Medical What happens if I fail my APFT at USUHS?

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I have the APFT (Army Physical Fitness Test) coming up in 3 weeks and I'm pretty nervous. Unfortunately, because of my job I've had very little time to exercise. I plan on trying my best for these last 3 weeks, but I'm scared as to what would happen if I were to fail. I've tried looking this up in the past and I got a variety of answers. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Back when I was in, if someone didn't pass a PFT or didn't meet Ht/Wt, they had to complete remedial PT. If it happened again at the rescheduled PFT and/or weigh in, they were added to the Body Composition Program (BCP). In some cases, not sure if it was due to rank/expectations or repeat offenders or not, but some received paperwork for poor performance, and in all cases if at time of potential promotion, non-recs (i.e. not recommended for promotion).

This is for a different branch though. If someone has either newer info, or branch-specific info, hopefully they chime in. Not passing a PFT is not the most common thing as the vast majority are physically fit/able to at least minimally pass a PFT, so that could be why you get different answers when you ask. Different commands may also do things differently (some more strict with paperwork/by the book, some more strict with getting you to where you need to be but without paperwork).

Since you're mentioning job and referring to the school, it seems like you haven't started med school yet, and thus may not have been commissioned yet (or have, but just haven't completed a few things)... if that's the case, you need to ensure that you get past being worried about passing it as you will have to do one every year + another type physical test I believe (not sure if things changed again recently or not). You have the potential to become more sedentary during school with studying, though I imagine that there may be some sort of build in unit PT here and there since it's a service school that will have you on active duty. Also, as an officer, you're expected to lead from the front. You'll have to keep yourself in check.

I'm sure you'll be fine. Build up to it and stay consistent the next few weeks. Build up to where you need to be this week, then spend the next week doing PFTs (maybe between 2 and 4 throughout the week), and then take 1-2 days of rest before your actual PFT, 3 if you had any notable soreness to ensure you're where you need to be.

Good luck!

 

[BC_89]

Back when I was in, if someone didn't pass a PFT or didn't meet Ht/Wt, they had to complete remedial PT. Different commands may also do things differently (some more strict with paperwork/by the book, some more strict with getting you to where you need to be but without paperwork).

Definitely this. As for the army, as of October this year, the whole PFT is changing but different branches will approach this for each individual differently.

For the OP: If this is your first attempt and fail, it’s not a one-glove-fits-all unfortunately. Many will put you on a “program” and establish a future retake date. Fail a second time, your investment in school could be withdrawn. How your company commander puts it out is different for many people.

Do your best and you may be surprised what adrenaline can do for you.

 

[lord999]

USUHS (Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences) has a different policy than what active duty has, it actually is stricter due to DoDMERB cracking down on unqualified applicants.

https://www.usuhs.edu/sites/default/files/media/adm/pdf/excerpt.pdf

My memory from the last couple of years (based on the ones the VA sent), was that if you failed the first time, you get one more chance, but a second failure was an automatic dismissal without benefit of the BCP unless otherwise waived by DoDMERB.

 

[lord999]

Also, I hate to put it this way, but the easiest paradigm I've found to think of how an officer is supposed to act is to think that they have two jobs:

1. The day job: Which are your officially assigned Tour of Duty issues, whatever they happen to be. This is eight or ten hours of your day.

2. The night job: Everything else that is not officially assigned, but are matters that either keep you employed or are a stepping stone to the next board. This includes physical fitness and the "badge collection" (for the Navy, that's the warfare pins, there's similar aspects for the rest). It averages about 2 hours a day including weekends.

The physical fitness standards are part of the night job, it's not formally assigned but is something that really is your job and if sleep loses to it, you kind of have to do it.