How "negotiable" is AR 350-1 in regards to APFT?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 11:30:16 -0500

Specifically, the line "A minimum of 4 months will separate record tests for RA and AGR". Just had a nice long open discussion with the 1SG about the requirements of the reg versus the Commander's intent. He says Commander's intent of conducting a 100% APFT for the company overrides this requirement, so anyone who just had a record apft has to take another.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 15 at 2017 11:31 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 11:31:47 -0500

Specifically, the line "A minimum of 4 months will separate record tests for RA and AGR". Just had a nice long open discussion about the requirements of the reg versus the Commander's intent. He says Commander's intent of conducting a 100% APFT for the company overrides this requirement, so anyone who just had a record apft has to take another.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Dec 15 at 2017 11:44 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 11:44:49 -0500

Frankly the Commander can do PT tests every day, BUT a recorded AFPT is by reg suppose to be at least 4 months apart. The only qualifier I know would be if a trooper was going to a school that required a AFPT more current than 4 months before their arrival dat at school.

Response by SSG(P) Drew Hunnicutt made Dec 15 at 2017 3:47 PM

SSG(P) Drew Hunnicutt — Fri, 15 Dec 2017 15:47:39 -0500

The minimum of 4 months is if only two record APFTs will be administered within a year. That is to say, a unit can not have a record APFT on 1 June and then again on 30 June and use those two APFTs for the yearly requirement. A commander can require record APFTs at a higher frequency than the regulatory requirement, just not a lower frequency (i.e. you can add too but not take away from).

TC 3-22.20
"A-8.
The commander should ensure that testing is consistent with regard to events, scoring, clothing, equipment, and facilities. Testing should be planned to permit each Soldier to perform at his maximal level and should ensure the following:
Soldiers are not tested when fatigued or ill.
Soldiers do not participate in tiring duties before taking an APFT.
Weather and environmental conditions do not inhibit physical performance.
Risk analysis is conducted."

So a record APFT probably shouldn't be administered everyday for the above stated reasons, but soldiers do not get a four month free pass between records. I once took 4 record APFTs inside a 50 day time span just due to changing units and going to schools.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2018 12:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:31:23 -0400

MSG Ojeda gave the most accurate answer. People need to stop trying to translate a black and white regulation. The APFT is a simple administrative requirement. A commander using an APFT to make a determination of his unit's level of fitness is the same as a commander requiring a monthly IWQ to determine if his unit is proficient at shooting (some people won't get that analogy). I work for a TRADOC organization. A commander CAN NOT require a record APFT every month. The APFT that is required for attendance to a school or for graduation for a school is not and con not be substituted for a record APFT either. Passing the APFT is a requirement for graduation from those schools like PME/NCOES for example, but they are NOT record APFT's. BLACK AND WHITE.........APFT's CAN NOT BE CONDUCTED FOR RECORD INSIDE OF 4 MONTHS........principal that drives the regulation is that we do not set soldiers up for failure. When we start using words like "suppose to" and "should be" we are creating grey area where none should exist.

Response by LCDR Robert S. made Aug 7 at 2018 11:46 AM

LCDR Robert S. — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 11:46:26 -0400

The Commander's intent doesn't override the requirement that 4 months separate record tests. But the Commander can certainly require everyone to take an APFT - it just won't be a record APFT for anyone who has passed a record APFT in the past 4 months.

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Sep 9 at 2020 11:36 AM

SSG Paul Headlee — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 11:36:05 -0400

There was a time in 7th I.D. where we took one every Friday. We always looked forward to Friday because we only did p.t. once a day on Fridays.