I don't remember. Not sure I ever really knew.

We ran 3 times a week, 5 miles each time. Basically, you couldn't be a Marine if you couldn't
pass a PFT with at least second class. There were 3 classes. I never knew anyone who was a
3rd class.

Back then, to pass with a 1st class, you had to run 3 miles in under 20 minutes. I ran it
in 18 minutes. You had to do 20 pull-ups, and do 80 situps in under 2 minutes. Do this, and
you passed with a 1st class. Anyone who didn't make 1st class was usually put on remedial
because no commander wanted someone in his unit who wasn't 1st class.

There were a few people on remedial PT, either because they had gotton hurt and couldn't PT
for a period of time, or for some other reason had become overweight. These people were
few and far between in the Corps.

I never knew my BMI because I was always in top shape and it was never an issue.


I was always in top shape - back then :)







>And your BMI? (Body Mass Index or percentage of body fat)? :0)
>
>>I was in from August, 1983 to April, 1992. My MOS (Military Occupational Specialty)
>>was 2111, Small Arms Repairman, AKA Armorer.
>>
>>
>>
>>>I've been assigned a LOT of places over the years in the military. I NEVER met anyone who weighed 300lbs. That is amazing Kevin! When you were in the military, what was your BMI?
>>>
>>>
>>>>>>That is what women in the military typically deal with everytime they get a new assignment -
>>>>>>however short it may be. Some can hack it and some can't. The same is true for the men.
>>>>
>>>>I spent 8 years in the Marines. I did my share of hiking with 80-100lbs pack on. I can tell you
>>>>from experience, that in every run or hump, there were always people who fell out. And the higher
>>>>percentage of them were women.
>>>>
>>>>Having said that, I found the women in the Marines to be otherwise capable. The problem is, can
>>>>a man rely on a woman in combat to cover his back? I'm 6'4" and 300lbs. Can the typical woman
>>>>carry, or for that matter even drag, me to safety when she can't even carry 100lb pack for a few
>>>>miles?
>>>>
>>>>I'm not biased at all. I think if a woman wants to be a grunt let her. But it does raise readiness
>>>>issues like the one I stated.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Hi Evan,
>>>>>
>>>>>I agree with John. This is just my own personal opinion and based soley on my own personal experiences. Some of the smartest soldiers I served with are women. Some are men. Some of the worst soldiers I served with are women. Some are men. A woman can operate just about any weapon that a man can. A child can as well and in some places, such as Sierra Leone, they do. Women excel in some military jobs, men in others. These are all generalizations that are true based on my experiences. We are not speaking of exceptions but of the general populace and the average soldier. The one who would be beside you in war.
>>>>>
>>>>>The physical strength requirements have nothing to do with operating weapons or machinery, but the other physical demands of an infantry soldier:
>>>>>
>>>>>1. Carrying heavy loads for long periods of time (this one most female soldiers do manage)
>>>>>2. Carrying a wounded soldier and gear alone (nope)
>>>>>3. Climbing over tall obstacles with heavy gear on (nope)
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't think the general public has any idea of the weight of the gear. Take a 180lb man and add 45-100 lbs (depending on the protective gear and weapons). Not only is the wounded soldier wearing gear and a weapon, but so are you. I have seen men do all of the above and I have never had to do it myself (thank goodness although I have had to drag someone before because I couldn't lift them and their gear - case in point). I have never seen a woman do #2 or #3 - I will admit though that in all of my years in the military and all of my assignments I never worked with one which had the physical body displayed in the link posted in this thread. I will also be fair and say that there are also men who cannot do all three above as well but given the same size and body weight a man will still have more strength. Those men who cannot hack it will not last in the infantry and will not pass training. It is a fair system. It is a fact of life. I'm sure that there
>>>are
>>>>>women out there who are capable of all three items above just as I know for a fact there are male soldiers who are not. There are always exceptions but you don't risk lives based on a small percentage to please sensitivities or to appease feminists who do not know what they are talking about.
>>>>>
>>>>>Just my opinion. I'm always open to being proven wrong but based on proof and experience which is unlikely because I already served my time :o)
>>>>>
>>>>>I decided to add a bit to this to show where my attitude is coming from. Granted it is definitely colored by experience. There was a time when I was assigned to an infantry unit patrolling in rocky hills. We all had complete gear on. Mine weighed about 70lbs. When I first arrived, the first thing the commander did was state 'My God, they sent me a snake.' He immediately got on the radio and yelled and cursed to HQ who informed him he got what he got and to make the best of it. He turned around and informed me (as they always did) that I would not get any special treatment and to pull my own weight. I was accustomed to that although it did get frustrating after so many times. We spent everyday and night humping up and down hills and I did better than most of the men. I was acclimated to high altitudes (I just arrived from Fort Huachuca) and I spent a lot of time hiking in the Colorado mountains in the past. When it was all said and done every one of the members in that
>>unit
>>>>>congratulated me - for what? For doing my job. Because I could pull my own weight and do my job when it counted (which by the way when we finally stopped - which meant that I had to question someone - the guys got to rest but I had to do the job I was sent out there to do). They didn't think I could do it. I made alot of friends in a short period of time. That is what women in the military typically deal with everytime they get a new assignment - however short it may be. Some can hack it and some can't. The same is true for the men.
>>>>>
>>>>>Having written that I also know that hiking with gear on and climbing rocks and hills for 72 hours straight is one thing. It requires endurance and healthy lungs. Keep in mind that all of this is done during a period of 72 hours with no sleep. NONE. Then you may get a couple of hours sleep and just when you start to feel the ache, you are up and going again. 72 hours feels like 3 weeks. You eat when you can and every meal is packed with calories and carbs which you burn up in the first 30 minutes. If I had to climb a shear 10' wall and pull myself over, I couldn't do it without a boost or a pull from someone else. When you need to do those things you are already running on empty. No matter how many pushups and pullups I did, my upper body strength would never suffice. That feat is often a necessity of infantry soldiers in urban warfare.