Selective enforcement, willful disregard, or lack of keeping up to date with regulations?

2014-03-30T13:22:02-04:00

I'm not a regulation expert by any means and don't go out of my way trying to find things wrong with soldiers and units. I have been corrected before and take it as a professional correction and not a personnel attack. If I see something I know is not right, I make the on the spot correction. I did see this on a command's Facebook and it did really irritate me. A command which I will not mention is posting pictures of their Best Warrior Competition. BWC for those not in the Army is to select the best of the best from each unit and command that compete until there is only one enlisted and one NCO left in the Army. They are tested on PT, knowledge, weapon qualification, ruck marches, and a board. The picture posted is the competitors taking their APFT. Since the temporary TC was updated to the new FM 7-22 at the latest, it specifically prohibits sleeping mats to be used. To me this goes back to the numerous discussions I have read on RP regarding promotion boards and soldiers memorizing either useless data or at the least studying "Army Study Guide" type things and not being able to effectively use the particular regulations? The level this was conducted was above company and BN. Do you think that this many people (competing on knowledge among other things) truly did not know the reg or was it just a blatant disregard for enforcing the regs?

I'm sure being in this competition none of these soldiers have an issue with PT (most are probably 300 type guys) but as a leader knowing something as basic as this affects a unit. Say you have Joe Dirtbag fail his second record APFT and the CDR and 1SG can finally separate him. PVT Dirtbag talks to JAG during his processing and and says the APFT is not being run according to regulation. The unit may now be stuck with this guy until two more records can be conducted in accordance to regulation.

Is this a common problem you have seen with younger leaders and those promoted too fast that they can tell you how much wire is on a DR-8 spool of wire but don't know things as basic as how to conduct an APFT? (And yes, I did send a message to them on facebook)

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Mar 30 at 2014 1:33 PM

2014-03-30T13:33:52-04:00

Based on personal experience, when it came time to send someone packing (Chapter, etc), we ensured that the packet was dress right dress. If you intend to separate someone based on consecutive record APFT failure, then you better have ensured that you ran those APFTs in accordance with the regulation. That is something that we as leaders are responsible for; not only to the chain of command but also to the service member on the chopping block. I believe that some of todays Soldiers are more "technically" proficient and more "in the weeds" with the regulations and such than Soldiers 20 years or so ago. That is not a bad thing. We as leaders need to ensure that we are conducting ourselves, conducting events, and conducting day to day business in accordance with whatever regulation corresponds with that activity. We also need to ensure that we are training our Soldiers on the "other than technical" aspects of their job and of the Army. Book smarts equally balanced with tactical proficiency and common sense equates to a very well-rounded Soldier.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2014 2:29 PM

2014-03-30T14:29:38-04:00

SFC Calmes,

You're right. FM 7-22 states, "If a mat is used, your entire body must be on the mat. Sleeping mats are not authorized for use.”

For my own edification, how can one tell the difference between an authorized PT mat and a sleeping mat? The mats in the photo you posted resemble PT mats to me, as the sleeping mat I was issued at CIF is much thicker and not as pliable as those shown above.