Howard: Sailors need time set aside for PT

[unhappycamper]

Sailors exercise during routine physical fitness training aboard the amphibious dock landing ship Tortuga in July. Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) Tom Howard says that sailors need to have designated time set aside in the work week for PT.


Howard: Sailors need time set aside for PT
By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Dec 28, 2009 7:18:52 EST

If sailors are being asked to work out, then Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW) Tom Howard says it should officially be part of their schedule.

Howard — in a Dec. 15 interview with Navy Times — noted that physical training is not a part of the standard Navy workweek. That metric breaks down all 168 hours of a sailor’s week, including working, sleeping and eating.

“We talk about PT and tell sailors they should PT three times a week — that it’s mandatory they do that, but we haven’t yet been able to formally make that part of the workday,” said Howard, who became Fleet Forces Command’s top sailor six months ago. “It’s not included in the standard Navy work week — those hours aren’t calculated in to the work we’re asking our sailors to do, and it needs to be.”

The result is sailors are being asked to come in early to do physical training.

“So what do commands do, they modify the workday and hold PT at 0600,” he said. “That PT is supposed to take place during the workday, not at 0600 — let’s stop manipulating that number and no kidding, make it mandatory — if we’re telling them to do it, we need to formally give them the time to do it.”


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/12/navy_workout_122809w/

[DrDan]

1. "back in the old days" we were given 30 minutes out of our daily schedules

for PT. So you could extend your lunchhour if you jogged or played handball or the like. Or some would take it as an afternoon to play golf.

One of the great unofficial bennies.