can help us with. We all have days where we help staying motivated.

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 2:13 AM

Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 02:13:11 -0400

I think it should be enforced. What type of moral would there be without PT standards that need to be met?

Response by Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 2:14 AM

Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 02:14:31 -0400

I completely think it should matter!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2015 11:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Apr 2015 23:48:14 -0400

I believe that Fitness could be challenged by utilizing this method.
It would definitely show who truly wants to remain in the service. I know many think that P.T. is there to make them pass when in reality it is only a bare base line in order to maintain a minimum fitness level.

i personally train in order to max the fitness test. I train on p/u and s/u in a more difficult manner so as to max the events more easily. I use the elliptical for breathing techniques and actual running for the endurance portion.

Those who can excel without the guidance should be retained.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2015 8:20 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 08:20:24 -0400

No, SGT(P) Daniel McBride, I don't see the drawdown having anything to do with unit PT. I think driving on with unit PT as a unit is important, maybe even more important as the Army is drawing down. It can be a way for units to connect, and to build unit cohesion and esprit de corps.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2015 2:05 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:05:50 -0400

Unit level PRT is extremely important as it allows leaders time to assess the physical fitness and readiness of their Soldiers. Waiting until they fail the APFT is not the right answer. It also provides excellent leadership opportunities in the development of the program, as well as the execution. The Army will not stop being the Army just because some Soldiers are leaving, nor should it.

Response by SGT Neil Doty made Apr 13 at 2015 2:12 PM

SGT Neil Doty — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 14:12:41 -0400

I dont know about most but if it were to be individual responsibility how many would actually do it i wasn't a big pt guy when i was in but i did it because i had to not sure if it was up to me i would actually do it

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2015 5:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 17:04:29 -0400

I personnally think that a Soldier should do pt on their own, after all it is a individual graded event for the APFT. If you don't have what it takes to stay in shape on your own without manadatory supervison you shouldn't be in the military.

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 14 at 2015 2:08 AM

SN Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 02:08:14 -0400

I still say regardless of the poll it should be done. I get more going to the gym then I do waking up early in the morning to do an easy morning warm up followed by a mile and a half run. The only reason we keep pt is because of the people who wouldn't pt on their own.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2020 9:45 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 21:45:14 -0500

SGT, an age old question that really has no definite answer besides traditional PT. However here is my input to doing PT on your own, and it is based on my Army experience so far. So with physical fitness I'm all for it and freakin love it. Don't mind a nice long run and certainly don't mind breaking the sweat working the muscles and growing strong although I've seen a lot in my unit with PT that is leading us absolutely nowhere positive and I'm not afraid whatsoever to be blunt about it. The PT we do is absolutely worthless and its only purpose is "protocol" from how I see it. So when I first arrived at Fort Rucker, we did section PT which was very simple and generally effective because our options were much more vast in what we could do to exercise which was literally anything on top of the universe we could want to do. It was simple and effective so I agreed with it, then along with the change of command came the change with PT which then required all of 1-58 to conduct PT as a unit which since then has really done no good because we literally do the same things that really do us no good. It's the typical Army routine of exercise by week but does absolutely nothing for me as far as gains. Running is the only thing that does anything positive for me which I run quite well anyway. This has really caused a horrible collapse in morale because it's so depressing doing the same nonsense. The units attempt to build morale is battalion PT which is everyone and it's a crap show if you ask me. It's just us doing a bunch or random nonsense that also I feel no change from. It's literally like a bunch of random events they make up from scratch that really doesn't even feel like PT it just feels like question mark to me. Like what do we seriously hope to accomplish from this? Why are we trying to get rid of the headache by cutting off the head? Now here's how I see PT should be in a rational sense... and hear me out on this I love to work out and better myself I follow strict diet standards too because you can't really solely rely on exercise for health diet plays a crucial role too, but I'm getting off topic there with PT we are all supposed to be adults who are responsible for ourselves as well as cause and effect because we are adults, right? So I think if we started PT off everyday with accountability formations then are released to our units to conduct individual PT for ourselves would be an excellent way to promote fitness in the Army. As long as your NCOs or commanding officials know where you are and supervise you to verify you are conducting physical fitness in a specific area as a group, what's so bad about that? You could also have specific days for running or conducting a certain area of physical fitness to hit all areas of your abilities. No offense to my unit but they simply do not know factually my strong areas or weak areas only I know my weakest points and stronger points that I need to improve and these points are different for everyone so YOU as a responsible adult should take control in fixing them. If you are allowed to be responsible in managing your own physical fitness under the supervision of your command and you still fail, then you should accept the consequences for not maintaining a standard and go from there because we are responsible for our actions as well as holding responsiblity and holding a standard right? A simple execution for physical fitness if you ask me. With proper accountability and supervision there would be no shamming either so I don't see why that's an issue with our unit. A warrant officer spoke about this exact same thing to me a few weeks ago. I'm aggravated with our PT methods because going to the gym on my own to actually improve my capabilities and get stronger is harder to accomplish when we do our typical PT in the morning and after me working hard all day as a mechanic it sort of conflicts my gym session on my own because if you were to rely on our unit PT alone, you'd fail miserably and I've seen this a lot already in our unit. Maybe I'm just a dumb private with my opinion here, but when you apply a little logic I think it makes sense. Things just seem to decline more and more in the unit and leaders actions usually worsen situations here rather than creating a simple solution that everyone could agree on. Sorry for such a long post, but this has been a concern of mine for some time now. I want the best for my unit and morale to be high. I also want soldiers to feel like they have responsibilities and control to improve themselves as they see fit rather than feeling like a puppet to the unit. There's many issues like this one that I don't see to ever improve or change. I'm no PT stud, but I love fitness and I've never failed a PT test nor do I plan to fail in the future. The only thing on my PT scores to really ever improve significantly is my run which is now almost in the mid 13s, so as I said running is the only benefit I find useful in the unit. No offense to anybody if you believe different, this is just something I wish could be done or at least an experiment to be tested for us. I feel this would also be a solution to prevent injury or stress on the body because nobody should have to work out 2 times a day multiple times a week to compensate for what unit PT cannot deliver. That is probably where many injuries occur.