Can you make it mandatory PT for SM's passing in the Reserves?

2018-09-27T14:17:37-04:00

Question for my superiors and peers. Looking from FM 7-22, and I know the regulations for how many times you can take a APFT for Reserve and Active. But can I as a junior NCO with the support of my chain of commander make it mandatory for my soldiers to do PT when not drilling? Is that even possible without Paying them? Can you make them come in for points only? Being new to the Reserve side I am trying to learn as much as I can.

Another thing is that most of my soldiers work various shifts too and some that live 150-200 miles away, and I don't want to interfere with them getting paid from the civilian side.

I am fortunate because I work on base as a UAT so I have access to the gym in the morning and after work. So it is easy for me to keep up and get a good workout routine. My NCOIC and myself started using Map My Run and had the soldiers log into it help keep them accountable. But so far it seems like I am the only one using it besides one of my soldiers.

Am I within my rights to make it mandatory for them to run at least 3 times a week and have it record on the app?

Would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2018 2:31 PM

2018-09-27T14:31:06-04:00

Negative. They're not yours until they sign in for battle assembly unfortunately.

Response by CPT Stephanie Lincoln made Sep 27 at 2018 2:46 PM

2018-09-27T14:46:49-04:00

Negative. But what you can do is run an informal (not mandatory) accountability group (like create one for your soldiers on facebook) where you can motivate them and share tips etc. P.s I created my business Fire Team Whiskey for this specific reason. I too was a Reserve Component Officer frustrated with the lack of resources for my Soldiers and the lack of power I had to get them to do what they need to do in the 28 days between drill. Our Programs are 30-minute workouts, coaching, meal replacement supplements, nutrition plans, no equipment required, all workouts are done from home or anywhere. Most of our Program participants are reservists, national guardsman and police and fireman on shift work. http://www.fireteamwhiskey.com I would be happy to speak with you and tell you about our Leader referral program where we provide the Soldiers leadership back a weekly report of the Soldiers progress. We have had amazing success with this program and every single one we have had come through the leadership referral program have passed their fitness test and body fat within 60 days of starting with us.

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Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2018 3:13 PM

2018-09-27T15:13:43-04:00

Sorry you can't make them, if they want to voluntarily come in fine. Face it in the reserves they are either motivated to do PT on their own to pass or they or not and will eventually be put out.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2018 3:46 PM

2018-09-27T15:46:06-04:00

I'm about to take command and I have the company's PT level dead in my sights. My idea at the moment is to take all those who don't pass the APFT (which is next drill) and give them some "additional training" in that area to show them what their PT routine should look like. This training will be uncomfortable for them as they aren't in shape but necessary because they obviously don't know how to do PT.

At the next drill, they will take the APFT again. Those that pass are done. Those that don't get more training. This will continue for a few months until A) all SM's have passed the APFT, or B) They are processed out for not maintaining the Army standard. I'll track their progress over a couple of months. If they are making steady progress they may get more time. If they aren't making progress at all, then they aren't doing anything and I don't need them.

Response by SFC Harry H. made Sep 27 at 2018 3:48 PM

2018-09-27T15:48:45-04:00

Same with National Guard as well. Unfortunately we have no control over that in between drills. There is a few issues with trying to make a Soldier do that. If you are forcing them to do PT then you have to pay them. If you are paying them, that means they are getting credit/ a MUTA for it. If they are getting MUTA's then they could be over their required MUTA's before the years end. If that occurs then it normally takes an act of god or a powerful pen to sign off on the Soldier drilling extra MUTA's.

Also hypothetically, if you were allowed to make it mandatory, and someone got hurt, you wouldn't be able to write up an LOD because there wouldn't be any unit drill orders or individual orders. There for if it was a life altering injury it wouldn't be taken care of by the VA.

Suggestion, what I did when I had this problem was made this into a team building platoon/sqd cohesion moment. I stressed that this is merely a come at you will PT session and take what you want from it moment. Encourage everyone and specially those who really need it to come out. Make it centrally located. Preferable at a park or somewhere cool. We sometimes ran the canal downtown Indianapolis just for the IUPUI campus scenery if you know what I mean. LOL! I didn't do a lot of yelling or ridiculous PT exercises. I really wanted to make it fun and get my Soldiers off the couch. If they came out and did anything it was going to be better then the guaranteed nothing they were doing in between each drill weekend. Don't make it military structured at all. The goal is to get them to come back and start doing some kind of PT. Take that time to get to know them personally too. Maybe even end the PT session at a park picnic area for some hot dogs and cookout. If family members or friends came, even better. Play some home run derby, just anything. Make it fun. If they don't show a day or two no worries there should be enough others to show to compensate your time there. If they stop showing then follow up, but you can't make them until drill weekend.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 27 at 2018 3:49 PM

2018-09-27T15:49:20-04:00

No. They are not government property during the week and non-drill weekends.

Response by SFC David Bentley made Sep 27 at 2018 5:10 PM

2018-09-27T17:10:15-04:00

You can not bring them in for points only. RMA, SUTA, and Orders have rules and funding sourse allocation. Before you spend pay, and have the CDR sign the MUPS doc you need to make sure your in compliance with fiscal law. Check with JAG

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 27 at 2018 8:38 PM

2018-09-27T20:38:59-04:00

FM 21-20? How old are you? That book was replaced twice, most recently back in 2012 with FM 7-22.
Seriously though, if they failed an APFT, they need to be flagged and counseled immediately. The counseling should include both the consequences of getting chaptered out as well as a participatory demonstration of what kind of PT they should do throughout the month.
Then it's pretty much a diagnostic APFT every drill until they are ready to pass. For those not ready to pass, there should be a second PT session in the afternoon, and another one at 0600 the following morning. Don't overwork any one activity or muscle group.
Once they see that drills will be easier if they pass a record APFT, and especially if they see chapter paperwork start on the first Soldier, the rest will get serious.
Your commander can direct them to report for additional UTAs between drills, even points only, but it's not worth your time. Those that start to take PT seriously won't need it, and those who don't take it seriously won't be helped by one or two days between drills.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Sep 28 at 2018 12:27 AM

2018-09-28T00:27:34-04:00

You can make "recommendations", "suggestions", "voice your opinion" but when they are not there, they are not there. That is what makes drill status so difficult. Our folks have got to want to stay, and they have to balance two, sometimes three worlds to make that happen. You will find that many have 2, even three jobs, are married/divorced, have kids, going to college, eating like crap etc. You have to get them to buy into your plan, and they have to take the initiative to create their own career longevity, or sadly they will depart from uniformed service. Its that simple.

Response by SGT Cynthia Barnard made Sep 28 at 2018 9:39 PM

2018-09-28T21:39:39-04:00

No you only have control when a drill status

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 29 at 2018 12:31 PM

2018-09-29T12:31:40-04:00

I can't identify the AR right at the moment, but there is a directive that states 3 hours of physical training is required. It doesn't state active or reserve component nor does it state formalized PT or individual PT.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 9:43 AM

2018-10-01T09:43:22-04:00

Hey SGT Borders, I suggest you reach out to your BN to see if they can bring in a Master Fitness Trainer. They will teach your soldiers basic and advanced fitness tips that will help them maintain a certain level outside of BTA.