CHARLIE NEUMAN / Union-Tribune
Lance Cpl. Mark Ashley carried Lance Cpl. Brendon Law as part
of the obstacle course portion of yesterday's combat fitness test
at Camp Pendleton.
I went in straight out of high school, had been a runner in track so fitness wasn't an issue with me. The initial group I assembled with in boot camp was a hodge podge of young and old, quite a few obese. Most of them washed out as they couldn't handle the exercise and the diet wasn't that great either, there is no Jenny Craig plan or a buffet bar and ice cream machine.
I'm a little heavier then my fighting weight these days... but I could still wheeze thru an obstacle course, I reckun.
Good luck to all the new recruits!
We had an Army NCOIC we called “listerbag” because he was so fat and sweaty all the time.
CHARLIE NEUMAN / Union-Tribune
Lance Cpl. Mark Ashley carried Lance Cpl. Brendon Law as part
of the obstacle course portion of yesterday's combat fitness test
at Camp Pendleton.
....[snip]Conway granted one exception: Officers can pass Marines who don't fulfill the body-fat requirement if they believe those troops still look trim in uniform. .."
They should eliminate the pretty boy factor above.
I guess it would have been to simple just to say "a half-mile".
And this is coming from someone who took full advantage of the Army body fat program. I never was built lean like a runner, and a few times I tipped the scales over the recommended US Army weight standards, but I always passed my pt tests, never I fell out of a run. After I weighed in over the recommended weight, I always passed the tape test.
While I wasn't huge like a professional weightlifter, I had the same body build. Even though I passed the tape test though, I still could have benefitted from a conditioning program designed to lower body fat. As it was, once I would pass the tape test they sent me on my way and said see you next weigh in.
I don’t recall anything but PTing until the brink of vomiting and constant running all over creation when I was in. There were no fitness problems I was aware of with anyone I served with.
‘Conway granted one exception: Officers can pass Marines who don't fulfill the body-fat requirement if they believe those troops still look trim in uniform.’
‘Marines who post excellent scores on physical tests will no longer be allowed to exceed the Corps’ body-fat standards by a few pounds.’
I dunno if they use the outdated body weight measurements like we do in the Army. But this is a joke.
If you can perform, aka on the Physical Fitness Test, there has to be exceptions. Simply having a higher body fat percentage is not a reason to get rid of someone. This is simply putting lipstick on a pig.
“....“They know exactly what they’re there for. . . . This is not the Vienna Boys’ Choir. If they wanted something less or an easier way to do it, they could sign up for something else,” said retired Lt. Col. George Murray of Carlsbad. “
I couldn’t agree more Colonel. Only in our society now, you will have a few idiots insisting on inclusiveness and sensitivity training as well.
Absolutely untrue. If they can make the physical fitness standards then they make the standards.
The world has had armies for thousands of years without needing them to be starved greyhound half-marathon runners.
Golly, Sgt. Carter
If they want to be a marine they should meet the exact same standard unless they want to be there just for entertainment value.
“They know exactly what they’re there for. . . . This is not the Vienna Boys’ Choir. If they wanted something less or an easier way to do it, they could sign up for something else,” said retired Lt. Col. George Murray of Carlsbad.
I would not put down that group of high-trained young men. Their physical skills, although a bit specialized, are just as difficult to acquire as what Marine Corps does.
I doubt if many of these tough Marines could sing the solo part from a Bach Cantata on pitch in front of a large audience.
Just for amusement, I worked on improving my own performance on the PT. I was up to 9 pull-ups when I had an accident at work that injured my left shoulder to the point that I couldn't raise my arm even level with my shoulder. Six months of physical therapy recovered most of the range of motion. My new "toy" at home is Russian kettlebells. Hoisting an 88 lb bell from floor to shoulder height for 5 sets of 20 reps is a pretty decent workout. Snatching a pair of 53 lb bells from floor to overhead for 10+ reps will get your heart running as well. I turned 52 this week, so those KB workouts are a necessary effort to keep from turning to mush.
All I know is my Marine buddies said they were eating upwards of three 4000 calorie meals a day while deployed in Iraq. Which was necessary when they were active, but during down times they were taking in massive amounts of extra calories. I could not believe that one buddy came back from a tour with (significantly) more body fat than when he left. Especially since the other buddy came back much thinner and ripped. And they were in the same platoon the entire tour.
A separate combat fitness test? Thirty-eight years ago the quarterly fitness test was pull-ups, sit-ups, bend-and-thrusts, rope climb and three-mile run (I can’t remember if push-ups were included). To regularly pass that you had to stay in continually good shape, good enough to stand up to combat conditions. As far as the trim look regular maintence to keep up those standards would pretty much keep you trim unless you were swilling burgers and beer every single night of the week. We had weight lifters who were broad at the neck and chest who looked like they might be a little fat but when their body fat was checked they were more lean than the fitness instructors. Of course then we also had Gen. Cushman as commandant.
I am fixing to do that same thing, my friend. I am headed in after High school. And this is just insane. [laugh] No matter, I’ll keep up. :D