Soldiers being dismissed for failing fitness tests

[Misfit]

Rising number of soldiers being dismissed for failing fitness tests - The Washington Post

Under intense pressure to trim its budget, the Army is dismissing a rising number of soldiers who do not meet its fitness standards, drawing from a growing pool of troops grappling with obesity.

Obesity is now the leading cause of ineligibility for people who want to join the Army, according to military officials, who see expanding waistlines in the warrior corps as a national security concern.

 

[itsbob]

Rising number of soldiers being dismissed for failing fitness tests - The Washington Post

Under intense pressure to trim its budget, the Army is dismissing a rising number of soldiers who do not meet its fitness standards, drawing from a growing pool of troops grappling with obesity.

Obesity is now the leading cause of ineligibility for people who want to join the Army, according to military officials, who see expanding waistlines in the warrior corps as a national security concern.

Nothing new..

 

[Larry Gude]

But, this isn't fair! They are disable!!! They give their all, and then some, for their country only to be tossed out on their ass when there needs to be some belt tightening! Never mind how ample that ass may be, this is, why, this is fatism! At it's worse-erer!

Attica! Attica! Attica!

 

[itsbob]

But, this isn't fair! They are disable!!! They give their all, and then some, for their country only to be tossed out on their ass when there needs to be some belt tightening! Never mind how ample that ass may be, this is, why, this is fatism! At it's worse-erer!

Attica! Attica! Attica!

There are two separate standards, weight and fitness. You would think if you were overweight but could pass the fitness test you'd be ok, but not the case.

Sooooo if not for fitness and health why? Personally I'd like to have the 250 pound infantryman at my side as I doubt some 150 pound could carry me very far if something went wrong... But the 250 pounder just wouldn't look good in uniform.

 

[StadEMS3]

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing. Then they added body fat test- still had bellies over belt but had toothpick legs and passed. Then we had the ergo bike test- smoke a cigarette or take aspirin or drink a Mountain Dew and you passed. While the real runners and bike people failed. Glad I retired!

Just a friendly jab to the Navy peeps- We (Air Force) were told if they could fit through a hula hoop they were in!

 

[itsbob]

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing. Then they added body fat test- still had bellies over belt but had toothpick legs and passed. Then we had the ergo bike test- smoke a cigarette or take aspirin or drink a Mountain Dew and you passed. While the real runners and bike people failed. Glad I retired!

Just a friendly jab to the Navy peeps- We (Air Force) were told if they could fit through a hula hoop they were in!

When I joined in 1980 I took my first fitness test, and looking at the sheet I thought.. WOW if I retire from the Army I could get fat and lazy, walk the two miles and not even have to work out and still pass the test.

Well, they were on to me... As I got older it seemed every time I hit the next age bracket the standards went up. By the time I did retire I had to run faster do more sit ups and do the same amount of push ups to pass then I did when I was 18

 

[b23hqb]

When I joined in 1980 I took my first fitness test, and looking at the sheet I thought.. WOW if I retire from the Army I could get fat and lazy, walk the two miles and not even have to work out and still pass the test.

Well, they were on to me... As I got older it seemed every time I hit the next age bracket the standards went up. By the time I did retire I had to run faster do more sit ups and do the same amount of push ups to pass then I did when I was 18

I joined the Navy in 1972, and until I was discharged in 76 there was no such thing as weight or fitness standards. When I went into the reserves in 84, there were then, until I was HYT and retired in 2005.

I always thought the tests were a good thing. If one made the weight for their height, the body fat was never even calculated. Just making weight and passing the physical minimums made one satisfactory and passed.

 

[NTNG]

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing. Then they added body fat test- still had bellies over belt but had toothpick legs and passed. Then we had the ergo bike test- smoke a cigarette or take aspirin or drink a Mountain Dew and you passed. While the real runners and bike people failed. Glad I retired!

Just a friendly jab to the Navy peeps- We (Air Force) were told if they could fit through a hula hoop they were in!

Yeah, and the Wing-Wipers do thier PFT on line now...


USN, 1976-1996

 

[Madam Blue]

Air Force and Navy complaining about physical fitness tests; Give me a freaking break. Most of them should be on a fat body program anyway.

 

[NTNG]

Deep cleansing breath, in thru the nose,hold for 3 seconds, release out thru the mouth.
Repeat a bunch of times.

We were K I D D I N G ...

