If people in the Army have to do PT then why do they get discharged for being overweight??

Question

I thought that doing PT was mandatory or not??? Please explain

Answer 1

Unable to maintain there own weight. They are given a physical after they dont meet the weight from a specialized doctor. Once it is determined that there is not anything wrong with them being able to lose weight, they are given another 30 days to be able to lose the weight on there own. If they do not lose the weight, they are discharged from service. Usually it is the soldier themselves with the lack of motivation to lose the weight.

Weight control NCO in 2002
SSG Schramm
15 years Active US Army

Answer 2

Physical Fitness Training is mandatory on the unit level, approximately an hour a day and in some units nearly 2-3 hours a day. As we all should know any successful weight management program is a combination of both exercise and diet. There comes an age with most adult where you have to modify your eating habits. Most 19 year old can throw two burgers and french fries into the face almost every day, but at age 25 about half learn they have to scale back their consumption to one burger or perhaps not so many fries. Eating fruits and vegetables isn't encouraged as much in fast food joints or in the mess hall.

There are those who who feel Army Regulation 600-9 is out of step with the times, presenting height and weight tables that are not flexible enough to serve all service members fairly. Another problem is defining people as be overweight when they are within 10 pounds of their top limit. The tape test used to determine the Body Fat Ratio favors people with big necks.

Answer 3

It is mandatory but there are lots of reasons a soldier could become overweight and not do PT. If you get hurt, break a bone, become extremely ill, you wont do PT. Some people have the potential to gain weight. When they come off profile and are overweight it could eventually lead to a discharge. Also, these days many soldiers are becoming overweight when they deploy. Anybody who has been on one of the larger bases in a combat zone know what I am talking about....you can eat 24/7 if you choose. You are told to maintain the physical fitness standards but there are times when you really have to dig deep and find time in your own free time to do it.

Answer 4

I was in the reserves for eight years. In my third year they flagged me for being over weight. I was told that I had six months to lose the weight or would be put on probation for another six months. After that if I hadn't lost the wight they would begin the seperation process. Six years later, they finally started it. But my enlistment was up by the time they could finish the process. So I got out with an honorable discharge.
In the reserves it is up to the individual to maintain physical fitness. I despise running, and love fast food. A bad combination.
Due to the flag on my records, I was not eligable for promotion or schools. Thus I was a very senior spec-4 at the end. They had me doing the jobs of a seargent or staff seargeant at times, just without the real authority.
If I had been able to get the weight of and keep it off, I would still be in now, and getting ready to retire. Yeah right! Like I wouldn't have stayed in until I hit the old age home.
Now that I am losing weight though, I am too old to go back in, as I've been out for 14 years. Old farts can't get back in.

Answer 5

Well the answer could vary from person to person.
1. the person could have been hurt and put on profile for an extended period of time and not be able to do PT. If they are not careful about their diet, they could become overweight. After their profiles end they have an amount of time equal to twice as long as their profiles to get back into shape, i.e. profile was 30 days they have 60 days of recovery. After that if they fail to get back under their weight they can be discharged.
2. A person uses the profiles system to avoid doing PT, i.e. constantly going to sick call to get new profiles for every time one ends.
3. Weak PT programs. If a leader doesn't enforce a strong PT program a Soldier isn't going to get anything out of it and could well become overweight.

These are just a few of my thoughts on the matter from what i see in various units.

Answer 6

its all about Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI takes into account your height, muscle mass, bone structure, frame, all the excuses for being "fat". Getting your BMI measured can be fairly embarassing. They use a little pincer and pull at areas of your body (skin on your elbow, waist, neck, back of the head) and depending on how far they pull they can determine your body's percentage of fat versus muscle.

You can be overweight and still be in the military. Overweight is an extremely generalized term that just means that the individual weighs proportionally more than they should for his/her height. Muscle will make you weigh more. Body builders are technically overweight, but they won't be discharged for being overweight (unless they are SO muscular that they become muscle bound, but thats not dependant on weight). If your body has a certain percentage of fat that is deemed too much by the military, then you might be in some trouble.

PT isn't designed to make a soldier lose weight either. Its supposed to keep you in good physical condition assuming you're already within healthy BMI range.

Answer 7

Compulsory PT is usually enough to keep the average soldier fit. However, some soldiers eat too much or not enough of the right stuff, or perhaps even bulk up too much from gym work.

In another case, members of Reserve forces are primarily expected to maintain and work on their fitness outside the military. Thus they don't have mandatory PT except on parade nights. As a result, quite a few of them are discharged.

Answer 8

at any time the unit can start the chapter for failing to be with with in 600-9 standards. (being fat) but there are rules. you have to be taped, and counseled. they have to set a meeting with a nutritionist who will monitor your progress. you have to be taped every month to track progress. if you improve then you have 12 months to get back to army standards. if you fail to do that, they can kick you out. Many units don't do this. almost none consult a nutritionist either. but this has always been a policy. if you are fat then i sugest you ready AR 600-9 Now if you fail a PT test you should be flagged. no promotions or anything "good" and then counseled. but i think you can fail 3 times in a row and must be the same failed event, before they are allowed to start chapter paperwork. like always the run. it can't be run this month then sit ups the next month. they must also have a extra PT time set aside and the unit is charged with insuring that you are working on improving. but really the PT test isn't hard. how can you fail it 3 times in a row? it is a week scare tactic at best. but life is always better when you follow the rules

Answer 9

Pretty simple really!
I'm going to ask you some questions that will help you figure out the answer yourself.
1. If people in or out of the Army have to take a test for a driver's license then why do they get a ticket for speeding??

2. If people in or out of the Army have to go to school anyway then why do they get a failing grade for not passing a test??

3. If people in or out of the Army have to wear clothes then why do they have to clean them when they get dirty??

Just because someone "has to" does not mean they will be guaranteed anything.
If someone has to do something and they do it correctly then the chances are much better for success.
But no guarantees!

Answer 10

Because you need to maintain a healthy weight. And because all bodies are different some are unable to loose the weight. I haven't heard of someone being discharged for being overweight maybe not filling their limit when doing P.T . Being that of pushups situps and the two mile run.