XVIII Airborne Corps physical fitness standards

2014-10-29T21:54:52-04:00

I have heard that units subordinate to XVIII Airborne Corps have extra physical fitness standards. Can anyone comment to the validity or falseness of this statement?

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Oct 29 at 2014 10:29 PM

2014-10-29T22:29:47-04:00

4 mile formation run in 36 minutes, 6/12 mile ruck march in 2/4 hours.
Can/will they terminate your career for failure to meet these standards? No
Can/will they withhold promotions/passes/schools for failure to meet these standards? To the best of their ability.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2014 7:21 PM

2014-10-30T19:21:21-04:00

The Army standard is the legal standard. Other units sometimes "require" attainment of a higher standard, which can be great for morale, esprit, and discipline, but not necessarily enforceable outside of a training environment (much to the chagrin of some senior people). For example at SETAF we wanted all our maroon berets to run five miles, pronto. I arrived to find a crew that could barely run two miles. It doesn't matter how fast and far you can run if no one can follow! Unless you are in retreat. And for that reason I do detest the "everyone for themselves" mentality of PT, etc. I discovered that my crew was one day in a TDA position, the next they were in TOE due to unit cuts. They were still cutting the plastic liners out of their berets. The LTC and I had no problem getting them up to standard, but there was no way those particular soldiers would get up to five miles overnight. If we ran them to the ground we'd be courtmartialed for neglect. I'm all for chaptering out the unsuitable, but I'm a great fan of fairness. No matter how pissed and how much disdain and peer pressure we endured, it takes training and conditioning and desire and example and encouragement to go beyond the minimum standard! The point here was the "five" mile thing can be just another random and false measure. Sure, it's great to know your entire unit can go five miles. But guess what, they won't all get there at the same time. From where I sit, it can dangerous to do things on autopilot without a well thought plan. It's not great to know you don't have a plan to get everyone up to snuff or to take care of those who for whatever reason can't meet muster. All emphasis was on the need to "force" compliance; no thought was given to the reason for "five" miles vs four or even six, and the predictable medical issues that were valid. We fail to question our assumptions sometimes as leaders. Airborne=five miles=warrior is not necessarily true. It's just convenient, low hanging fruit "that's the way it's always been done" mentality. "Because I can do it, so must you" is right up there with stubbornly thinking only your Branch or skill is important. If we think outside the box, we can find some really neat, exceptionally motivating ways to set both a minimum standard and higher standards for excellence that only few elite warriors will attain. Even the fattest, slowest, sloth will follow an elite warrior who is leading from the front, not admiring his odometer.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Nov 17 at 2014 2:47 PM

2014-11-17T14:47:49-05:00

As a former XVIII ABN soldier, I can say that there is an increase emphasis on physical fitness. Battalion run standards were 4 miles in 36 minutes, and we had a 20K ruck standard (3 or 4 hours?). I believe it was used more as a way to test the fitness of the whole command to see if the company needed to revamp its PT program. No adverse actions as far as I am aware, but the company/platoon will likely work harder on getting you to meet the standard. I can't speak for subordinate units, but would imagine they are the same or slightly more rigid.

Response by SGT Jody Van sciver made Nov 17 at 2014 3:54 PM

2014-11-17T15:54:03-05:00

When I was a paratrooper at FT Bragg, we did did the standard PTL test. But when I went SFAS, we took a special PT, test.

Response by Sgt Tom Vaughn made Feb 26 at 2015 12:07 AM

2015-02-26T00:07:18-05:00

As a marine back in 72 we were required to do double the army standard 20 marines went all 20 got their wings. But any one going needs to at least do the army's required, Its a physical job so no matter what branch. You need too be at your best

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 1:55 PM

2015-07-02T13:55:03-04:00

This is accurate, once a quarter, we had to complete a 4 mile run in 36 minutes and twice a year, we had to complete a 12.5 mile ruck march in 4 hours, both of which were not difficult at all.

Response by CW2 Ernest Krutzsch made Jul 6 at 2017 4:06 PM

2017-07-06T16:06:59-04:00

PT is PT, when I went to the Warrant Officer Course we ran 6 minute miles (To my chagrin) I came from Fort Huachuca, it was like running against a wall at Rucker). Always made 12 miles in 3 hours the standard. when I transferred to MI from the Infantry, they were doing PT harder to try to prove to the Infantry Commander (1st ID) that we were as fit as the troops we supported

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Jul 6 at 2017 5:37 PM

2017-07-06T17:37:04-04:00

When I was in DIV LRS, we did the 12 mile road run with a 50 lb ruck in 2:30 or faster. If not 1SG would have our ass. We also had to complete it as a team. Or the team sgt would have our ass. SSG Domanski of TM 6 had us win every time. He had a running bet with SSG Adelman of TM 2. In LRS we ran 5 to 7 miles everyday in Area J, after grueling daily PT. Good times.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2017 1:26 PM

2017-08-14T13:26:14-04:00

There is a reason not everyone can/should be in these units.

Response by SGT Michael McGiboney made Jan 24 at 2019 10:45 AM

2019-01-24T10:45:21-05:00

My Cav unit had to do 12 miles in 3 hours. Good stuff.

Response by PFC Kenneth Anderson made Feb 14 at 2020 2:24 PM

2020-02-14T14:24:50-05:00

A 2/504th Infantry (Abn) 82 Airborne Division?!

Response by SSG Paul Newman made Feb 14 at 2020 4:21 PM

2020-02-14T16:21:30-05:00

In the 70's, I was in a Combat Support Hospital (86th CSH) @ Ft. Campbell, that was neither XVIII Airborne Corps nor 101st Airborne. our 1Sgt would get ribbed by other Tops and SGM's on post about our unit not being in shape like the Infantry and the Cav and so forth. Medical Units seem to have a reputation for having an "Animal House" attitude about things military, but a serious devotion to taking care of soldiers
To try to incentivise better fitness, in addition to the post Commander's (who is also CG of the 101), standard that support units run 3 mi. 3 times a week, our Top would give the rest of the payday Friday off to whoever could finish the morning run with him. It as always at least 5 mi. and could go to seven on his whim (he was fit as a fiddle and 6'6", and his long stride made for a helluva pace). Non-finishers enjoyed a Friday of mopping, waxing, lawn mowing or snow shoveling depending on the season. It worked pretty good as non-performers started running extra on their own to get in better shape and enjoy a long weekend.
Top Pendleton would jerk a knot in your tail when you needed it, give praise when you deserved it, and make sure you and your family (if married) had what you needed. He was old school and a fine example.

Response by SPC Brian Nou made Feb 14 at 2020 9:10 PM

2020-02-14T21:10:16-05:00

Back in 1991, when I was with B Co. 1/506th at Camp Greaves, you couldn’t get a pass to go south unless you got a minimum 250 on your PT test. I don’t recall any further action. I don’t remember if that was just Bravo Co or the whole battalion either.