Gotta get this off my chest

[gsh341]

Originally Posted by havoc1

Ladies & gents, if you didn't already know it, PT test fitness has little to nothing to do with real, operational fitness.

I won't agree completely, but you are correct for the most part. If you can't pass a PT test you have some issues that need to be addressed. However, passing a PT test with a perfect score of 300 doesn't mean you're ready for Ranger School, let alone the rigors of combat.

I knew a guy that did the 2 miles in just under 10 minutes without really trying and darn near max the push-ups and sit-ups, but he couldn't carry heavy loads for anything. And if you put some terrain in there, he was all done in before the first real hill was over. I could never max the run and usually did average on the push-ups and sit-ups, but I could carry a pack, flak vest, M-60 and 400 rounds of ammo (this was the mid-90's) well after he was crying for the first of many breaks.

[Cannibul]

Originally Posted by havoc1

Ladies & gents, if you didn't already know it, PT test fitness has little to nothing to do with real, operational fitness.

There is some truth to that. I remember the gym rats in the Corps. Would spend hours lifting weights. They could do pull ups and sit ups and the three mile run no problem. But load there beefy ass down with a full pack and a couple of Dragon Missile Field Simulators and they were dead meat.

I never got over a 250 on the PFT but I could hump a full load all damn day.

One day on The Rock we were coming off of a two week camp out in the CTA. It had rained the entire two weeks and the trucks that were supposed to pick us up and take us back to Camp Schwab were not able to get to us because of the mud.

So our LT decides we will walk back to Schwab. It was about 15-16 miles as I recall. Almost all the weight lifters were down for the count before we hit 10 miles. Most of the ones who made the entire hike were the skinny hill boys who never scored very high on the PFT.

[smmdtd]

Originally Posted by Kent

So where are you stationed?

I too worked on F-16's as a crew chief. Man that was some fun hard work!

Kent

Luke AFB, AZ. Yeah it has its ups & downs

[smmdtd]

Originally Posted by JJB

if you mean the flight line then yes

I sometimes judge too quickly...its good to hear other view points

yep the flight line. the noners that only work 7-8 hours a day piss me off, when they whine and cry about maintainers not doing pt. after finishing a 12-13 hour swing shift. So that is why i asked.

[havoc1]

Originally Posted by gsh341

I won't agree completely, but you are correct for the most part. If you can't pass a PT test you have some issues that need to be addressed.

Agreed. I should have said that maxing a PT test doesn't really mean anything. Except an attaboy. My "old" ass still has to set and enforce the standard because that's what the Army demands, but my idea of fitness is a lot more than running 2 miles in sneakers and a PT uniform. Let's talk about 50 meter sprints in body armor, humping 70lbs and a weapon for 12 hours, picking up a buddy and carrying him, etc. THAT is where you make your money, IMO.

I know when I went to SERE, it was the body builders who were hurting immediately. A body that big needs a lot more calories to maintain. The big, muscular dudes were the ones who lost the most weight at Ranger school as well. Hell, I showed up at 5'11" 180 and arrived home between 160 and 165. There were guys who lost over 40lbs there!

[pballman19]

Im 5'11" 190lbs, not fat but not in perfect shape by far. Im just average. But i pass every pt test because i can not and will not give up. I will never walk. I will never quit period. Im strong as hell to.

I love it when someone wants to wrestle and they get their @$$ kicked, i guess it just comes from being a big ol country boy

[matlt]

This might have something to do with my national guard mentality, but here's my opinion anyways. PT is worthless. Some of our best and most experienced mechanics can't pass a PT test. My job and their job is to fix aircraft. If my job were to run 2 miles on a regular basis, I would run a lot more often. But for a platoon of aviation mechanics, who cares if you can't run 2 miles in 16 minutes? What I care about is whether you can work 12 hour shifts with 1 day off every 2 weeks, or occasionally put in the 16 hour days, and do your job competently. Scored 300 points on your PT test? Great. Couldn't care less if you can't install a part without breaking something. I've always had trouble with PT. I have failed countless PT tests (always the run). This has not affected my career in anyway except in AIT. I can put in the 16 hour work days and I can do hard labor all day without complaining. Little else matters.

[yocan]

Originally Posted by matlt

This might have something to do with my national guard mentality, but here's my opinion anyways. PT is worthless. Some of our best and most experienced mechanics can't pass a PT test. My job and their job is to fix aircraft. If my job were to run 2 miles on a regular basis, I would run a lot more often. But for a platoon of aviation mechanics, who cares if you can't run 2 miles in 16 minutes? What I care about is whether you can work 12 hour shifts with 1 day off every 2 weeks, or occasionally put in the 16 hour days, and do your job competently. Scored 300 points on your PT test? Great. Couldn't care less if you can't install a part without breaking something. I've always had trouble with PT. I have failed countless PT tests (always the run). This has not affected my career in anyway except in AIT. I can put in the 16 hour work days and I can do hard labor all day without complaining. Little else matters.

Thats not a national gaurd mentality, thats the reality of the national gaurd. Every Marine is a rifleman, and may be called to combat. So us devildogs need to be in shape.

I think a 1.5 mile run in boots would be more appropriate though. I can do a lot, just not good at running, but hey I still run in 20:30, but I'm at over 100 push ups, over 20 pull ups, crunches are a joke, but that 6 miles without a break in armor and carrying a 240 Bravo without straps on the case this weekend, I got through fine even with brand new boots (they are broken in now )

[gimp297]

PT dose suck, Im going in to LEO accadomy in july and they start off first day with a 3mile run in like 25min, any one that dosnt make it gets there PT shirt taken and they go on a supper diet, then they split the cadets up into two groups one runs 2miles a day the other runs 5miles a day untill the 2mile group works up to 5miles. They say i need to be able to do 100 push ups, 175 sit ups, and 2 pull ups, and they say you should be able to run 1mile in 5mile or less, i was frecked when i ran 1mile in 6min and that was pushing it any was this summers going to be fun. I see alot of people bitching about it but its like hallo what did you exspect the BG are in prison right now lifting waghts so they can destroy you, you realy think that the gov is just going to let you be a fat jelly donut eater, some of the people are dumb, they tell you this stuff all through the selection process and still there where people at the PT eval going "man i didnt know it was going to be like that". ????? these are the ones that get me, you know its coming they tell you and you dont get ready for it WTF. any ways thats my rant, ive been running 3 to 6 miles every day for six months and i know im not ready for july but then again i dont think you can prepair for hell. The officers say its like marin boot camp mixed with college courses for six months.

[F117AGuy]

While I hate PT the way I am forced to do it. THe exercises/running they make me do are LESS than what my own workout has been for years. I don't mind going to the gym and doing what I need to do to keep in shape. I pass my PT tests without any problems and without killing myself in the process. IT's almost comical that I am almost old enough to be the youngest troops father, yet I can out run them time and time again. I don't even push myself becuase I see no benefit of getting anything higher than a passing score. It gets me exactly NOTHING to score a 90+. I get the job done and then use the energy I have left from not trying to kill myself doing the PT test to spend time with my family.

But the orginal poster hit it right on the head. Pass the test or get the hell out. THere is NOTHING HATE MORE than having to work harder because some fatbody can't pass his test and is getting time during work to get to commander directed PT.