If a soldier fails a record APFT and does not take the next one with in the alloted time what happens? I'm talking like a couple of years?

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 10:35:33 -0400

Soldier had 2 kids back to back.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jun 30 at 2019 11:00 AM

SSG Brian G. — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 11:00:46 -0400

What happens?
They fail their first APFT. IF the CoC is doing their job and following regs as required the SM gets counseled and flagged and placed on remedial PT. Then it is by the regs as to when they have to take another for record APFT.

However medical conditions and subsequent profiles and regulations regarding such ie pregnancy, through wrinkles into the mix. A SM gets pregnant they are then under a physicians care and orders and as such prohibitive profiles if any. So they could easily float along the entire term of their pregnancy without having to take an APFT, flag in place and there is no adverse effect. Upon giving birth there is a "recovery" period they are allowed, I believe and then due to the regulations on profiles they are allowed 2x the length of the profile to recover and retrain and be considered fit to undergo an APFT.

In the meantime they get pregnant again. Rinse and repeat the above.

End result being that they should have been flagged from the first APFT failure. Until they are medically cleared to undergo an APFT then the flag remains. Command is sort of locked into what they cannot do, until cleared. Even they cannot violate a doctors orders and I believe a Med board option is out. I could be wrong.

Edit: Now in all this, the SM is flagged so any positive personnel actions are null and void. No awards, no schools, no promotions, no leave but this last is at command discretion and subject to the terms and exceptions of the female being pregnant and command decision. Once the child is born, then the SM has 6 months of not having to take an APFT

AR 40-501, 7-9 and 7-10

Upon a medically confirmed positive pregnancy test, a Soldier will be issued a physical profile (DA Form 3349) for the duration of the pregnancy and prenatal care will be initiated. Beginning on the date of termination of pregnancy or date of delivery, postpartum Soldiers will be issued a temporary postpartum profile for 45 days

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 30 at 2019 12:53 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 12:53:59 -0400

That is leadership failure.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2019 5:38 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 05:38:45 -0400

“I’m talking a couple of years”, had the soldier not taken an APFT for years prior to pregnancy, if not then that is an irrelevant statement. As mentioned already it is a “rinse and repeat” cycle and cumulative inability to take an APFT due to pregnancy is not counted against the soldier even if the soldier had 4 pregnancies back to back.

As it relates to your specific question, after the 6 month postpartum pregnancy period the soldier should be given the opportunity to take the APFT and should they fail (which many do) protocol is consistent with any other soldier who has failed the APFT.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2019 10:35 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 10:35:43 -0400

They'll be flagged (or should be flagged) and probably given a verbal order to take the next scheduled APFT. They should be counseled about what will happen if there is a 2nd time failure. After a 2 time APFT failure, by regulation you can be chaptered out. Now if the Soldier was not counseled & given an adequate APFT improvement plan by the Command, then they'll have something to speak with legal about, should the unit attempt to chapter the Soldier.

The Soldier deserves the right to have time to prepare for the APFT and given a plan to improve whatever area that they're lacking in. After counseling & adequate time to prepare for the APFT, then they should be able to pass an APFT. If I was the Company Commander, I'd personally want to supervise the Soldier that was struggling, and have the pass a diagnostic APFT before taking another record APFT. This protects the Soldier and the APFT program as a whole. So if they fail, they'll not be chaptered out. Then the Soldier retakes the APFT diagnostic, every month until they'll be sure they can pass a record APFT. That's how it should be done in my opinion.