| One of the biggest challenges for National Guard | | | | exercise such as the 2.5 mile walk. |
| soldiers is physical fitness. In many units, upwards of | | | | Leaders utilize the APFT Regulation FM 21-20. FM |
| 40 to 50% of the soldiers cannot pass the APFT or | | | | 21-20 is a Field Manual used to administer the Army |
| Height Weight. Being a Soldier myself, I find those | | | | Physical Fitness Test. It clearly outlines the regulations |
| numbers staggering. | | | | and procedures for administering the test. |
| One of the biggest challenges small unit leaders face | | | | If you are currently an APFT failure, or are simply |
| is getting their soldiers to pass their physical fitness | | | | trying to improve your level of fitness, you should |
| requirements. In essence, their hands are tied | | | | refer to FM 21-20. It outlines an APFT improvement |
| because they only have access to their soldiers 2-3 | | | | program to help you achieve a higher score. |
| days per month. Even if they do physical fitness on | | | | It gives examples on different ways to improve your |
| drill weekend, that's not enough time to whip their | | | | cardio vascular health by conducting interval runs, |
| soldiers in shape. | | | | sprints and distance runs. FM 21-20 also provides |
| PT has always been an individual responsibility. It's up | | | | ways to improve your push-up and sit-up score by |
| to each person to exercise regularly and eat properly | | | | doing pyramid exercises and interval push-ups and |
| in order to stay in shape. The reason so many | | | | sit-ups. I found several examples that helped me |
| National Guard fail the PT test is because they don't | | | | improve my score. |
| exercise regularly and they don't eat healthy. There is | | | | On the other hand, AR 600-9 outlines the Army |
| no other excuse. If they did these two things, they | | | | Height Weight standards. The Army Height Weight |
| would pass their fitness test with flying colors. | | | | standards are based upon age and gender. Soldiers |
| In the Army National Guard, all M-Day soldiers must | | | | exceeding the authorized weight receive a tape test, |
| take an Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) twice per | | | | which assesses body fat composition. |
| year. The purpose of the test is to assess physical | | | | In summary, physical fitness is an individual |
| fitness and individual readiness. For most soldiers, the | | | | responsibility. The key to success is to eat properly |
| APFT consists of push-ups, sit-ups and run. In some | | | | and exercise regularly. |
| cases, soldiers with profiles will do an alternate | | | | |