 

[kom526]

I did a couple of my PFTs hung over, but then again I was absolutely bullet proof when I was 17-25.

 

[aps45819]

I rem the days if you could do 1.5 miles in under 15 minutes you were good. We had people smoking, walking and bellies hanging well over their belts and passing.

Since it was a pass/fail, I used to do the run and stop before the finish line to sit down and have a smoke then step over the line with seconds to spare

 

[Lurk]

Since it was a pass/fail, I used to do the run and stop before the finish line to sit down and have a smoke then step over the line with seconds to spare

Now they've outlawed smoking.

 

[b23hqb]

Since it was a pass/fail, I used to do the run and stop before the finish line to sit down and have a smoke then step over the line with seconds to spare

We had a few in our unit that did the same thing. Pretty funny, really. Our Reserve Center would hold the complete PFT on MacDill AFB. They would stop and sit at some picnic tables about 20 yards from the start/finish line, light up, and then sprint as fast as their over-hanging bellies would allow them to, the final 20 yards or so to beat the clock.

Always brought on the biggest cheers of the evolution.

Doggone those chiefs and fossil firsts........

 

[itsbob]

Since it was a pass/fail, I used to do the run and stop before the finish line to sit down and have a smoke then step over the line with seconds to spare

Ours, are (or were can't tell you what the current standards are) graded.

Pushups, sit ups, 2 mile run.

60 Point minimum per event to pass, 180 total score to pass.

So this was my contention..

Who would you rather have as a foxhole buddy? The guy that makes weight but scores a 190 on his fitness test, or the guy 40 pounds over his max weight but scores a 270 (out of 300) or better?

Figure the lightweight with the 190 fitness score will barely be able to carry his rucksack let alone carry my butt if the need arises..

The guy 40 pounds overweight with the 270 can probably carry me, my ruck, and the comm gear too.. AND drag my M60 behind him.

But no, they keep the guy that can barely pass, and get rid of the guy that's a beast.

 

[Larry Gude]

Ours, are (or were can't tell you what the current standards are) graded.

Pushups, sit ups, 2 mile run.

60 Point minimum per event to pass, 180 total score to pass.

So this was my contention..

Who would you rather have as a foxhole buddy? The guy that makes weight but scores a 190 on his fitness test, or the guy 40 pounds over his max weight but scores a 270 (out of 300) or better?

Figure the lightweight with the 190 fitness score will barely be able to carry his rucksack let alone carry my butt if the need arises..

The guy 40 pounds overweight with the 270 can probably carry me, my ruck, and the comm gear too.. AND drag my M60 behind him.

But no, they keep the guy that can barely pass, and get rid of the guy that's a beast.

"We're from the government and we are here to help."

 

[GURPS]

By the time I did retire I had to run faster do more sit ups and do the same amount of push ups to pass then I did when I was 18

40 Push ups
40 Situps

run 2 miles in 18 Min [the bare minimum ] you could almost walk it out @ that rate

the 'Airborne Shuffle' would get you that pace

 

[Larry Gude]

40 Push ups Would they accept two sets of 20???
40 Situps or two sets of 15 and then a fiver?

run 2 miles in 18 Min [the bare minimum ] you could almost walk it out @ that rate Not me. My jog is right around 12 minute miles.

the 'Airborne Shuffle' would get you that pace

 

[GURPS]

it daym near killed me ........ I am not a active person, what was I thinking going into a Grunt MOS

getting out of basic was a treat ... I was OSOM the 1st 6 weeks ....... then seddenly every DI had my name ....

'GURPS Drop Down and give me 20' - as they walked by


12 mile road march

but Automatic Weapons and C4 was pretty cool ....

.... M72A2 LAW when I was in Korea they had some war stock about to expire [who knew rockets had a use by date ] ... so they passed them things out like candy canes on Christmas - every one got a rocket

 

[Larry Gude]

it daym near killed me ........ I am not a active person, what was I thinking going into a Grunt MOS

getting out of basic was a treat ... I was OSOM the 1st 6 weeks ....... then seddenly every DI had my name ....

'GURPS Drop Down and give me 20' - as they walked by


12 mile road march

but Automatic Weapons and C4 was pretty cool ....

.... M72A2 LAW when I was in Korea they had some war stock about to expire [who knew rockets had a use by date ] ... so they passed them things out like candy canes on Christmas - every one got a rocket

I never served. Puss.