Army Physical Fitness Test - Took One Today

[keasbey]

great job! i watch some show on tv awhile back where they were changing the training they were giving one of the branches to more modern stuff that they realized with this war. stuff like carrying another person on your back and doing a xxx yard dash back and forth and squats with someone on your back and all sorts of other bodyweight stuff.. have you seen or heard anything different done with this stuff or is it news to you?

 

[Calfie1st1]

great job! i watch some show on tv awhile back where they were changing the training they were giving one of the branches to more modern stuff that they realized with this war. stuff like carrying another person on your back and doing a xxx yard dash back and forth and squats with someone on your back and all sorts of other bodyweight stuff.. have you seen or heard anything different done with this stuff or is it news to you?

Im currently deplyed in iraq, and our 1sgt still makes us take a pt test, its insane. But i never heard anything about changing the pt test to something new.

 

[Longhorn85]

Thanks!

 

[Lumberg]

Good job LH.

The Army adapting their practices to better reflect reality? Next thing you know we'll have a nimrod for preside, uh pigs might fly out of my butt?

 

[Longhorn85]

Good job LH.

The Army adapting their practices to better reflect reality?

Thanks

Yes, they are looking at ways to test fitness in a way more applicable to combat situations (shuttle runs vs long runs, carrying heavy loads short distances vs pushups, etc).

http://www.armytimes.com/community/opinion/marine_opinion_forums_080128/

 

[Lumberg]

That's totally cool.

I bet you that eventually, there will be a psychological aspect to the testing. Like being able to pay attention to a complex task for at least 5 minutes straight or something. And then running, and then shooting.

I bet that one Olympic event where you ski cross country and then shoot at a target and then ski some more would make a pretty good test for an infantryman or a Ranger.

 

[Longhorn85]

I bet that one Olympic event where you ski cross country and then shoot at a target and then ski some more would make a pretty good test for an infantryman or a Ranger.

Hell yeah, the modern pentathalon (fencing, shooting, riding, running and swimming) is an event that would challenge even the most elite of soldiers.

 

[Lumberg]

Hell yeah, the modern pentathalon (fencing, shooting, riding, running and swimming) is an event that would challenge even the most elite of soldiers.

Let me ask you this frankly:

If each soldier in the Army were tested in a pentathlon-type format rather than in the current format, would the Army be better?

I don't know how motivated the average soldier is to do well on the fitness test, I know some strive just to pass.

But I think if all the equipment were provided for free usage, (meaning, a training range, horse(s), a track, and a pool/swimming lane), and the requirements were published like they are now, we'd have, at the very least, the out-of-shape guys at least having to stay in a better balance of "in-shape," if nothing else.

But really, your call, the original question, I'm curious to know.

 

[Longhorn85]

Let me ask you this frankly:

If each soldier in the Army were tested in a pentathlon-type format rather than in the current format, would the Army be better?

Yes, it would be better, but I don't think it is a realistic goal. After all, Modern Pent guys are elite athletes with years of training.

Some of the events are not really applicable to today's military requirements (fencing, riding).

Special Ops guys are required to meet a minimum standard for swimming, and some of them do equestrian training and have used it in Afghanistan.

All soldiers have to be able to fire a weapon accurately, but not to the standard of the MP. Same with running, all do it unless they have a medical reason not to, but the standard is not nearly the same, as you can see from my run time during my last PT test.

 

[Elementality]

Its sad, they lowered the score when I was getting out, and now from 2 miles to 1 mile.

Before you know it it's going to be like the Airforce and all you'll have to do is ride a stationary bike and check your heart rate.

yeah but what about the PJ's in the airforce..that training is hardcore like navy seal