Posted on Apr 9, 2015
Should Basic Training be extended to accommodate the lower fitness levels of new enlistees?
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Fitness
APFT
Basic Training
Recruiting
Readiness
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 56
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There are a lot of no don't lower the standards and a lot of if they can't meet the standards send them home. If we did that we wouldn't have a military.
One Station Unit Training is long enough extending it would not help our recruiting efforts. All Soldiers are "tested" at the reception station, if they can't meet a minimum amount of push ups they are usually put in the P.T. platoon and spend up to a couple weeks there until they "meet the requirement" then they start basic training.
You cannot administratively punish a new Soldier for failing an APFT. It is the responsibility of the Soldiers first duty station and that young NCO who will be the new Soldiers supervisor to get them in shape. There is enough on the POI in OSUT to teach a civilian to try and make them a Soldier in a short amount of time, extending that time would not be a good thing.
With that said, if you can't pass the minimum standards on the APFT you are pretty pathetic but, I know a whole bunch of Infantry Sergeant Team Leaders that will be more than happy to give you some extra training!
One Station Unit Training is long enough extending it would not help our recruiting efforts. All Soldiers are "tested" at the reception station, if they can't meet a minimum amount of push ups they are usually put in the P.T. platoon and spend up to a couple weeks there until they "meet the requirement" then they start basic training.
You cannot administratively punish a new Soldier for failing an APFT. It is the responsibility of the Soldiers first duty station and that young NCO who will be the new Soldiers supervisor to get them in shape. There is enough on the POI in OSUT to teach a civilian to try and make them a Soldier in a short amount of time, extending that time would not be a good thing.
With that said, if you can't pass the minimum standards on the APFT you are pretty pathetic but, I know a whole bunch of Infantry Sergeant Team Leaders that will be more than happy to give you some extra training!
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CW3 Kevin Storm
SGM, I disagree, I once read the Brits use a system that sends their BT's closer to 6 months of Basic training. We are no longer fighting WWII, and need to adapt to BT that reflects that. I get too many soldiers back from Basic/AIT and they can't do much of anything PT wise, and their overall AIT skills are less than desirable. It is time for the force to modernize teach a well rounded program.
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CSM (Join to see)
CW3 Kevin Storm Let me think...yes, I remember something about kicking the British ass out of America and forming our own country, or something to that effect. We should definitely adopt something that they developed. A Soldier never stops developing, it is the job of leaders to develop their Soldiers. I have seen officers and NCOs that have arrived after four years of college and still can barely tie their boots.
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SSG (Join to see)
SGT Celestin, even professional distance runners only run 2 to 3 times a week. If you run your guys too much they will end up riding profiles. I have witnessed this first hand. Had 4 failures on the run and the PL had us running 4 days a week. Next APFT scores were worse and most had profiles. When you work the same muscle group multiple days in a row there is no time for healing and growth.
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SGT Bryon Sergent
CSM (Join to see) - I would like to know why we CAN"T use old PT in the new PT. I remember doing flutter kicks, hello dollies, cherry pickers, jumping jacks, push-ups, sit-up. What the hell is a half jack. Those old school techniques built up rotater cuffs and shoulders, and stomach muscle and hip flexors. Those are essential to the sit ups and push ups!
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Absolutely Not. We need to keep the standards high. Lowering standards is never a good idea. The military is an unforgiving profession, and fitness matters for the individual Soldier and those to there left and right. Just because society is soft, does not mean the military should be. If necessary, extend the initial entry training to get folks uo to speed.
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MSG David Chappell
I guess if we could get our enemies to agree to less aggressive attack strategy and only attack during certain times. I believe if we could conduct (total sarcasm spoiler alert) warfare in a more gentlemanly manner. We could establish certain hours as well as break times for extreme hot or cold weather. I believe we could have the senior staff from both sides meet in the evening for dinner and drinks and discuss the events of the day.
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