Posted on Mar 12, 2019
SFC Squad Leader
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Is there any regulation regarding when soldiers are allowed to eat and how long before or after they can or cannot conduct PRT?
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Responses: 4
CSM Darieus ZaGara
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Not that I have ever heard of outside BT and AIT. Regular units generally PT before chow. Not sure what the issue is, need to be more specific. Thank you for your service.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CSM Darieus ZaGara
6 y
I would encourage you and other NCOs to bring this respectfully to the leaders, and why don’t they do morning PT. Good luck, as this does not make a lot of sense on face value. SFC (Join to see)
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LTC Jason Mackay
LTC Jason Mackay
6 y
SFC (Join to see) - perhaps move PT to 1700 and chow to 1830...or just do morning PT
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1SG Retired
1SG (Join to see)
6 y
SFC (Join to see) Would be an issue better raised by a SNCO, or raised during AAR. CO and 1SG should be last through chow line, but that's not a requirement either, just tradition.
I do recall BN Chaplain sunrise service and breakfast runs while in 7th ID(L). Run a couple of miles, ending on a hilltop. Chaplain's service, followed by steak and eggs, then couple miles back. Never passed on the steak, eggs, potatoes, and gravy, since it was rare to get steak. Was always a road guard, or colors bearer, and never threw up, but sure felt like it. It's not comfortable, but it's only 2 weeks.
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CSM Information Operations Planner
CSM (Join to see)
6 y
I agree with the course of action of raising the issue through NCO support chain and/or a unit-level after action. Commanders are given considerable power to set schedules, and while PRT immediately following chow doesn't seem to make a lot of sense (to me, at an abstract level not knowing the larger context in which it might make more sense). However, it also doesn't seem to violate the "illegal, immoral, or unethical" sniff test.

AR 350-1 requires reserve units to incorporate mission-appropriate PRT into inactive duty training time. FM 7-22 established the goal of conducting at least 60 minutes of PRT for every 16 hours of inactive duty time. When I was a First Sergeant I sometimes struggled to ensure we could do that. The default, knee-jerk decision is to simply do it in the morning, and we've even seen that in the responses here. But while that works for many drill days, there were times that we had an early-morning convoy time to get to a training area. Soldiers were already reporting earlier than the traditional PRT time to begin loading gear, after having worked all week and some having to drive several hours to the unit. The next morning we'd be doing the same thing in reverse, and we were aware that many Soldiers had long drives home at the end of the day. So a Saturday night smoker after dinner might be the least bad option that still met AR 350-1 requirements and FM 7-22 recommendations. The discomfort of a full stomach during an evening PRT session is less likely to end with dead Soldiers who fell asleep at the wheel because we made them get up that much earlier knowing they'd be doing long drives before and after even longer training days.
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LTC Eugene Chu
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Probably not for whole Army, but TRADOC 350-6 specifies eating times and PT rules for new recruits in basic training
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LTC Eugene Chu
LTC Eugene Chu
6 y
SFC Brian Johnston - I was mistaken about correlation of the two. 2-5, d, 4 specifies 15 minutes to eat. Regulations also say use FM 7-22 as reference to conduct PT. The topics are present, but covered separately in 350-6
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CW2 Electronic Warfare Technician
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Easiest way to fix it...get rid of PRT, because it is a waste and not real PT. Normal PT usually has the common sense with it to not eat before going on a 6 mi run because - well watch the beginning of Band of Brothers.
I'll say it again, the 101st (the most running unit that ever ran) currently has a Division PT average of 230....that's pathetic, proof that PRT needs to go.
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