Fitness is great, and by all means am I not saying get rid of it, but isn't there more to being a soldier than just PT and weapons?

2016-10-29T16:24:59-04:00

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 4:29 PM

2016-10-29T16:29:53-04:00

Depends on how you look at things. Physical fitness done right improves discipline, mental and emotional health, and your ability to do anything overall. Proper weapon handling can improve your ability to understand the power and responsibility of having a direct say in whether someone lives to see the next day.

Why are you asking this question? Something foul going on in your unit?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Oct 29 at 2016 4:43 PM

2016-10-29T16:43:57-04:00

Yes, I think they weigh-in post High School education as well as some correspondence courses across all MOS'. No clue how your MOS works or what they feel is important, in mine, you didn't stay a NCO for long if your subordinates did not respect you. Other NCO's and the Chain of Command as a whole would watch that carefully.

Response by SSG Shavonde Chase made Oct 29 at 2016 4:52 PM

2016-10-29T16:52:54-04:00

You are absolutely correct. The following link uses biblical references to support what makes a GOOD soldier but can be related to all of us:

http://www.sermonnotebook.org/new%20testament/2Tim%202_3-4.htm

The article mentions principles such as faith, patience, and practice.

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No claims of absolute originality are made for this material. As one man said, "I milk a lot of cows, but I churn my own butter." Please use these sermons as the Lord leads, but nothing on this site may be used for profit without my expressed, written permission!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 5:04 PM

2016-10-29T17:04:08-04:00

It certainly doesn't have anything to do with safety briefs, SAPR powerpoints, suicide briefs, tobacco cessation briefs etc etc..: too much time and money are spent on things that have nothing to do with warfighting

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 5:36 PM

2016-10-29T17:36:38-04:00

I hope you understand how big a role a Soldier's fitness level plays in our combat readiness. Your fitness level goes a long way towards our ability to handle periods of high stress, combating long soak periods, and mitigating the onset of exhaustion. Proper fitness routines also prepare the body for some of the punishment that our roles as soldiers do to it. There is a reason why special operators push high levels, and to a lesser extent, this applies to the military as a whole

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Oct 29 at 2016 5:38 PM

2016-10-29T17:38:17-04:00

Hmm, I'll probably get some heat for this but if the PT/Weapons thing is too much, how come the number of MILs showing up in the badlands that were short on both? Sure not as much as I'd guess as it only takes a few to give the wrong impression. However, that self corrects rapidly. By the 3rd month in, much better. Nothing like that "Ziiinnnggg" to motivate you. Ah, they teach you that for a reason!

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 6:42 PM

2016-10-29T18:42:00-04:00

There is much more to a stellar Soldier than PT and weapons . You're going to be hard pressed to find a senior NCO whow will look at this objectively . Take the Cyber Defenders and think about the type of people who are hackers and into computerscience . It's not the jock who is banging out 345s on APFT . It's the joker who plays Wold of War craft in thebarracks from ffinancial formation on Friday to PT MMonday morning. Are we really going to risk the defence of our network because someone isn't good at PT . Different MOS require different levels of fitness . With the advancement of technology we have to adjust the standards of fitness if we truly want the best and the brightest serving. If not they will keep working group for Google and we will get the pt stud who learns about computers during AIT thought at an 8th grade level .

Response by LCpl Jaime N. made Oct 29 at 2016 7:19 PM

2016-10-29T19:19:51-04:00

no, a soldiers job is to kill the enemy. a fat and nasty soldier won't have the strength and stamina to complete his mission and puts his and his brothers in danger. Also, if they don't know their weapons they cannot service or utilize them appropriately.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 29 at 2016 8:36 PM

2016-10-29T20:36:32-04:00

Fire and Maneuver , Land Navigation Movement to contact...
Operations Plans /Orders
Preparation Preparation Preparation
Practice Makes Perfect...
The more sweat in Training the less Blood in Combat...
Study and Knowledge of your enemy Know Him as well as you know your self...( Sun Tsu )

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 10:55 PM

2016-10-29T22:55:49-04:00

well, there is mandatory briefings and on-line training. there are no more boots to shine and uniforms to starch, so at a basic level - yes. When I was enlisted, a "motivated haircut" and spit shined boots would provide you a lot of cover but unless you develop the skill of leadership and problem solving you will not go far. Especially as an NCO and not even as a zero.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 10:57 PM

2016-10-29T22:57:07-04:00

holy cow man, you get paid to work out and blow stuff up. you're in the gun and knife club!

