I will chime in the PT matter....I've taken countless PT test..
Here is the Army PT chart including minimums and scores:
http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/a/afpt.htm
The test will always be pushups-->situps-->run.
You get 2 minutes to do the pushups. If you reach your maximum, you can either keep going or stop. I usually max my pushups and stop, and I still have about 30-40 seconds left. I will explain why I stop in a bit. After the pushups, you will either wait until everyone else is done. If you're the only one you can take about 10 minutes to rest before you have to do situps.
You then get 2 minutes to do as many situps as you can. These are military situps and you must follow the rules. The rules of each event should be read out loud to your before the event.
Once you're done the situps, you go to the where ever the run will take place. This might be a circular track where you have to run a certain amount of laps, or just a 'there and back' (1 mile each way) type of track. In the 'there and back' tracks, you will have someone at the turn-around point (1 mile mark) that will announce your time. You must cross the finish line before the minimum time alloted for your age group.
Some notes:
-You MUST score a minimum of 60 points in each event to get a GO. Scoring 59 points or less in any one event even though you passed the others will give you a NO GO.
-You don't have to go down all the way on pushups. Like I said, there are rules for each event. For pushups, your back must meet or break the horizontal plane made by your arms when you go down for the pushup. I've always found it a lot easier to go as fast as possible from the start and don't stop until you can't do anymore. I always get into a rhythm where I can knock out about 60 pushups and I'll be at about a minute or so. I then have another minute or so to get the other 15 to max my pushups. I use the same mentality for situps.
-To get the PT patch you have to score a minimum of 270 points, AS WELL as a minium of 90 points in each event. So if you get 100 on your pushups and 100 on your situps, but only 80 on your run, even though you have 280 points you don't qualify for the PT patch. When you take the PT test again next year you have to meet the same standard or you have to take the patch off.
-If you score 100+ in each event (more than 300+), you go into the extended PT scale. However, in order to do that you MUST score 100+ in each event. The reason that I stop once I max my pushups or situps is that I know for a fact that I will not max my run. Ever since basic training I've never maxed my run..I've come close though...but now I hover between 14:30-15:00 for 2 miles. Therefore even if do more than the maximum on my pushups and situps, I'll get 100 in each event. So know your minimum and maximums so you save your energy for the next event and don't do more than you have to (I've been guilty of that).
-PT tests for enlisted soldiers is used for promotion purposes..you actually get more promotion points the better you do on your PT test. For us officer folks, it will make us look better on our OER's (Officer Evaluation Record), which is your yearly personal evaluation conducted by your unit commander or your next-in-line supervisor.
-Finally, when you've crossed the finish line, don't just stand there (or worse yet, lay down)....run back about a 1/4 mile and cheer on those who are still running...or run with them to the finish line while encouraging them..it'll probably speed them up a bit. You will help our your fellow soldiers as well as make yourself look good
🙂
