Sailors from the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) began the Cycle 2 2011 PFA on Tuesday, Oct. 18. The semi-annual test ensures Sailors are staying in top physical condition.

 

“It’s just a warm up to get the blood going,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate First Class Eleazar Rojas, command fitness leader for division V-2 of Air department. “I think it helps. It helps prevents injuries as the body warms up.”

 

While stretches and warm-ups are good for a quick just before a work out, physical training or PT over a long period of time is the most effective. The body changes and adjusts for the added burden of regular exercise, providing a higher level of fitness.

 

“I think the stretches helped somewhat,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Brett Nabors, participant in the PRT. “I wish I could’ve PT’d a little more before doing the test.”

 

Considering the number of failures during the last PRT cycle, the rate of success throughout the command is showing improvement. Through the different variations of the PRT that can be run, the failure rate is dropping, or so it seems for now.

 

“Overall the performance has been good,” said Eleazar. “We haven’t had that many failures. Everyone is pushing themselves.”

 

 

Though different methods of conducting the PRT are available and being taken advantage of by some, the alternatives to the one and a half mile run are not to be taken lightly.

 

“The swim is 450 meters,” said Eleazar. “It’s

nine laps, and if you don’t practice it, you’ll fail. I think the hardest one though, is the bike. It depends on your weight. So if you’re a heavy person and you’re trying to do the bike, it’s pretty much 80 percent of your weight in calories that you have to burn. So if you’re an 18 year old that weighs 230 pounds, you’re going to struggle.”

 

The physical portion of the PRT is being held from Tuesday through the end of the week, and can be taken anytime from 5:30 a.m. through 5:30 p.m.

 

“The 21st is the last day, and then we’ll take stragglers after that,” said Eleazar. “We’re here from 0530 through 1730 rain or shine. Depending on how bad it’s raining and what the conditions are at that time. If it’s a small drizzle then Sailors can run it on the track, but if it’s pouring down rain, then we’ll do it in the gym.”

 

The PRT is one more way for Sailors to stand out amongst their peers, and receive recognition for doing so, it also adds points to promotion evaluations when the time comes. With that in mind, Sailors should not sandbag their efforts out on the track.