Fitness test again

[Spearmint]

I remember back on my Fitters course we did the fatness test pretty much every 2 months or so. By the end of the course and having completed it succesfully for the 5th time we where told we would have to do it again before we finish the course so that we arrive 'fit' at our new unit.

I'm not saying it was the right course of action but we didn't end up doing it and the PTI got chucked about 6ft into the deep end of the pool by several cheesed off SAC's........DT_Xtremez_19:

 

[Soon To Leave]

After reading this thread I feel that a few people are giving bad advice! So here is mine!

If, as you say, you are able to complete the test with no problems, then why not take the test. You can have your whinge to the appropriate people afterwards.

It's 15mins of your life. If you stand your ground, as you said you may do, then be prepared for a long battle which you will never win.

This policy may have been set because of some other lazy people that are continually failing to complete their test. You could set an example to them by proving it’s not that difficult. Start encouraging the ones that need it, instead of fighting the system.

Good luck with whatever you decide. DT_Xtremez_19:

That is good advice. Winge too much and it could be could be seen as a bad attitude to fitness. You should be going to the gym for at least 3 x 40 minute sessions so it shouldn't be too much hassle replacing one of those sessions with the fitness test.

Everybody should be capable of passing their fitness test at a minute's notice. I don't have much time for those that train for a couple of weeks before their fitness test, barely pass then don't do any gym activity until 6 months later.

 

[Mightierthan]

It is difficult to see where PTIs have a problem running a fitness test system that requires an individual to be tested every 6 months. The rocks are by no means the greatest administrators but they seem to manage it for CCS; albeit it's annually rather than biannually, but it does take at least a full day, sometimes 2 and it is managed alongside guard training and sometimes pre-deployment training. Additionally, there is not a huge rush to the regt sections when people become out of date, so I can't see why there would be one for fitness testing.

Fitness testing takes about an hour from beginning to end and a session could comfortably accommodate 20 people. If the gym provided 4 tests per week, each with 20 attendees then over a 6-month period around 1920 people could be tested - are there any units out there with that many people fit to take the test?

Come on mirror techs, pull yer fingers out! DT_Xtremez_25:

 

[justintime129]

I remember back on my Fitters course we did the fatness test pretty much every 2 months or so. By the end of the course and having completed it succesfully for the 5 time we where told we would have to do it again before we finish the course so that we arrive 'fit' at our new unit.

I'm not saying it was the right course of action but we didn't end up doing it and the PTI got chucked about 6ft into the deep end of the pool by several cheesed off SAC's........DT_Xtremez_19:

Well you were in training and if pt was part of the syllabus then you have no right for moaning.

 

[Spearmint]

Well you were in training and if pt was part of the syllabus then you have no right for moaning.

Indeed, fact is though the majority of us on that course where avid fans of the Arm Farm so fitter than most.

Alas, we didn't complain. The stumpy idiotic PTI with a big smile on his face as he gave us the good news was merely picked up and carted off. An hour of basketball followed by a good old fashioned bollocking from OC ETTF at the time. Happy days! DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[RAF Bird]

There are ways of "fighting the system" as you say, that don’t mean you have to stand there and stamp your feet and say I'm not doing that.

As I said - "as you say, you are able to complete the test with no problems, then why not take the test. You can have your whinge to the appropriate people afterwards."

I think you have to look at the bigger picture of why these decisions are made. The fitness test is not that difficult, especially for the ladies (different subject) if you can do it once you can do it twice, if you’re asked to do it every week it should not be a problem. Might even be good for you. After all it's time out of work.

Maybe it's not the system that’s the problem here, but the attitude.

But that’s just my opinion.DT_Xtremez_26:

Have to say I completely agree with you here (apart from it being easier for girls, which if you look through the old threads it has actually been scientifically proven that it is slightly harder but again that is another story)

This is why I asked when the OP had last taken their RAFFT. It's all very well being cleaver and trying to fight the system which we believe to be wrong, but this system is set in stone by people much higher up the food chain to us and all the OP is going to do by trying to prove a point is highlight themselves as someone who may think they are bigger than their boots. Sometimes it is better to take the moral high ground and just do it. At the most it is what 10 and a half minutes of running?? For me I'd rather go and do the RAFFT once a week in our compulsory PT as then you are getting better at it and we all know the only way to improve on something is to practice it.

My advice would be to be the bigger person, do your FT and ensure it is echoed in your SJAR the positive attitude to fitness you have. Who's the winner then?

