What are my responsibilities when getting taped?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 13:48:11 -0400

I schedule a tape test with my unit training NCO, when I got there she told me to get S1 to tape me.
We need another Soldier, and we asked a National Guard AGR SFC to help us. When they got my measurements I told the S1 Soldier to email one copy of the 5500 the training NCO and another to me.
I left the building, and a week later I received an email from my training NCO saying that that DA5500 is invalid because there were errors with the paperwork, and that I have to retake the tape test. The only S1 Soldier we have is an SPC, that did not know how to fill a DA5500. Is it my responsibility to stay there with the Soldier and ensure is done properly?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 2:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 14:34:52 -0400

Have you read the regulation? The first part of almost every regulation covers responsibilities and who is responsible for what.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 5:08 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:08:27 -0400

AR 600-9.
Your sole responsibility is to meet the standard.
Para. 3–4. Weigh-in and body fat assessment.
a. Weigh-ins and body fat assessments will be conducted in accordance with appendix B. All Soldiers will be weighed every 6 months, at a minimum.
c. Routine weigh-ins will be accomplished at the unit level. Percent body fat assessments will be accomplished by
company or similar level commanders (or their designee) in accordance with standard methods prescribed in appendix
B. Soldiers will be measured by trained individuals of the same gender. If a trained individual of the same gender is not available to conduct the measurements, a female Soldier will be present when a male measures a female, and a male Soldier will be present when a female measures a male.
The person taping you should have been trained, which is the commander's responsibility, or commander's designee.
That's not your responsibility. Considering the person didn't know how to complete the form, I suggest they weren't trained, as is required.
Further, I'd request orders, or however the Reserve covers pay and mileage, for the previous trips, and without orders, I wouldn't return until the next drill. Further, the commander, or designee (not you), is required for the process.
You should familiarize yourself with appendices A and B, so you know whether it is being performed correctly, and using the correct landmarks.
Nobody will take care of your career like you. Research and read regulations ahead of time.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Mar 16 at 2019 5:29 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:29:13 -0400

Responsibility? Perhaps not
Vested interest? Absolutely

Nobody will take care of you and your career as well as you feel free to leave it in other peoples hands if you wish but if you do the consequences are yours to own

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 16 at 2019 6:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 18:59:17 -0400

First of all your unit should have designated personnel who’s responsible for administering Ht/WT. Secondly a SPC cannot oversee a HT/WT, it must be two NCOs at a minimum. You cannot have a tape without doing HT/WT. if the unit did not assign the RIGHT personnel to administer the HT/WT correctly, then that failure to prepare on the unit.

If it was me, the moment I was informed no one is there to administer the HT/WT I would have left, I would not have tried to hunt anyone down to do something they suppose to have already made arrangements for. It is NOT the S1 responsibility to conduct a HT/WT, and for the record, NEVER do a HT/WT without getting an unofficial copy of the results.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 16 at 2019 7:11 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 19:11:58 -0400

To reinforce what the 1SG said, based on the story you present, your unit does not know how to properly do a tape test. Make absolutely sure you do. I have seen a Soldier gain or lose as much as 6% body fat from a tape one day to a retake the next day because the Soldiers doing the test had no clue what they were doing. I personally lost 4% body fat on the spot when I demanded that a trained NCO do the tape, after attempting to walk a clueless NCO through the process.

Do not let their lack of trainers ng negatively affect your career.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Mar 16 at 2019 7:15 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 19:15:33 -0400

To be taped. However, in a situation where you know there is a lack of experience on the part of those administering the test then it behaves you to ensure everything is straight. It also sounds like your unit has issues. As an NCO you should politely inform those in charge of the issue as it will likely happen again. Thank you for your service.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2019 8:22 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 08:22:42 -0400

First, what was the urgency to schedule a tape test between last drill and next drill, when all the right people are available?
Second, almost no paperwork about you is your responsibility by regulation, except your signature on your NCOER which indicates that you agree that your admin data and rating chain are correct.
HOWEVER,
It's your career, and your career is your responsibility and yours alone.
And you are the only one with a vested interest in getting any paperwork done correctly and on time.
Sitting back and blaming the responsible person after the fact isn't going to get your required paperwork done in a correct and timely manner. Taking a proactive approach during the paperwork will.
When you do an APFT you need to be sure the HT-WT-BF and raw scores and calculations are correct and completed shortly after the test, and that both the DA 705 and DA 5500 are on their way to your iPERMS, and a copy goes straight to you.
And as an NCO, this is the kind of individual career responsibility that you should teach your Soldiers.