Topic: I Just Passed My PT Test

[Mr_Tricorder]

I just took a PT test this morning.  All members of the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M are required to pass a PT test each semester.  I failed it last spring (I was having a really bad day), so I had to retake it before the fall semester started.  Since I'm a D&C cadet (Drill and Ceremonies, which means that I don't have a military contract and most likely will not join the military upon graduation, although I am thinking about going to Army OCS), I have to take the PT test used by my major unit, which for me is the Band (the Corps of Cadets has six major units.  Army cadets are in 1st Brigade and 2nd Brigade, Air Force cadets are in 1st Wing and 2nd Wing, Navy/Marine cadets are in 1st Regiment, and all Band members are in the Band regardles of ROTC affiliation.)  The band uses the Air Force PT test, which is the easiest.  38 push-ups (I did 50 before I was told to stop), 48 sit-ups (I always have problems with sit-ups.  I did exactly 48),  and a 1 1/2 mile run in 12 minutes and 15 seconds (I did it in 12 minutes and 9 seconds, which is my worst run time while still passing.  Plus, I only went running twice during the summer.)
Well, my scores my not be fantastic, but at least they're passing.  I really need to get somewhere close to the fitness level that I was at during my sophomore year (The sophomores have to be the most physically fit, especially since they're expected to always outperform the freshmen in everything.)  Life as a Junior last year was a little too easy for my own good.
I'm going to go take a shower now.

[Dracho]

That's not so bad.  To get through Airborne school we had to do 45 pushups in 2 minutes, 40 situps in 2 minutes, and run 2 miles in jump boots in less than 13 minutes. 

It sucked..my first pass I met the army standards but missed the pushups by 3.. so I had to re-do it the next day.  If I'd not met the army standards they'd have flunked me out immediately.

[Sirgod]

Shoot in the Corp, we had to do 4000 push ups in 90 seconds, 800 situps in 30 seconds, and run 5 miles in under 8 minutes. Ok it may exagerate abit, but It sure felt that way for about 3 months.

Stephen

[Mr_Tricorder]

I'm not exactly sure what the Marine Corps PFT standards are for my age group, but I know that it includes a 3 mile run and pull-ups (I hate pull-ups and I suck at them).  During my freshman and the first half of my sophomore year, the Band used the Army standards, which included a 2 mile run.  I don't like running, so 1 1/2 miles suits me fine.

I remember the first time I passed the run freshman year.  Once the time keeper was in shouting distance, he yelled out "YOU HAVE 20 SECONDS BEFORE YOU FAIL!"  That was all it took to make me forget how tired I was and sprint those last yards.  Last spring was the first time since my freshman year that I failed the run, but that was because I had to use the restroom before I finished.  I finished in 16 minutes and 37 seconds, and I still beat some people.

Push-ups are by far the easiest part for me because we do push-ups all the time.  I could have done at least ten more, but Col. Brewer stopped me because the extra ones wouldn't count since this was a remedial PT test.

[Sirgod]

Yeah we used to kinda cheat with the pull ups, ie. we would swing kick to get a little upward momentum in order to reach higher numbers. My senior Drill instructor unfortunatly was a marathon runner, and so he turned 90 men into psuedo marathon runners also.  Heh, all the time I was in, I hated to run, It was only in about 95, that I had picked It back up for my MA class, and a summer camp I was helping to sponcer.

I don't run anymore though, although I should get back into It i guess, If the old legs can still do It.

stephen

[Mr_Tricorder]

I do a lot better running in a block than running by myself.  I usually don't do well when I have to set my own pace.

[Dracho]

Oh, here's a tip that will get you an extra 10 push-ups:  Control your breathing.  Like lifting weights, exhale on the positive power stroke, inhale on the negative.  i.e.  Inhale as you are lowering yourself to the ground, exhale as you are pushing up.  NEVER hold your breath and strain because once you send that CO2 spike through your muscle system, muscle fatigue and failure is right behind it.

[Mr_Tricorder]

For push-ups, I usually crank out the first 20 as fast as I can; slow down a little on the next fifteen for a good, even pace;  rest in the up position for 2 or 3 seconds; crank out ten; rest; and then do five at a time with a short rest in between until my arms get too tired to continue.

[Jack Morris]

SGM can't you see? This pt test ain't crap for me. Can't stop the PT rock, say what? Ya can't stop, the PT rock!  Ahhhh, memory lane.

Congrats my man. You would be amazed at how things can change. In Germany I barely passed the run one time, and Iused to be a runner. The difference was that I was working behind a computer all hours (Mandatory Germany drawdown) as a desk pogue instead of combat medic cutting orders and geting household goods squared away, etc... for the Bn.

1 yr later, while I had reported to my nice cushy MEDDAC job at Ft. Belvoir, VA, where they had a badarse gym and you do PT on your own!, I almost maxed that m/fer! 

[Sten]

I remember in Drill Sergeant School the senior instructor said "We are going to do to you what you are not allowed to do to them just so you know."

People couldn't lift a fork by dinner when they were done with us.

[Jack Morris]

You had cajones going to drill school. We had the unspoken "wall to wall" counseling for troublemakers at Ft. Dix in 88, but man while we were away in Germany and Iraq did things change. Correct me if I'm wrong, but nowadays drills cannot even curse you? I know we passed by some basic training units in CONUS and I was like man, is that REALLY basic training? NOT the one that I went through. 

[Commander Maxillius]

Congrats, man, well done !

As for me, I didn't pass, like ANY of the times I took it.  Not before basic, not at all DURING basic, and not at the end.  Thus, I never graduated basic.  Yes, it sucked.  Yes it felt like crap being the a/v man for graduation.  But at least I wasn't out watching.  That would've sucked hardcore.

I'm not built for it, but just because I didn't pass and washed out, doesn't mean I respect the armed forces any less.   The exact opposite, I know what you guys had to do to get there.  I have nothing but respect for everyone in.

[Soreyes]

Congrats there. Well done.

What use to drive me nuts was doing the Marine Corps PFT at Camp Schwab in Okinawa. Start time was at 0430 hours
The situps and pullups were no problem. It was that Damn 3 mile run.... the last 1/2 mile was all up hill

[Mr_Tricorder]

Up hill?!  Man, that sucks!  No matter how far you run, the last 1/2 mile is always the hardest.

[Sten]

When I was in Hawaii we had our monthly payday Brigade run 6 /12 miles up to Kolo Kole pass 6 1/2 miles down from Kole Kole pass.

[Dracho]

The worst run I ever went on was Baine's Gap at Ft McClellan.  5 miles up a 20% grade.

The good part though, I went to jump school right after basic & AIT (MP's did One Station Unit Training, so the same DI's for 16 weeks) and thank God for that.  I felt so bad for the guys who were not that used to running (5 mile qualification run each Friday, 2 steps out of formation and you recycled to week 0). 

The Blackhats (Airborne Instructors) kept warning us about "Cardiac Hill".  When we got there, it was a freaking highway overpass.  The guys that ran the mountains at McClellan just snickered.

There were some SEALS going through with our group and those bastards didn't even break a sweat.  They were in twice the shape the instructors were.

[Ravok]

 In the Air Force we used to smoke a butt,take a break, and laugh at all you guys running around all the time.
 Yea it was rough, but somebody had to do it.