Response by James Griffin made Oct 30 at 2016 3:02 AM

2016-10-30T03:02:54-04:00

Sad but being able to drop weight is the only thing keeping me out of the navy...anyone knows of any weight waivers??? I've heard friends tell me it's bigger people going through basic than I am...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2016 5:55 AM

2016-10-30T05:55:24-04:00

You're right, it isn't everything. However, it is important that there is a standard baseline for physical fitness and weapons proficiency. Consider why we now have the CAB. The badge was created to recognize the risk non-Infantry soldiers take in combat despite that fact that combat is not their main focus in most cases. If physical fitness and weapons proficiency is not given a priority, then commanders have no incentive to devote training time and resources to develop and maintain those skills.

The thing to remember is that no matter if you are combat arms, combat support, or combat service support, you may be called upon to fight or defend yourself. You may also be tasked with directly supporting a combat arms unit. If you can't shoot or keep up, then you are a liability. What makes you a soldier and not a civilian contractor is the fact that you get paid less, may be required to fire your weapon, and perform hard physical labor that is not in your MOS description. So no, shooting and PT isn't everything, but it is what separates you from the damn, dirty apes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2016 8:27 AM

2016-10-30T08:27:40-04:00

56% of the entire force is unfit and can't pass a APFT. How are they supposed to deploy and when shit hits the fan can they stay in the fight?

Response by 1SG Al Brown made Oct 30 at 2016 8:27 AM

2016-10-30T08:27:43-04:00

If you can shoot straight and run for a long, long time, you'll do just fine as a Soldier or Marine. Common PT prepares your cardio, upper body and core for the actual combat related physical motions and stresses that you will be subject to. Don't understand? Grab your ruck and go to the field with a light Infantryman or a Sapper for a week or so. Chances are that they don't need to do a special type of PT. Physically train for your occupation, whether it's rappelling off a cliff or sitting in chair all day.

Response by SPC Jillian O'Malley made Oct 30 at 2016 2:40 PM

2016-10-30T14:40:35-04:00

I am saying this only because I ETSed nearly 10 years ago and I'm in my 30s now and can look back and realize my immaturity back then. The 5 years I served in the Army, I probably got away with way more than I should have only because of my consistent 300 on the PT test and decent weapons qualifying scores.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2016 3:33 AM

2016-10-31T03:33:40-04:00

SPC,
Absolutely! There is much more than a "well rounded" soldier than PT and Weapons. Noticed I said well rounded. In my opinion, a good soldier will know their job, be physically fit, and know what they must do to succeed (never getting complacent in the current rank). But being good at PT doesn't justify a good soldier. Again, this is just my opinion.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 31 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-10-31T10:28:03-04:00

Yes, which is why we are overburdened with a number of different military education classes. I don't know about Army, but Marines can't even pick up rank if they aren't PME complete. Critical Thinking Skills, Leadership Traits, Mentoring... these are all valuable skills taught in military training classes.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Oct 31 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-10-31T10:35:39-04:00

The military loves standards that they can accurately measure, and then stratify people based on them. Its that whole ranking system, a pass-fail thing. This person passed and this person failed. These types of standards make it easy to make decisions. You can say things like, "That soldier is ready, that one isn't!" Other things like intelligence, common sense, survival instinct, ability to think creatively, problem-solving skills, are much more important to being a good soldier, yet are much harder, if not impossible to measure. I'm not knocking fitness, I'm just saying that the reason it is overemphasized is because it is easy to measure.

Response by SPC Matthew Birkinbine made Nov 1 at 2016 5:56 AM

2016-11-01T05:56:30-04:00

Being a soldier requires physical fitness, period. True, I may not be an 11Bang Bang, but one thing my drill sergeants instilled in me from day one is that just because we don't hold the MOS-Q designator doesn't mean we can't be tapped on the shoulder to fulfill the role. There is no military without an infantry. I don't care if you can turn wrenches or lay a wire or fly a UAV, when the shit hits the fan, you have to be willing and able to do Infantry Stuff. That said, even though I'm not the PT stud Uncle Sam wanted me to be, I'm still willing to move out and draw fire, if necessary.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made Nov 1 at 2016 4:14 PM

2016-11-01T16:14:37-04:00

I would have to agree. I was a SSGT for 9 years before separating from the Air Force. The only thing the Air Force cared about was the PT score. They didn't care that as an E-5 I was doing an E-7's job or that all the troops loved me even though I was a hard ass at times. This was because I took care of them.

Response by SGT Michael Emmons made Nov 1 at 2016 4:56 PM

2016-11-01T16:56:57-04:00

When I applied for OCS I had a degree and several awards but was turned down for the guy with a 300 PT test who was dumb as rock.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 22 at 2018 1:03 PM

2018-02-22T13:03:07-05:00

Do you have to be fit to carry 80% or more of your body weight on your back in the field/deployment. Marksmanship- who the hell want to be second best when the bullets start flying? Yes knowing your MOS is very important, but so is knowing and being able to SURVIVE on the battlefield.