Posted on Mar 17, 2016
Is PRT worth doing at a monthly drill for National Guard and Reserves?
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Can we change the habits of soldiers who don't train on their own? Is it worth the risk of injury with soldiers who only worry about physical fitness once a month?
On the other side, is this a good display of leadership by example? The soldiers who want to improve will know people who can help. Morale can be boosted by effective PT as well.
What are your thoughts?
On the other side, is this a good display of leadership by example? The soldiers who want to improve will know people who can help. Morale can be boosted by effective PT as well.
What are your thoughts?
Physical Training
Army National Guard
Reserves
Injuries
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 38
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If your goal is to train them directly to be physically fit, then no. One weekend a month is ineffective.
However, if your goal is to train them HOW to be physically fit and set an example, then you are on the right track.
However, if your goal is to train them HOW to be physically fit and set an example, then you are on the right track.
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SGM (Join to see)
Agreed. If you don't have PRT often, even if not monthly, then how can you as a leader know what your unit's fitness readiness is?
In one National Guard unit I belonged to, we had the PT test twice a year. If you passed, that was it, but if you failed, you had morning PT until you passed (except for field drills.) That balances the lack of training time against the need to communicate to the soldiers that they are falling behind the standard.
In one National Guard unit I belonged to, we had the PT test twice a year. If you passed, that was it, but if you failed, you had morning PT until you passed (except for field drills.) That balances the lack of training time against the need to communicate to the soldiers that they are falling behind the standard.
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I lament the loss of old school PT in favor of regimented, and all too often lax PRT, but even though the Guard & Reserve meet just 2 days a month, they need to know it, even if it has little physical training benefit doing it 1 or 2 days a month.
Given time constraints, it may not be practical to do PRT every BA, but as a part of basic soldier knowledge, it does need to be practiced if we must be saddled with PRT.
Given time constraints, it may not be practical to do PRT every BA, but as a part of basic soldier knowledge, it does need to be practiced if we must be saddled with PRT.
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SGT (Join to see)
Agreed - time constraints are real during BA, it's true, but I mean come ON. Even if it's only Squad PRT, it's stuff we all need to stay up on and at LEAST be familiar with. And hey, group PT can be a really useful long-term bonding tool.
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SGT Dave Tracy
SGT (Join to see) - If your unit has the time to allow for PRT, and makes it a priority, you may have a lot more going for you than the average Guard or Reservist.
I'm not anti-PRT; more accurately, I'd consider myself Pro-PT, but that's a different discussion. My own experience, knowing what other units do, and reading many of the responses here confirm for me that regular PRT--any form of PT really--in the Reserves is not very common.
That's not a value judgment, just an observation.
I'm not anti-PRT; more accurately, I'd consider myself Pro-PT, but that's a different discussion. My own experience, knowing what other units do, and reading many of the responses here confirm for me that regular PRT--any form of PT really--in the Reserves is not very common.
That's not a value judgment, just an observation.
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SGT (Join to see)
Hmm, I think I'm being misunderstood. You're absolutely right SGT, there's definitely not time to make it any kind of a priority. A unit that COULD would be missing every other task. But surely, like with any of our other basic core skills, a simple PRT session (at whatever level: unit, squad, team, section, etc.) could be conducted a few times a years? I'm in no way suggesting every BA or even every other BA. I think 3 times a year is not unreasonable, at least for a "wouldn't it be nice" target.
I personally like conducting PT at the end of the day Saturday or at 0-dark-30 on Sunday - for Saturday, Soldiers are either in hotels or traveling not very far, and for Sunday at least everyone who does travel long distances is already nearby. I think our positions are not that far apart.
However, a large portion of this discussion is dependent on taskers from on high; if BDE says PRT is important, it'll be made important. If BDE says extra EO training or range time is important, well than that is what's made important. (Attention all higher echelon leaders, you control this focus for us!)
I personally like conducting PT at the end of the day Saturday or at 0-dark-30 on Sunday - for Saturday, Soldiers are either in hotels or traveling not very far, and for Sunday at least everyone who does travel long distances is already nearby. I think our positions are not that far apart.
However, a large portion of this discussion is dependent on taskers from on high; if BDE says PRT is important, it'll be made important. If BDE says extra EO training or range time is important, well than that is what's made important. (Attention all higher echelon leaders, you control this focus for us!)
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SGT Dave Tracy
SGT (Join to see) - "However, a large portion of this discussion is dependent on taskers from on high; if BDE says PRT is important, it'll be made important. If BDE says extra EO training or range time is important, well than that is what's made important. (Attention all higher echelon leaders, you control this focus for us!)"
Yep! That's the way of it.
Yep! That's the way of it.
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Yes, I believe it is absolutely worth it. I personally don't like PRT, but it is a program that is designed to sustain the most basic levels of physical fitness. If you delve into 7-22, you can create some great workouts that will get them sweating. Keeping this consistent over every drill will hopefully reduce the risk of injury. I know that NG and Reserves are a bit different, but Soldiers/NCOs should be receiving counselings that specifically instruct them to PT on their own in order to PASS and APFT.
Secondly, if you are sending your Soldiers and NCOs to NCOES, knowing the proper commands and exercises for PRT is crucial. Those are all testable elements of BLC and ALC. If you are not preparing your Soldiers/NCOs by affording them the opportunity to conduct/lead PRT, you as a leader are failing them, as they will be unprepared once they arrive at those schools.
Secondly, if you are sending your Soldiers and NCOs to NCOES, knowing the proper commands and exercises for PRT is crucial. Those are all testable elements of BLC and ALC. If you are not preparing your Soldiers/NCOs by affording them the opportunity to conduct/lead PRT, you as a leader are failing them, as they will be unprepared once they arrive at those schools.
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