I wish we lived in a black and white world, but we don't. Because we live in the "grey zone", we re-muster 'broken' soldiers to CSS trades. And then expect them to be as fit as an infantry soldier. But because they are on some form of Category, or a chit, they are exempt the rigorous training they require to get in shape. So they get out of shape. So then we tell them to get in shape. Refer to chit. And around and around it goes......
Here's something that I've been thinking about lately, so I'll throw it out to the masses: when a person goes on chit, category, etc, is it acceptable for them to get fat/out of shape??? If a person can't, say, run, shouldn't they swim, or bike???? If they can't swim, they can learn. If they can't bike, shouldn't they walk??? I think I know the answer to this one, but it is rather tiresome to hear: "I'm on a chit/category/whatever, so I can't run/walk/swim/bike/life weights......". How about a chit that says: "Member must maintain a healthy weight, via keeping energy ouput equal to/greater than energy input". Let's see how much people would obey THAT chit/category: "It's against my human rights!!!!!" "They can't tell me to do that!!!!!!". But when the chit says "PT at own pace/design/duration", they can do 10 mins of light pedalling on the bike and feel that is plenty enough, and "Hey, that's what the chit says. Can't go against that!!!!".
I think that the fit and good-to-go soldiers should NOT be forced to do all the deployments, tasks, field training, etc etc. That mentality is what drives out the good soldiers, and allows the weak to stay in ("Cpl "Too Fit" Bloggins will do all my work, I get to sit around, collect the same pay and benefits..... excellent!!!!"). Seen it, lived it, hate it.
If a person can't do the job of an average person in their trade, good bye, see ya later. That's heartless and cruel. So's life. And war. Go to the Marines (who happen to be fighting a war right now) and see if that looks vaguely familiar to their policy. How many desk jobs are their available in every trade (or the equivalent)??? Who get's the desk jobs once they are all taken: "Hey, I'm a good 20lbs fatter than you, I deserve it!!!!" "No, I deserve it because I did far worse than you on the EXPRES test" "No, my medical file is at LEAST as thick as the New York phone book, I deserve it". And so it goes......
We are not a job placement agency. Once your best-before-date has expired, yes, you are gone. Unless of course they can find something meaningful and useful for you to do. And then the cycle (as above) begins anew. Again, a grey world is what we live in.
As for PT time: it IS a leadership failing if time isn't made available during the work week (a normal week). It is also a personal failing if that time isn't utilized. And if you have to go into "personal" time (lunch, before work, after work), you don't get a medal or an "Outstanding" on your PER: you get a paycheck every 2 weeks. I hear excuses, not reasons, for why people don't do PT. A lot of them emanated from my very lips. Then I got sick of being a lazy bastard and FORCED myself into a routine. Would I rather sit on my ass?!?!?!? Hell yeah!!! But I feel much better, physically, emotionally, pride-wise, etc for knowing that I am bettering myself. And I ran in the field (I was the moron running with a rucksack in the training area the last 2 summers/winters, at night, in the snow/slush, the heat..... you'd be amazed at how many people offered me a lift.... as though a guy in PT gear wearing a rucksack is broken down..... I guess the thought of doing PT in the field never crossed their mind).
I guess we can wait and see how the "new improved" standards (or enforcement of existing standards) works out, but it won't be pretty. Once people are used to the easy way, trying to make it harder, will be, well, harder. And that sounds like a lot of work. I'm sure the Ombudsman and the Humans Rights people will be working overtime with all the complaints they will receive. Again, the fit will get fitter, and the fat will get fatter...... (I'll stop using that line once I stop seeing grotesquely fat people in uniform.... that won't happen any time soon, I'm sure).
Al