| In recent years, the Army National Guard has | | | | they exercise regularly. |
| developed a horrible reputation for having fat, | | | | The next reason so many National Guard soldiers are |
| out-of-shape soldiers. Obesity is a plague in the | | | | out of shape is because their leaders don't hold them |
| military, just like in regular society. | | | | accountable. According to Army Regulations, soldiers |
| There are only two reasons so many National Guard | | | | who fail the APFT must be FLAGGED by their unit |
| Soldiers are out of shape. | | | | leaders. A flag action is a personnel action that |
| 1. They don't exercise on their own. | | | | prevents favorable actions for a soldier. In other |
| 2. They aren't held accountable for their actions. | | | | words, flagged soldiers don't get promoted or get |
| Let's discuss this in a little more detail. | | | | awards. |
| Soldiers earn the title of Army Physical Fitness Test | | | | If you were to examine most small units, you would |
| failure because they don't meet the minimum fitness | | | | find a number of APFT failures, but very few, if any |
| standards. They don't meet the minimum PT | | | | flags. Personally, I find this sad. Soldiers deserve |
| standards because they don't exercise on their own. | | | | better leadership than that. Small Unit Commanders |
| To this day, I've never met a National Guard Soldier | | | | should hold every soldier accountable to the Army |
| who exercised regularly, every week, but couldn't | | | | standard. |
| pass the Army Physical Fitness Test. | | | | If commanders enforce the APFT standards, soldiers |
| In recent years, the Army has even lowered its | | | | will take physical fitness much more seriously. Soldiers |
| standards, making it easier for soldiers to achieve a | | | | already know the APFT standard, but if no one |
| passing score. | | | | enforces the standard, nothing will happen. |
| When I talk with soldiers who fail their APFT, I get a | | | | If you are a small unit leader, I ask you to take |
| whirlwind of excuses, but I don't believe any of | | | | responsibility for enforcing all Army standards in your |
| them. Like I said before, anyone can pass the test if | | | | unit. Be a leader! Just get it done! |