Posted on Oct 14, 2015
Have you been legally helped in an APFT? Have you helped somebody in their test?
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This morning I was taking my bi-annual APFT and I asked my grader to not sound off the count until I pass 39 sit-ups since I'm required to do 42. Well, there I was doing my sit-ups and I couldn't follow the count because he's voice was really low. When I was almost done, I could barely do more, I ask him "WHERE AM I AT?!" and another NCO, imitating my grader's voice, said 39! All I thought at that moment was, oh, I'm a failure, I'm gonna be flagged, I wont be promoted. I tried my hardest to do 5 more and asked again where was I, he said again, 39! Time was up, and when I thought I failed he came to me and told me, you did good I was just helping you. While it wasn't the best motivation practice, I gotta admit that it helped me.
Have you ever been legally helped in an APFT? Have you ever legally helped somebody?
The constant use of the word "legally" is because I don't want the discussion to deviate in wrong practices.
Have you ever been legally helped in an APFT? Have you ever legally helped somebody?
The constant use of the word "legally" is because I don't want the discussion to deviate in wrong practices.
APFT
Fitness
Help
Motivation
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 26
44
44
0
I tell the grader to let me know when I hit 100 then I switch to sit-ups for the remaining minute. Then I jump up immediately and do a warm up mile. I do vehicle inspections while waiting on everyone else.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
SSG Robert Burns thanks for always bringing a refreshing response, sometimes people take it too seriously here and go off the actual question.
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Does having your Team Leader, Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant running behind you yelling, screaming and promises of killing you if you fail the run count as legal help?
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SPC (Join to see)
I motivate myself hyping and trash talking the grading NCO (sorta dependent on the NCO though. If I've that vibe they'll allow a bit of healthy banter)
My first motion is always knock out 50 right off the bat. Then between breaks I'll say things like "don't worry Sgt, I got more coming for you." And do ten more. Or other goofball things such as "watch me set this standard for push up form Sgt"
My first ever first line supervisor had a mission statement of making me strong, and he did, proudest day is smiling up at him doing countless of push ups.
"You can't smoke a rock, you can heat it up though" - life motto now.
My first motion is always knock out 50 right off the bat. Then between breaks I'll say things like "don't worry Sgt, I got more coming for you." And do ten more. Or other goofball things such as "watch me set this standard for push up form Sgt"
My first ever first line supervisor had a mission statement of making me strong, and he did, proudest day is smiling up at him doing countless of push ups.
"You can't smoke a rock, you can heat it up though" - life motto now.
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Fm 7-22, Appendix A, Paragraph A-36. "The scorer counts the correct number of repetitions out loud, repeats the last number of the correct repetitions when incorrect repetitions are performed, and verbally corrects push-up and sit-up performances."
The FM is pretty clear--scorers need to count out loud for every repetition. If they don't, there's definitely room to challenge the validity of the test, as it isn't being conducted to the published standard.
There are actually an enormous amount of requirements regarding administration and setup and execution for the APFT; in my limited experience (19+ years taking APFTs), most folks have very little idea about what the standards actually are for an APFT.
For example, on my last APFT: neither the test OIC or NCOIC knew the standard for recovery time between events (no less than 10, no more than 20 minutes, determined by the OIC or NCOIC), and tried to make me do the situps after a break of 7 minutes; the NCOIC attempted to make corrections on my pushups (for allegedly having my feet more than 12 inches apart, per his uncalibrated eye; per the FM, only the scorer (NOT the NCOIC or OIC) can make corrections on repetitions); the location of the push-ups and sit-ups was slightly downhill (so pushups were of the decline variety, and thus harder, and situps were of the decline variety, and thus easier); the run route was only 1.96 miles, as measured by numerous GPS devices; and one portion of the run route exceeded (again, as measured by GPS devices) the authorized 3% grade. While all of us taking the APFT passed, had any of us wanted to challenge the validity of the test, there was plenty of evidence for all results to be cancelled.
Ideally, leaders would understand these requirements and plan appropriately. Often, though, leaders half-ass the conduct of the APFT.
The FM is pretty clear--scorers need to count out loud for every repetition. If they don't, there's definitely room to challenge the validity of the test, as it isn't being conducted to the published standard.
There are actually an enormous amount of requirements regarding administration and setup and execution for the APFT; in my limited experience (19+ years taking APFTs), most folks have very little idea about what the standards actually are for an APFT.
For example, on my last APFT: neither the test OIC or NCOIC knew the standard for recovery time between events (no less than 10, no more than 20 minutes, determined by the OIC or NCOIC), and tried to make me do the situps after a break of 7 minutes; the NCOIC attempted to make corrections on my pushups (for allegedly having my feet more than 12 inches apart, per his uncalibrated eye; per the FM, only the scorer (NOT the NCOIC or OIC) can make corrections on repetitions); the location of the push-ups and sit-ups was slightly downhill (so pushups were of the decline variety, and thus harder, and situps were of the decline variety, and thus easier); the run route was only 1.96 miles, as measured by numerous GPS devices; and one portion of the run route exceeded (again, as measured by GPS devices) the authorized 3% grade. While all of us taking the APFT passed, had any of us wanted to challenge the validity of the test, there was plenty of evidence for all results to be cancelled.
Ideally, leaders would understand these requirements and plan appropriately. Often, though, leaders half-ass the conduct of the APFT.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
I don't think anyone on the lower end really cares. We have all seen the magical "officer pushup" (where they maybe go 1/2 way down but bang out like 90 in the first 60 seconds) and we count them. We have all seen the shaky, last ditch effort to squeeze out 2-3 more, and they shouldn't count, but they do because we are human, and we don't want to be the ones to bring down a fellow service member.
The standards are great, when they are enforced. But in order for them to matter, they must be enforced every single time. No matter for whom, or for what reason, because they are the standard. But, at the same time, we love and respect out brothers and sisters in arms, and will not hinder them because of some bureaucratic determination of what right is.
This is the life of the military, follow the standards and risk destroying someone's career, or look the other way and help everyone get by for one more day.
The standards are great, when they are enforced. But in order for them to matter, they must be enforced every single time. No matter for whom, or for what reason, because they are the standard. But, at the same time, we love and respect out brothers and sisters in arms, and will not hinder them because of some bureaucratic determination of what right is.
This is the life of the military, follow the standards and risk destroying someone's career, or look the other way and help everyone get by for one more day.
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LTC Eric Coger
MAJ (Join to see) - I would argue that if the ground is not level, it should be up to the test taker which way they face; if the NCOIC or grader were to argue the point, I would think they would have no grounds to question your choice. It's called IPB, and we can select the terrain most favorable given the circumstances.
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