Posted on Nov 21, 2018
Should we accept reduced expectations in the Reserve Components?
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I have recently answered a question about addressing a Soldier for failing an APFT. I found it troubling to find that many Soldiers, and Leaders, felt a Soldier in the Guard or Reserve should be held to a reduced expectation when it comes to PT as long as they can perform their job. So if a Soldier scores a 145 on the APFT they would chose to overlook the failure as long as their were to perform well. I understand the challenges of maintaining unit readiness while in a reserve component but should the APFT regulation be overlooked? Wouldn't fitness directly correlate into unit readiness?
Fitness
Standards
Posted 6 y ago
Responses: 18
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If your expectation is low, then the results will be low. People in general will do as little as they can in any situation. It's a great way for leaders to set themselves and their organizations up for failure
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My first impression of the Reserve Component:
I show up for a PT test. In active duty, you get down and the grader tells you what you need to max. This grader tell me, "You need 42 to pass". I was completely caught off guard.
"How many do I need to max?"
Now it's his turn to look baffled. "Oh... Um, I don't know".
Its the culture of the Reserve component.
I show up for a PT test. In active duty, you get down and the grader tells you what you need to max. This grader tell me, "You need 42 to pass". I was completely caught off guard.
"How many do I need to max?"
Now it's his turn to look baffled. "Oh... Um, I don't know".
Its the culture of the Reserve component.
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CSM Thomas McGarry
Was not the culture of my Reserve Unit, tell you the truth when I was deployed I found many of the same problems with readiness and training with our Active brethren that I experienced in the Army Reserves. I Think it has more to do with leadership and command enthesis rather than component. After all the standard is the same regardless of if you are Active, Guard or Reserves.
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To answer, no. The Reserve Components shouldn’t accept reduced PT standards.
Interestingly, this could be reposted as a question for active duty. I found it troubling to find that many Soldiers, and Leaders, felt a Soldier on Active duty should be held to a reduced expectation when it comes performing their job as long as they can max their PT test.
If a soldier gets in trouble, leadership almost always asks up front, “well what’s his Pt score?” If a soldier starts f*cking off on the job, not meeting standards xyz, leadership almost always asks up front, “well what’s his PT score?” Etc.
Right or wrong, being a PT monster on active duty often helps leadership look past a soldiers’ deficiencies in job performance.
Interestingly, this could be reposted as a question for active duty. I found it troubling to find that many Soldiers, and Leaders, felt a Soldier on Active duty should be held to a reduced expectation when it comes performing their job as long as they can max their PT test.
If a soldier gets in trouble, leadership almost always asks up front, “well what’s his Pt score?” If a soldier starts f*cking off on the job, not meeting standards xyz, leadership almost always asks up front, “well what’s his PT score?” Etc.
Right or wrong, being a PT monster on active duty often helps leadership look past a soldiers’ deficiencies in job performance.
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CPT (Join to see)
I completely agree with you. A Soldier should be well rounded with no deficiencies. I can't say I have ever heard anyone get preferential treatment due to an APFT score when they made a mistake.
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1SG (Join to see)
Now there is an answer I can agree with.
How many times have we seen complete morons get promoted because they are gym rats that can't lead a Girl Scout troop?
How many times have we seen complete morons get promoted because they are gym rats that can't lead a Girl Scout troop?
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SPC (Join to see)
As a 91B, having knowledge on the job is mandatory for our leaders. Who are we lower enlisted to ask for help if even our NCO's don't know. Sadly, that's not how it works. We have a PT stud in my unit that just got his P status. He maxes every PT test. But if you ask him to change even a battery on a hmvee, he will be baffled. But even worse is that 2 of my NCO's, not to speak bad of them, do not know their mechanical job at all but if you ask them which correspondence course is best to get promotion points they can tell you in a heartbeat.
Then on the flipside you have soldiers like me. I am by no means a PT stud. In fact I have a permanent profile for breaking my spine and have little to no feeling in my entire left leg. But mechanically speaking, I'm the best in our unit by far. I come from a mechanically inclined line of work prior service building race engines and whatnot. Even our CW4 asks me questions because our higher ups simply don't know. Yet I had to call legal just to get my E-3 because I kept getting the run around from all my leaders including the commander and our 1sgt. I should have been pinned specialist 6 months ago and I only just now got pinned PFC in October. No I don't have any article 15s. I have one negative counseling for disrespecting a non-commissioned officer. But you can guess as to what the subject matter at the time was.
The army doesn't care about how skilled you are at your job. It only cares about PT and points.
I apologize for the rant there SGT. You can tell I'm a bit salty about how the army actually works.
Then on the flipside you have soldiers like me. I am by no means a PT stud. In fact I have a permanent profile for breaking my spine and have little to no feeling in my entire left leg. But mechanically speaking, I'm the best in our unit by far. I come from a mechanically inclined line of work prior service building race engines and whatnot. Even our CW4 asks me questions because our higher ups simply don't know. Yet I had to call legal just to get my E-3 because I kept getting the run around from all my leaders including the commander and our 1sgt. I should have been pinned specialist 6 months ago and I only just now got pinned PFC in October. No I don't have any article 15s. I have one negative counseling for disrespecting a non-commissioned officer. But you can guess as to what the subject matter at the time was.
The army doesn't care about how skilled you are at your job. It only cares about PT and points.
I apologize for the rant there SGT. You can tell I'm a bit salty about how the army actually works.
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