Posted on Feb 28, 2014
Gauging performance on alternate events for the APFT.
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Soldiers taking the Army Physical Fitness Test must take and pass three events: the push up, the sit up, and the 2-mile run, unless they have an approved physical profile. For the Army, we have alternate aerobic events; there is an option for a 2.5 mile walk, 800 meter swim, or 6.2 mile bike test. Unlike the run, these events are pass/fail and are not assigned a score based on performance. Do you think the Army should establish a scale to score these events, or is it better to have them as pass/fail?
Posted in these groups: 
APFT
PRT (Army)
APFT PRT (Army)
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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They should definitely grade these events. There's no point in trying to bust your butt when barely passing and blowing it away net you the same results.
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LTC (Join to see)
I have P2 no run profile. For my age bracket the time limit on the 2.5 mile walk is 37:30. I always average around 29 minutes for the event and get the same "pass" as the guys who finish in 37+.
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I do not see why there can not be an established scale for the alternate event. In the NCOES they use the average of the P/up & s/up events to allow all individuals compete for honors, either adopt that for across the board scoring or develop a scale so that those with a P2 could conceivably receive a better rating on their NCOERs.
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LTC (Join to see)
For the run, it averages out to be about 1 point per every 4.5 seconds under you finish. Why not do something similar for the alternate events? In my age group, the max for the walk is 37:30. If you finish in 37:30, you get 60 points. triple the time to 1 point for every 12 seconds under. So if you finish the walk in 29:30 you "max" that event. If you've ever done the walk, you know you have to be really humping it to finish in under 30 minutes.
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Leave them as pass fail. If you can't do one of the required events your score shouldn't matter. Just pass. I know too many high ranking officers and ncos that have permanent profiles and still get promoted. If push ups, situps, and running 2 miles are so important, a profile should be the same as a fail.
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