The thing about this and the rope climb is that they expected us to just do it, rather than training us up over a period of time. Of course we all failed.
The podcast “maintenance phase” has an episode on the presidential fitness test. Basically it’s a relic of the cold war designed to ensure our nation’s school children grow up into soldiers able to do soldier stuff like climb the sides of boats to get into them. Most people can’t do a pull-up without specialized training. That’s not muscles we use very often even if we’re fit in other ways.
..of course I look at the kids today vs when Pedro and I were doing this miserable test, and realize there is no f’ing way the US could ever put together any semblance of a fighting force. Let’s all hope the aliens don’t discover us..
<snort!>. I never could do even one. ‘Course, we females were pretty darned weak, as a rule…butcha know, I don’t think I’ve ever been called on to do one!
I was always caught in a dilemma when I went to a military academy. The Honor Code insisted we never lie; yet the upperclassmen were continually exhorting me to say I could do something that I knew was beyond my capabilities. I would think lying to yourself would be the worst.
Kenneth Berkun Premium Member 23 days ago
The thing about this and the rope climb is that they expected us to just do it, rather than training us up over a period of time. Of course we all failed.
SHIVA 23 days ago
I remember getting a rope burn on the inside of my legs; came down too fast!!!
brigidkeely 23 days ago
The podcast “maintenance phase” has an episode on the presidential fitness test. Basically it’s a relic of the cold war designed to ensure our nation’s school children grow up into soldiers able to do soldier stuff like climb the sides of boats to get into them. Most people can’t do a pull-up without specialized training. That’s not muscles we use very often even if we’re fit in other ways.
RadioDial Premium Member 23 days ago
..of course I look at the kids today vs when Pedro and I were doing this miserable test, and realize there is no f’ing way the US could ever put together any semblance of a fighting force. Let’s all hope the aliens don’t discover us..
darcyandsimon 23 days ago
<snort!>. I never could do even one. ‘Course, we females were pretty darned weak, as a rule…butcha know, I don’t think I’ve ever been called on to do one!
darcyandsimon 23 days ago
Thanks, Sr. Martin!
PoodleGroomer 23 days ago
The fat coaches’ office always had a box of donuts next to the coffee pot.
mistercatworks 22 days ago
I was always caught in a dilemma when I went to a military academy. The Honor Code insisted we never lie; yet the upperclassmen were continually exhorting me to say I could do something that I knew was beyond my capabilities. I would think lying to yourself would be the worst.
mistercatworks 22 days ago
Yeah, they had to relax the rules without literally “lowering the bar”. :)