Pt for enlisted = met, what difference for officer?

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2013

The Basic Training standards for the USAF are not the same as COT requirements (I can only speak for USAF here). We were required to meet the current PT standards according to the USAF. The BMT standards are a lot more stringent. Remember, at commissioned officer training, you're dealing with people who may be much, much older than 18 (my student commander was a direct entry Lt Col and was in her 40s) and who are essentially off-the-street civilians. Most of them wouldn't have been able to meet the same requirements as an 18 year old. Believe me. As a group they were more in shape than the general population, yes, but they're still older. I can't run as fast as I could when I was 23 in BMT with the USAF, although I'm doing pretty danged good.

I know USA standards are different than ours; you need to check with your health professions officer recruiter for specifics. My understanding from chatting with Army colleagues is that their experience was similar to mine - but check for specifics. LunahRN, if she's still stateside, will definitely have more information, as would any officer headed to BOLC.

Officers across services are held to the exact same PT standards for their service as everyone else once you're out in the 'real' USA/USAF/USN. There are absolutely no differences in that regard.

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 3, 2013

PT requirements are the same across the Army, both enlisted and officer. We take the same PT test as everyone else. If anything, it's a bit more relaxed for officers as far as the daily PT requirements -- we are usually allowed to do PT on our own and don't have to participate in organized PT. Not all units are like this, of course, but that's been my experience.

Officers' PT scores do not count toward promotion points, so it's truly a matter of pass/fail for us. However, you will still be judged by your PT score, and not as favorably viewed if you're just meeting the minimum passing standard. It's still Army culture to excel physically. I am not a PT stud by any stretch of the imagination, but I improved my overall PT score this last time and that earned some respect (misplaced or not, haha).

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2013

Are your requirements broken down by age? Ours are. I'm picking your brain so we can get some information on the board for the curious and those having recruiter problems. :)

The USAF breaks down the ages into ten year increments (which to me is screwy; it used to be five when I first came in) and scores change accordingly. The one constant for us is waist measurement - that remains the same regardless of age.

On our performance reports there are boxes for 'meets' and 'does not meet standards'. No scores can appear on your OPR (or EPRs for that matter) and as long as you're meeting standards they cannot hold that against you for promotion. So far that's not changed, and I don't foresee it changing in the future. Our new and current Chief of Staff is already questioning the validity of some of our PT requirements (namely how the waist measurement is judged and 'body fat' vs 'visceral fat', the latter actually being the bigger risk factor), so while I guess change is coming (isn't it always?), it's not going to come quick.

Also, when I said the BMT requirements are different for entry, PT standards don't differ once you're actually in. Do your BOLC/direct commission folks have to meet the same standards as the folks going into your enlisted basic training?

Editorial Team / Moderator · Jun 3, 2013

We take the same PT test at BOLC that we take throughout our Army career, just as the enlisted do. Now I'm 100% sure that the enlisted basic training is a heck of a lot tougher than ours, but we are ultimately required meet the same PT standards.

Army PT standards are divided by gender as well as age. The age groups aren't by decade, though. Right now I'm in the 37-41 group. Yippee. Haha. There is a great Android app by 550cord.com that calculates PT scores, and it's also on their site: 550 Cord | APFT Calculator, Land Nav Training Software, Body Fat Calculator, Army Smart Card Creator

There are scoring tables and more info here: Army PFT Overview - Military Fitness - Military.com

If an officer does not pass the PT test at BOLC, they will be held over for one cycle. If the officer does not pass the PT test at the end of the second cycle, it is likely he/she will be chaptered out of the Army. It used to be more lenient -- soldiers who did not pass were able to go to their first duty stations, but I guess those duty stations got tired of receiving soldiers who couldn't pass PT tests. It changed when I was at BOLC in 2011. I saw a holdover from the previous BOLC class fail her PT test and get chaptered.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 3, 2013

Good point about the app - there's one for USAF PT standards too, and it's accurate with the current reg. I know it's on iTunes and I'm sure it's got a sister on Android/Google Play/whatever it's called. :)

Our enlisteds have different 'report to BMT in this condition' standards; the times are actually faster, the weights are lower, and the number of repetitions is higher than the general population PT standards. Once you're out in the operational AF or even in tech school, you're under the regular standards. Sometimes folks will pull the enlisted reporting standards from a recruiting website and for us that's not accurate. We're expected to meet the 'regular' standards when we get to COT.

