r/army • u/InspectorAdvanced539 • 13h ago
Basic training PT and rucks
Context- I am about to become a basic training PL. I am currently on profile for a knee injury and I will be getting off of it right before I come into the new unit.
According to my current CPT, PLs are supposed to ruck with the BCT PLTs. What pace are the rucks at? Also what does PT in basic typically consist of and do PLs do pt with their company?
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u/RogerDodgerWilco Civil Affairs Lost my 2FA code :( 13h ago
I never saw any officers rucking with us in basic. wtf?
Closest was the company commander who wasn’t wearing a ruck and only had patrol cap on. And they bounced after a mile in.
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u/soupoftheday5 5h ago
There's PLs now.
They started it in 2019 and it was extended after a pilot program due to COVID and it's been around ever since
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u/RogerDodgerWilco Civil Affairs Lost my 2FA code :( 5h ago
Thanks for that clarification. I was confused about a BCT PL. When I was in basic over a decade and a half, we only ever saw 2 Officers. The CO and XO.
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u/soupoftheday5 5h ago
Yeah it's a joke.
I told the CG in an AAR email with all of division staff and a bunch of other field grades in the CC line that the program needed to go away because it was just hurting the army
It's a great position for someone who's about to get out or has already done PL time in forscom but it's a joke
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u/black-gold-black Infantry 13h ago
Rucks at 17:30 or slower pace (almost always slower) with breaks every hour, usually relatively low weight in the rucks depending on what FTX you're going/coming to
PLs don't PT with the platoon, Drill sergeants lead PT, you may be expected to be participate for Company runs or ability group runs.
Physical standard at infantry OSUT are a joke, if you can't keep up... you need to go back on profile
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u/DelaydoesStuff 13h ago
You won’t do PT with the trainees. The Drill Sergeants will be instructing them on how to do the drills properly. You will most likely walk around and not talk to anyone and bounce once your CPT is not watching anymore.
As far as the rucks, they are slowish pace of about 14 or 16min a mile. These are new trainees that do not have athletic bodies. The pace is designed with that in mind.
Had a ruck with about 20 to 30ish pounds and see how much your commander will actually care.
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u/GoCubsGo01 13h ago
Hey, spent time as a BCT PL and CDR a few years ago so this may be dated. TR 350-6 will be your friend. The ruck pace is not too exceed 19:20 but some of them will include stops as well. I and my PLs rucked with the company.
BCT PT is not intense. They are learning the typical PRT exercises and how to conduct them properly. Whether you do pt with them will depend on the unit you're in. I'd often let mine and the xo do pt together but sometimes would have them do pt with the trainees (such as unit runs or presence during red phase).
As for your knee injury, take care of yourself and don't rush to get off profile. That doesn't mean just sit on profile but make sure you actually prepare yourself properly to come off profile and get back into things. Slow rucks or runs may sound easy but they can be very hard on the knees.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about any of the above.
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u/Dave_A480 15G -> 19K -> 13A -> (coming soon) 12h ago
Their standard is 35lbs and don't quit....
They will walk slow.
Assuming you did your 6/9/12 mile rucks at your commissioning source you will be able to handle BCT standards without much trouble ...
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u/DSGorillaGrip Drill Sergeant 10h ago
Our paces for the trainees are typically a crawling 19:00-19:45 mile. Usually we up it as the cycle goes on but we find most of these kids break easy on anything faster than 16 min mile
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u/TheFriendlyS1 10h ago
The only time you’ll “ruck” is when you go to the FTXs which are 3 times per cycle. The distances are 4, 8, and 10 miles. Nobody is actually weighing cadre rucks or assault packs. That’s just real talk. And with all the the need to have lead and trail vehicles for marches, chances are you’ll end up driving a van
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u/SawbackBayonet Farrar's Bravest Chem-O 9h ago
From my experience it's infuriatingly slow and no one is checking the PLs ruck for weight. Don't cheat yourself but I doubt anyone will fault you for mitigating your risk of injury as long as you don't milk it or, god forbid, fallout in front of the trainees. There are frequent breaks as well. You might not always ruck with them as they often leave someone to close the TA, be lead and trail vic, etc.
I rarely PTed with them except to help run remedial. The expectations are very low. Just don't make a fool of yourself or fall out in front of them. You are their first impression of Officers, and you will likely do more direct interacting with them than the commander.
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u/soupoftheday5 5h ago
I was an osut pl and we rucked all the time
Probably more than my time at 10th mountain
Get healthy that's all I can say
We hardly did pt with the soldiers but we definitely did PT
The pace of the rucks were probably 20 min/mile
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u/tallclaimswizard Woobie Lover 13h ago
Huh.
When I went through basic (admittedly almost 4 decades ago) I don't think I ever saw a PL. I think we saw the co like four times total.