I am currently Active Duty in the Army and have a permanent physical profile which precludes me from doing the 2 Mile run on the Army PT Test--I am authorized to do the alternate event which is a 2 1/2 mile walk.  Will this hinder me from being able to join the Coast Guard after I ETS next year?

Yes. You will have to pass all physical fitness standards in recruit training, as well as after recruit training.

I can suck it up and run, and I still do cardio on a stationary bike and rowing machines...was just wondering if the history of having it will cause an issue. I'm combat arms and still have to run (usually sprinting short distances)--often with 60lbs of gear on.

Thanks for the speedy reply.

Why do you even have this waiver?

Bells, that was going to be my next question. Depending on why, the CG may not be an option for you.

Having been in the Army and knowing that permanent profiles are not just thrown out there, it would be interesting to hear what the profile is for to provide any sort of an answer. If you can do a PT test, there would be no reason to get a profile in the first place.

To make it pretty cut and dry, if you have a profile in the Army, it won't transfer to the CG. You will still have to pass the standard PT test which goes back to the question of if you can pass a PT test run why do you need a profile?

Posted By sardaddy on 24 Oct 2012 09:13 PM
Having been in the Army and knowing that permanent profiles are not just thrown out there, it would be interesting to hear what the profile is for to provide any sort of an answer. If you can do a PT test, there would be no reason to get a profile in the first place.

To make it pretty cut and dry, if you have a profile in the Army, it won't transfer to the CG. You will still have to pass the standard PT test which goes back to the question of if you can pass a PT test run why do you need a profile?

just because one could pass the apft, doesn't mean they should.  maybe the soldier has knee or back issues and additional running could lead to future problems.

jni3,

I am not sure what you are getting at with my post so please feel free to explain further. You are right that there may be knee or back issues and that may be the reason for the profile. If that is the case they won't be getting into the Coast Guard. The point made my me and Cooch is that he can't come to the Coast Guard and say I want to join but I can only do PT according to this profile. It doesn't work that way.

In the Army it is a huge deal to get even a temporary profile. A permanent profile in the Army takes an act of God. It means you have something physically wrong well beyond that of the norm. That is why I wrote if they can do a PT test there would be no reason to get a profile. If you have enough of an issue to get a permanent profile it will most likely be an issue trying to enlist in another service. It is a challenge just to stay in the Army with a waiver.

For the sake of argument, lets say this person gets into the Coast Guard despite prior issues. The member will still have to complete the CG physical fitness test as is without an optional test. Those parameters don't carry over from the other service.

So to sum up, yes, just because you can pass a PT test doesn't mean you should but if you are going to join the CG you are going to have to. If there is a history of issues that could lead to future problems then you probably won't get in anyway.

i don't agree with sucking anything up to try to go from the army to the uscg. but the member's profile might not effect his abilities in the uscg. i have a feeling his profile is run at own pace and distance while taking the alternative apft. that eliminates him having to do those long company runs which could hurt him. that doesn't mean he can't run a max of two miles on his own at his own pace. does that mean he could pass the uscg pt test? possibly. also not everyone in the uscg has to do a pt test so he could quite possibly just have to run in basic and never have to worry about running again.
i don't agree with having an act of god for a permanent profile. have acl/mcl/pcl reconstructive surgery once, you are a great candidate for a permanent profile. i've had my fair share of light duty chits and profiles in my career. i've had these issues and i made it from one service to another with no problems. i'm living proof it can be done.

But getting in the CG with those surgeries would be damn near close to an act of God. If it wasn't a surgery and he's otherwise healthy but can't run, then yes, he would have to suck it up to join. This isn't a personal attack, it's a fact.