I am in a quandry, I want one thing but my NCO support channel wants another. Last April I failed a PT test. My grader wasn't stating the number of pushups I had done either correctly or incorrectly during the event. When I stopped I had apparently only done half the push ups I thought I did. To make matters worse I got selected for SSG the same month. To eliminate a long story we argued with the command and lost so I did not get promoted and went to special pops. I have taken several PT tests since and passed. With my selection for promotion I was also selected to attend BNCOC. Every PT test I have ever taken has been marginal. I rolled my ankle two weeks ago and it doesn't seem to be getting better. I have constantly been told that when you go to BNCOC you need to put your best effort because it is so important. I feel the need to get a profile so my BNCOC orders get canceled and I can have some time to prepare for BNCOC. I have been a portly out of shape soldier for too long and want to get where I need to be. I don't see how going to BNCOC now is going to help that. but my support channel is pretty incistent that I must go now and to not get the profile to just suck it up. Please give me some advice.

You need to take advantage of BNCOC as soon as it is offered to you.

Understanding that you are a marginal APFT take and portly, but I am only assuming you've been in the military for about 6-7 years. What makes you think (or this board) that if you haven't done what it takes for these past few years to get in shape, you will start now?

I read excuse after excuse from your post and don't see where you are taking responsibility. Is this how you want your Soldiers acting when the going gets tough?

NONO, I did this to myself it isn't anyone elses fault I do see that and I want to fix myself I have 11 years in the military 4 navy and 7 Army, I'm sick of all the little snide comments and such I can and will change I'm not blaming anybody for my situation but using my situation to try and improve

Let this be a wake up call. You as an NCO shouuld be setting the standard, and it is up to you to keep your body in shape. Of all those in the Army, it is those that have "taken an APFT or two" that should not be the ones failing or even coming close to failing. You know what to expect at the APFT and know as soon as you are done taking one that you will have another in 6 months or so.

I have seen one too many NCOs trying to duck out of going to an NCOES course, and sometimes the chain of command really as no option other than make the NCO go because they already have a seat in the class for you. I would believe that that there is nothing worse for a 1SG than getting a call from some ticked off SGM at the NCOA because they NCO that he or she sent busted tape or failed an APFT.

Sure it is easy to put PT on the backburner, and I have been guilty of doing so in the past, but you just have to work that much harder to pay catch up.

If you are truely going to make a turn for the better, then there is no better time to staft than right now. Get out there and run. Buy some push-up bars and start working on your push-ups.

If I read what you posted above correctly, you have 11 years in. It sounds to me that you are planning on making the Army a Career. Maybe it is time that you start doing what you need to do to get promoted to the next rank. Complete BNCOC, smoke your PT, keep your weight down to a manageable level and lead from the front.

Don't become one of the many NCOs and Soldiers that pull the profile trump card right before heading out to NCOES.

I have to agree with ArmyReenlistment, but maybe it is time for you to turn to one of your fellow NCOs in our unit for that little bit of motivation you need to get ya going.

first of all i think its good that you ask for ideas and help. But, I think you need to really take time and do a self assessment. If I were you, i would take time and consider if the army is the career for me. An NCO should do things like run and pass his APFT turn around at the finish line and go back and encourage one of his soldiers who is faltering to pick it up and run faster. Lastly I think your member ID says a lot (I'm tryin) try is a word people use as an excuse if they fail. NCOs are in the bussiness of mission execution, not trying.

perhaps it doesn't appear that I have the creds to weigh in but hear me out. I spent ten in and broke from service for ten. I am returning to service at 42 and take to heart every word posted in this thread. IF- IF you are truly NCO material you will utilize every means within your grasp:
aide from NCO support chain
medical advice
internal drive, want-to, shame
testosterone, etc.
to complete said tasks and graduate BNCOC. You owe it to yourself and the payoff in pride/self satisfaction will, by far, outweigh any temporary discomfort. If you blow an ankle in the process THEN you can profile. I don't know you but I know the struggle. The answer is inside you. You are a soldier with the faith and confidence of a whole nation behind you. Quitting or coasting should not be an option...
You can do this.

Thank you all for the advice. I did graduate phase I of BNCOC with only one missed question on the tests. It was easier for me because of my MOS and experience I knew nothing about the topics they were discussing. The poor rangers kept saying thats not how its done now and that the information needed to be updated. I struggled through the running but made it none the less. When I got back to my unit my PSG told me to go to sick call. I have a bone chip in my ankle that is irritating the soft tissue and ligaments in the ankle. I was given some exercises and stretches to improve the area and the PT said with that the chip shouldn't bother it anymore. I will be going to phase II once I recover shooting for a 280 on my PT test once there. Is there anyone that has a good Pushup improvement program? And as an NCO you all said what I should do. I am always curious how super soldiers like you all do if you can't beat your soldier on the run or they are just better than you does that then make you a bad NCO for not being up front?

As for the Rangers, there is the real way we do things and the TRADOC way to do things.

I can put up an OE 254 in only a few minutes my ay, and it works pretty damn good. The TRADOC way takes a little while longer and achieves the same results.

Congrats on passing phase 1.

am always curious how super soldiers like you all do if you can't beat your soldier on the run or they are just better than you does that then make you a bad NCO for not being up front?


And your sick of all the remarks. What did you expect to be held?

I have a question I just returned from Afghanistan and am in BNCOC Phase I, I rollover into phase II afterwards. What is the current policy on APFT in BNCOC for recently redeployed soldiers who are within their 90 day health reassement period. Do I take the APFT or do I not. We had a lot of soldiers in the unit who are in similar status so I want to get the right information out not just my interpretation of all the traffic I've been able to read on it.

Not really an answer Storm but we have a couple of Chem guys here that went to BNCOC immediately upon return from the desert and were not allowed into Phase II due to the fact they were in their 90 day reassessment period and they didn't have PT test. Don't know if the same applies to you and it may be different where you're going though