Tuesday and yesterday the Firstie class knocked out what was for most the last significant obstacle before graduation- the last APFT (army physical fitness test). It is 2 minutes of pushups, 2 minutes of situps, and a 2 mile run. Failure meant that you would have to take a 90 day retest while still a cadet, which means that you don't graduate on time. I did fine, an average score, which is what I usually get and I'm okay with that. The APFT is really pretty basic and not a challenging event to pass, yet there are people who managed not to (I know of at least one for sure, there are rumors of more). It's easy to feel bad for these people, after all they are missing out on what might be the single most important day in their lives so far. But once you really start to think about it, if someone can't pass the basic physical fitness test that is part of the foundation of the Army which they are about to enter, they don't deserve to graduate and nor do they deserve to be officers and command troops. Not to mention they have taken at least 8 APFTs by this point and know exactly what is required to pass and what they need to do to prepare.
But for the vast majority of the class, this is one more mile marker in the rearview mirror and the last time that we have to deal with the much loved/hated (mostly hated) Department of Physical Education.
Forty-three!!
And for something completely different, I'll share a new website that was revealed to me this morning. It's some more professional reading for me and hopefully something interesting for everyone else. Abu Muqawama is "a blog dedicated to following issues related to contemporary insurgencies as well as counterinsurgency tactics and strategy." The most recent post is pretty good, worth your time to read it.
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