Are there issues?

[CommunityEditor]

Is the PT program for sailors adequate? Are changes needed? What would you change?

[pawn65]

It be cool if we were alloted 3 hours of PT 3 times a week and not at 0630 and be able to take classes like crunches and push ups or a spin class rather than cfl lead.

[SPS066]

Yeah it would....but unfortunatley it will never happen

[blackbeard79]

In my experience, commands either over or underreact to the Navy's ever changing stance on PT. Some either have no formal program at all to maintain physical fitness, and some adopt a "one size fits all" philosophy (7 minutes of pushups, 12 minutes of situps, 21 minutes of jogging, etc.) that is marginally effective in addition to being boring. Probably the best answer would be allowing the Chiefs and JO's to do their jobs and run their individual programs while holding them accountable for failures. Many CO's and XO's are too "risk averse" to allow that to happen, and will continue to micromanage the program.

P.S. Telling somebody with 18 or 19 years in the service that they'll be kicked out prior to being eligible for retirement is pretty ridiculous. Of course these guys are going to risk having a heart attach when millions of dollars of benefits are at stake.

[SailorDave]

I'd get rid of the situps, but I've always hated them anyways. Also, I'd have an independent organization do the weighins and taping. I see too many folks who look hugely overweight for them to be within standards. I'd like to see each command get a Bod Pod. We have one at Hickam and I think it's one of the most accurate methods and isn't subjective like pulling the tape too tight or too loose. All you do is enter your height and age, it weighs you then does the bodyfat measurement in the pod.

[Chief Bosun]

1. It needs to be mandatory five days/week inport. Only (outside of leave, TAD, and special liberty) exceptions are those on watch or in that day's duty section.

2. Needs to be more focused on training to facilitate you being able to handle strenous labor onboard ship - I think the Marines have something along those lines to prepare them for what you would find in a combat situation.

3. Set up a tangible reward - say the folks getting an outstanding score get a day of special liberty at the convenience of both the Sailor and the command.

4. If it isn't being done already, educate Sailors starting in bootcamp about making better choices with regard to what goes into their cakeholes.

[UASguy]

If the memeber has problems and they realise it before they can always sign up for F.E.P, everyone knows where they stand on the PFA. If you have a hard time running look to a runner in your command for help...then again this is IMO...After you fail a PFA is never a time to realise that you have a problem. My command gives us 2 hours a day Monday-Friday to PT so there is never an excuse.

[MACHINE666]

No issues, Editor! I just eats me can o' Spinach every time.....agh gagh gagh gagh gagh gagh!

[Ragin Chief]

I am a CPO at a sea duty squadron onboard NAS Oceana. I have been the CFL and this is my take on the PT issue. If we stop giving everyone options and make them do the PFA the way they entered the Navy via boot camp, we would have a solid program Navy Wide and wouldn't need PTS or the new ERBs! What I am saying is to make everyone do the PFA the same, Monitored push ups & sit ups and make it mandatory to run the 1.5 Miles (on pavement or a track) just the same as they did to pass boot camp! This would trim our Naval fighting force down fairly quickly, open up the advancement gates and leave us with a Fit and Ready Fighting Force! My stance is, if you ran the 1.5 miles in BOOT CAMP to earn the priviledge to get into my Navy, then you should be upheld to those standards the entire time you are on active duty! We must stop being Politically Correct and get back to the basics. Chief Out!

[ChaosTony]

I am a CPO at a sea duty squadron onboard NAS Oceana. I have been the CFL and this is my take on the PT issue. If we stop giving everyone options and make them do the PFA the way they entered the Navy via boot camp, we would have a solid program Navy Wide and wouldn't need PTS or the new ERBs! What I am saying is to make everyone do the PFA the same, Monitored push ups & sit ups and make it mandatory to run the 1.5 Miles (on pavement or a track) just the same as they did to pass boot camp! This would trim our Naval fighting force down fairly quickly, open up the advancement gates and leave us with a Fit and Ready Fighting Force! My stance is, if you ran the 1.5 miles in BOOT CAMP to earn the priviledge to get into my Navy, then you should be upheld to those standards the entire time you are on active duty! We must stop being Politically Correct and get back to the basics. Chief Out!

lol yeah ok

[pawn65]

Where im at a PFA score of excellent or better gets you 3 days special liberty!