 

[justintime129]

Everybody should be capable of passing their fitness test at a minute's notice. I don't have much time for those that train for a couple of weeks before their fitness test, barely pass then don't do any gym activity until 6 months later.

They aren't doing anything wrong they are passing the test.

 

[snowball1]

You can never have enough FT posts!

 

[Soon To Leave]

They aren't doing anything wrong they are passing the test.

The idea is you should have a good level of fitness all year round. That was one of the reasons for introducing 6-monthly tests. Maybe they should move to monthly testing for those that only just pass.

Everyone should be aiming for blue and not just a bare pass. Best effort based on all year round effort - not minimal effort on the day.

 

[RAF Bird]

The idea is you should have a good level of fitness all year round. That was one of the reasons for introducing 6-monthly tests. Maybe they should move to monthly testing for those that only just pass.

Everyone should be aiming for blue and not just a bare pass. Best effort based on all year round effort - not minimal effort on the day.

But as that is another story and as we have so many hundreds of threads about this topic lets keep this one on track and not get into the whole how fit we should be as a force thing AGAIN.

 

[justintime129]

The idea is you should have a good level of fitness all year round. That was one of the reasons for introducing 6-monthly tests. Maybe they should move to monthly testing for those that only just pass.

Everyone should be aiming for blue and not just a bare pass. Best effort based on all year round effort - not minimal effort on the day.

Surely the point of the test is to pass it. It doesn't matter if you barely pass it or blast it. isn't that what all tests/exams are about, they have a pass/fail Mark. I'm seeing this as an outsider, if I took the test and just passed it I'd be mightily hacked off if I was told I'd have to take the test monthly because I only just passed.

 

[metimmee]

Surely the point of the test is to pass it. It doesn't matter if you barely pass it or blast it. isn't that what all tests/exams are about, they have a pass/fail Mark. I'm seeing this as an outsider, if I took the test and just passed it I'd be mightily hacked off if I was told I'd have to take the test monthly because I only just passed.

I feel that when you choose to fight a battle, you had better be fighting a battle worth winning because of the risk of collateral damage to your character. Placing a marker down and stating, in a positively framed manner, that you will of course do what is required, but arent happy "because of and due to", is better than the OP digging her heals in for what amounts to a trivial matter with the potential of a trivial victory.

 

[True Blue Jack]

This is why I asked when the OP had last taken their RAFFT. It's all very well being cleaver and trying to fight the system which we believe to be wrong, but this system is set in stone by people much higher up the food chain to us and all the OP is going to do by trying to prove a point is highlight themselves as someone who may think they are bigger than their boots. Sometimes it is better to take the moral high ground and just do it. At the most it is what 10 and a half minutes of running?? For me I'd rather go and do the RAFFT once a week in our compulsory PT as then you are getting better at it and we all know the only way to improve on something is to practice it.

My advice would be to be the bigger person, do your FT and ensure it is echoed in your SJAR the positive attitude to fitness you have. Who's the winner then?

I can understand why you may think that and it is reasonable to do so if you don't know the OP, which I do.

PSF Angel and others on her unit have passed the RAFFT 4 times in the last 12 months and she has been told she must pass it a 5th time in order to keep somebody's statistics neat and tidy (for the record, not her unit HR - PSF Angel is her unit HR). That is not the intent of the RAF's fitness policy.

E-goat is normally full of barrack room lawyers bleating how we should not simply accept every apparent erosion of our terms and conditions of service yet when somebody decides to actually fight against a locally introduced, wholly unreasonable, policy where is the support?

 

[Downsizer]

I can understand why you may think that and it is reasonable to do so if you don't know the OP, which I do.

PSF Angel and others on her unit have passed the RAFFT 4 times in the last 12 months and she has been told she must pass it a 5th time in order to keep somebody's statistics neat and tidy (for the record, not her unit HR - PSF Angel is her unit HR). That is not the intent of the RAF's fitness policy.

E-goat is normally full of barrack room lawyers bleating how we should not simply accept every apparent erosion of our terms and conditions of service yet when somebody decides to actually fight against a locally introduced, wholly unreasonable, policy where is the support?

Perhaps we need somebody to "Shake things up"?

 

[Deserter]

I can understand why you may think that and it is reasonable to do so if you don't know the OP, which I do.