I've never heard of someone failing the second PT test at COT, so I really don't know what happens to them. Maybe someone else knows.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2013

I was the Group PT Officer for my class at COT. We had a huge increase in pass rates on the PT test from the first week to the fourth. In fact we had a 100% pass rate the second time. That's because the people who knew they wouldn't pass all somehow ended up on a profile (excused due to injury). Perhaps they all legitimately got injured pushing themselves so I don't want to sell anyone short. But there were some people that didn't prepare, doom on them. If you fail your unofficial PT test at COT it just reflects badly on you as that is written into your evaluation that goes back to your unit. Not a good way to start your career.

I just want to clarify, there is no PT test for direct commission. If you pass your entry physical you're in. You then are subject to the AF PT standards just like Airman to General. In fact the PT test at COT is not an official PT test because it isn't performed under official standards. It is just part of COT. You will have to pass an official PT test at some other point. I had already passed mine prior to that because it took them so long to get me to COT, but most officers took their official test after getting back with their units.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 4, 2013

I was the Group PT Officer for my class at COT. We had a huge increase in pass rates on the PT test from the first week to the fourth. In fact we had a 100% pass rate the second time. That's because the people who knew they wouldn't pass all somehow ended up on a profile (excused due to injury). Perhaps they all legitimately got injured pushing themselves so I don't want to sell anyone short. But there were some people that didn't prepare, doom on them. If you fail your unofficial PT test at COT it just reflects badly on you as that is written into your evaluation that goes back to your unit. Not a good way to start your career.
I just want to clarify, there is no PT test for direct commission. If you pass your entry physical you're in. You then are subject to the AF PT standards just like Airman to General. In fact the PT test at COT is not an official PT test because it isn't performed under official standards. It is just part of COT. You will have to pass an official PT test at some other point. I had already passed mine prior to that because it took them so long to get me to COT, but most officers took their official test after getting back with their units.

Unofficial? This is new to me. Mine certainly wasn't, and neither was anyone else's that I know of who's come through COT so far (we see all kinds of new nurses where I'm at since we're a big med center). Your next test is due 6 months after that one. And it's recorded in your permanent record whether you're a 'meets standards' or not on that PT test.

That just sounds odd to me.

ncox1 · Jun 4, 2013

In enlisted Army basic you take an "unofficial" PT test in the begining. Army does the same thing, you end up taking the "official" at the end. Sometimes we will throw around the term "diagnostic PT test".

Moral of the story is to never put yourself in a position to have PT affect your career regarless if it's for initial entry or retention.

runnergirl86, BSN, MSN · Jun 4, 2013

USN PRT requirements are the same for officers and enlisted. It is broken down by gender and age groups:

http://www.navy-prt.com/femalestandard/femalestandard.html

http://www.navy-prt.com/malestandard/malestandard.html

When you're at ODS you need to pass with a minimum of 'good' instead of 'satisfactory' but once you're out in the real Navy then you're in charge of your own PT and being prepared to pass your PRT. Throughout ODS we did the PRT every week for a total of 5 weeks, and officers were coached on what was needed to improve scores. For our FITREP the PRT is only written as a pass/fail, but you can add it onto your Brag Sheet if you've improved (e.g. overall score improving from excellent to outstanding in the last PRT cycle).

More than anything I would advise to always be military ready, not only twice a year when you have to run a test. The military wants you to be able to perform basic strength/endurance tests in the event that you are deployed, but they also are concerned about your overall health and want you to live long, healthy lives.

nurse2033, MSN, RN · Jun 4, 2013

Unofficial? This is new to me. Mine certainly wasn't, and neither was anyone else's that I know of who's come through COT so far (we see all kinds of new nurses where I'm at since we're a big med center). Your next test is due 6 months after that one. And it's recorded in your permanent record whether you're a 'meets standards' or not on that PT test.
That just sounds odd to me.

The rules could change over time. This was 3 years ago.

carolinapooh, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2013

The rules could change over time. This was 3 years ago.

So was mine. Four years in November (COT Class 10-01), so barely 3.5. I'm just going by what the Lts here who went through COT in 2010/2011 have told me and what I walked them through when I precepted and sponsored them.

Very strange.