The Sacred Hour... how involved are your leaders during PT?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 21:56:26 -0400

http://www.armytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/03/31/sma-calls-leaders-pt-with-soldiers/70741324/

SMA thinks Command PT has been set aside and leaders aren't involved. In my career I've seen everything from 1SG leading PT every day to having the Commander and 1SG on permanent profile and never participating. I've also seen units where officers only PT with their Soldiers during Friday Unit Cohesion runs... what's the trend by your perspective?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 8:30 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:30:30 -0400

I asked this question of a guy I supervise just the other day, SFC Private RallyPoint Member, and I was not surprised at the answer. At my unit, the senior NCOs seldom show for PT (I'm a civilian, but I work with military).

It was the same deal when I was on active duty. And I think that's a shame.

I remember well what PT was like in the 82nd Airborne Division (1/504) in the late 70s: The First Sergeant was out there every day, leading the way, and it build esprit de corps and unit cohesion. I loved PT in the 82nd!

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 8:40 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 08:40:30 -0400

Unfortunately it depends a lot on the unit. I told all my NCOs they will be present for P.T. every morning and recommended to the battalion commander that all the officers were also present. Our brigade commander made a policy that only CSMs and BN CDRs could do P.T. on their own, everyone else did P.T. with their unit.

I would usually bounce around the platoons and do P.T. with a different one everyday. Some days I would just go on a run on my own, usually running into several of my units doing P.T. Bottom line I was at and participating in P.T. every morning.

Leaders must be present and participate. If you are on profile, do what you can to the limits of your profile. Soldiers want to see you out there and understand that you are old or hurt. I use to tell them to not worry about me if the run was too fast or the P.T. too hard I would just fall out...I rarely did but you know everyone wants to turn P.T. into a male member measuring contest.

Get out there!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 9:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 09:24:06 -0400

In my last unit, I lead PT most of the time, and most of my soldiers would be my demonstrators/alt instructors so they had their time to shine. My view is and will always be...Why wake you up and get you in early and waste your time.

I take the view of Ivan Drago..."I must break you."

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 1:47 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 13:47:53 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member we have Company Run on Mondays that are leaded by the CO CDR, from Tuesday to Thursday we have sections PT leaded by the Section NCO and on Fridays we have Company PT, again, leaded by the CO CDR. He used to be a Ranger, he doesn't take it easy with us...

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 2:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 14:17:57 -0400

My NCOs and senior SPCs usually run PT, with everyone in my section present. Now how PT is ran is a different story but that's the guidance they receive from higher. i.e. doing D&C from 0720-0730 every day.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Apr 1 at 2015 3:05 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:05:20 -0400

Leaders, lead! Your Soldiers will do what you do! You go to the office during PT, that's what you can expect your Soldiers to do! Leaders, lead!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 1 at 2015 3:14 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 15:14:20 -0400

Depends on the unit. I've been in units with a low optempo or a single mission set that allows everyone to be there everyday doing pt. I've also been in units with multiple mission sets and a high optempto where you are lucky if you can find one day a week where everyone can do PT together.