PSF Angel and others on her unit have passed the RAFFT 4 times in the last 12 months and she has been told she must pass it a 5th time in order to keep somebody's statistics neat and tidy (for the record, not her unit HR - PSF Angel is her unit HR). That is not the intent of the RAF's fitness policy.

E-goat is normally full of barrack room lawyers bleating how we should not simply accept every apparent erosion of our terms and conditions of service yet when somebody decides to actually fight against a locally introduced, wholly unreasonable, policy where is the support?

I fully agree that this is unreasonable and it should be looked at, but when people are saying stand your ground and dont do it, then that is bad advice.

She should still do the test, but then feed it up the chain untill she gets a reasonable answer. There may be another reason why they have had to do it so often.

I hope she has done it, as she will find that it's more hassel than it's worth for something so simple.

Save the hassel for a bigger issue.DT_Xtremez_40:

 

[Realist78]

There are ways of "fighting the system" as you say, that don’t mean you have to stand there and stamp your feet and say I'm not doing that.

As I said - "as you say, you are able to complete the test with no problems, then why not take the test. You can have your whinge to the appropriate people afterwards."

I think you have to look at the bigger picture of why these decisions are made. The fitness test is not that difficult, especially for the ladies (different subject) if you can do it once you can do it twice, if you’re asked to do it every week it should not be a problem. Might even be good for you. After all it's time out of work.

Maybe it's not the system that’s the problem here, but the attitude.

But that’s just my opinion.DT_Xtremez_26:

Really, I never knew that.

Been looking at it for over 32 years, it still doesn't get over ridiculous decisions that come at an ever increasing rate nowadays. IMO.

 

[RAF Bird]

I can understand why you may think that and it is reasonable to do so if you don't know the OP, which I do.

PSF Angel and others on her unit have passed the RAFFT 4 times in the last 12 months and she has been told she must pass it a 5th time in order to keep somebody's statistics neat and tidy (for the record, not her unit HR - PSF Angel is her unit HR). That is not the intent of the RAF's fitness policy.

E-goat is normally full of barrack room lawyers bleating how we should not simply accept every apparent erosion of our terms and conditions of service yet when somebody decides to actually fight against a locally introduced, wholly unreasonable, policy where is the support?

As a junior rank she may well mean well but all it will inevitably will do is tarnish a good reputation. Perhaps now you have reached the dizzy heights of Officer ranks this should be your battle to fight?

 

[Deserter]

Stand your ground IMO. It's nonsensical, bureaucratic crap like this that sucks the life force out of people, challenge it!

Really, I never knew that.

Been looking at it for over 32 years, it still doesn't get over ridiculous decisions that come at an ever increasing rate nowadays. IMO.

Off TopicTeddies!

With 32 years of experience you should be able to give her better advice than the above.

Yes it is ridiculous, but I am sure there are many different ways of solving this issue.

Use the chain of command or talk to the PTI's are just two. I am sure she is not the only one wanting to ask the question.DT_Xtremez_06:

 

[Weebl]

I fully agree that this is unreasonable and it should be looked at, but when people are saying stand your ground and dont do it, then that is bad advice.

She should still do the test, but then feed it up the chain untill she gets a reasonable answer. There may be another reason why they have had to do it so often.

I hope she has done it, as she will find that it's more hassel than it's worth for something so simple.

Save the hassel for a bigger issue.DT_Xtremez_40:

There is one reason and one reason only why it is done as it is.

Stats.

Getting all personnel in your CoC to take the fitness date between one arbitrary date and another is very easily track-able. The fact that those that are in date Fitness Test but don't take in between arbitrary dates does not make the stats look good is the only argument. They don't care if you are fit or not, they care that the stats look good to those who write their OJARS.

Stats are an easy indicator to the lazy. The fact that they are generally massaged to the point they mean next to nothing, or focussed on minor rubbish (not necessarily Fitness Tests but those of you who have been around a while will know what I mean) means they are an easy 'win' to your boss.

Even the good bosses end up bowing to them because the RAF works that way these days. The powers that be don't care you get aircraft up when required (except if it as another stat that gives a tick) or if you look after the welfare of your lads and lasses, just that the tickboxes get ticked.

 

[True Blue Jack]

As a junior rank she may well mean well but all it will inevitably will do is tarnish a good reputation. Perhaps now you have reached the dizzy heights of Officer ranks this should be your battle to fight?

If PSF Angel was at my current unit, she would have more direct backing than I am able to provide through this medium. As it happens, PSF Angel is demonstrating the integrity, grit and moral compass I expect from any NCO.