Taking a pt test on profile?

2018-10-01T13:45:55-04:00

I’m a PFC and in 17 days supposed to go to specialist. However the last couple of months I’ve been on profile for a torn ligament in my wrist. I need a record APFT and apparently I can’t because I’m on profile. My career means a lot to me so I really want to promote. What can I do? The only alternative events I can find are for the run.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Oct 1 at 2018 1:51 PM

2018-10-01T13:51:32-04:00

What did your provider write on your profile for a recovery date that you are able to take an APFT?
The only alternate events are for the run - the walk, the bike or the swim. There are no alternate events for pushups or situps.

It sounds like you may have to wait until you're healed to get promoted. The only way you can take a record on the new profile (well current now) is if the provider authorizes it but there aren't any alternate events for pushups so I doubt that. I did take a record APFT on a temp profile but my issue was knees and I did the walk.

You have to take care of yourself - especially while you are young. Don't make the mistake a lot of us have made in pushing too hard or too far and making something worse. Would you rather end up with a serious injury and discharged or wait another month for a promotion?

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Oct 1 at 2018 2:17 PM

2018-10-01T14:17:56-04:00

You already answered your question (implicitly). You career means a lot to you so it would be extremely counterproductive if you don’t follow your profile and properly heal. If you get worst your career can then be negatively affected.

Response by CH (MAJ) Thomas Conner made Oct 1 at 2018 2:22 PM

2018-10-01T14:22:23-04:00

Let me tell you a little story of a chaplain who failed listening to his doctor. Being formerly enlisted, I prided myself in being fit, easily out-running many Soldiers who were younger. One morning I awakened and could not urinate, but I went to PT anyway. When I got back after PT, I called the medical folks who told me to come in immediately. I went and was hospitalized for five days, looking for the reason I couldn't pee. The docs determined my back was messed up, pinching the nerves that signal the brain you have to use the latrine. I was given a three-week profile, which I violated after a few days because I felt better. I ended up back in the hospital, this time facing surgery. Six surgeries later, my lower spine was fused, I was taught how to catherize myself, and I was facing a medical retirement! I'm leaving out the parts about the excruciating pain, major depression, and wanting to kill myself.
It isn't worth it! Stay on your profile until you are well. Once your profile is over, you can train and then take the APFT without putting your career, and health, in jeopardy.
There really is over-training! Don't do it!!

Response by SSG Brian G. made Oct 1 at 2018 3:13 PM

2018-10-01T15:13:03-04:00

You can and should follow your doctors instructions and stay on profile. Yes, your career means a lot to you but that career does not amount to much if you break profile to take the APFT, get promoted as you want to and then upon aggravating the torn ligament, have to turn around and go back to the same Doctor who can and rightly should refer you for UCMJ action. Promotions come and go. Your health is what matters. Take the time, stay on profile and when cleared to resume normal duties, do so and smoke that APFT.

Look at it another way. If you break profile and get away with it, you could do yourself irreparable harm which leads to your separation from the Army. And a medical separation can have lasting consequences.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2018 4:53 PM

2018-10-01T16:53:28-04:00

Let your wrist heal properly and THEN take the APFT when your profile is done. Think of it this way: Would you rather follow your Doctor's advice and take an APFT when your wrist is actually healed (which the only downside is your advancement to SPC is slightly delayed) or risk taking an APFT on a still injured wrist, fail that APFT and then get Flagged and NOT get SPC?

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Oct 2 at 2018 12:59 AM

2018-10-02T00:59:15-04:00

You may take an APFT on permanent profile. Wait till your temporary profile expires though.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 2 at 2018 2:44 PM

2018-10-02T14:44:44-04:00

Unless I am mistaken, and I'm fairly certain of my answer, here are the Army regs on your situation in plain speech: If you're on a TEMPORARY profile that restricts you from taking any event in the APFT, you cannot take the APFT until you're off profile. Even after your profile is up, you're to be given the profile's length (up to 90 days) to recover/train up before being required to take a record APFT. On temporary profile, you may take an alternate aerobic event if it is authorized on your profile, but it will not count as a record test. No record APFTs on temporary profiles (if the profile includes one of the APFT events). At all.
If you're on PERMANENT profile, you can take a record APFT as authorized by your profile. You cannot earn any points for any event your profile prevents your from participation in, but it will be considered a GO if pushup/situp, and alternate aerobic events are scored as GO/NO-GO only. While the reduced APFT score will not affect whether or not you pass, I do believe it affects your EPS score.
As far as needing a record APFT go, as long as you have one for the current training year, you should be good. If you don't have one yet for the current training year, but you have one on record, I don't think you need a current year go just to promote to E-4. As long as you're not flagged, your chain of command should be able to put your promotion paperwork in as soon as you're eligible (time in service, time in grade). If that's not happening, work up your chain of command.

Response by SGT Aric Lier made Oct 2 at 2018 4:40 PM

2018-10-02T16:40:10-04:00

ask your plt Sgt about a waiver. if you're a good soldier he will back you up on this.

Response by CSM Danny S. made Oct 3 at 2018 2:36 AM

2018-10-03T02:36:48-04:00

Well this is part of being on profile. However you can go talk to your doctor and see how it is healing and then let them decide if you can go off profile. If not you will have to wait and violating your profile can lead to UCMJ.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 25 at 2021 7:46 AM

2021-03-25T07:46:07-04:00

Carrers come and go and quite frankly depend on your health. So heal first.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Mar 25 at 2021 2:26 PM

2021-03-25T14:26:37-04:00

You can have your provider write your profile approving you to take an APFT - but you are correct. The only alternate events on the APFT is the aerobic event (run). Since your issue is your wrist, I doubt the provider will approve an APFT since there's no alternate event for the pushups.

The smart thing to do is HEAL so you don't end up with permanent damage that could negatively impact and potentially shorten your career.

UGH damn it this is a year old and I already commented. I hate when people bring old threads back to life and they show up in my feed.