Sometimes RHIP Translates into Poor Leadership

Sgt. 1st Class Eric Lloyd, a paratrooper with 
1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, grades 
the sit-up event of an Army Physical Fitness Test, 
or APFT, during early-morning rain Jan. 19, 2011, 

at Fort Bragg, N.C.  Just a week earlier, Fort Bragg
was gripped in ice.  U.S. Army photo by 

Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod (Photo by U.S. Army)

A picture really is worth a thousand words.  Came across this one when I logged on to Army Knowledge Online (AKO) the other day.  It was in the rotation.  The caption under the photo also comes straight from the AKO site.  It says that the sergeant is "grading" an APFT.  But he's doing it wrong.  See the exerpt below from the Army's physical fitness manual, FM 21-20 Army Physical Fitness Training:

Scorers' Duties The scorer may either kneel or sit about three feet from the testee's hip. The scorer's head should be about even with the testee's shoulder when the latter is in the vertical (up) position. Each scorer decides for himself whether to sit or kneel down when scoring. He may not lie down or stand while scoring. The scorer counts aloud the number of correctly performed sit-ups and repeats the number of the last correctly performed repetition if an incorrect one is done. Scorers tell the testees what they are doing wrong as it occurs during the event. A critique of his performance is given to each soldier after the event. When the soldier completes the event, the scorer records the number of correctly performed sit-ups, initials the scorecard, and returns it to the soldier.

When checking for correct body position, the scorer must be sure that at a 90-degree angle is formed at each knee by the soldier's upper and lower leg. The angle to be measured is not the one formed by the lower leg and the ground. If, while performing the sit-up event, this angle becomes greater than 90 degrees, the scorer should instruct the testee and holder to reposition the legs to the proper angle and obtain compliance before allowing the testee's performance to continue. The loss of the proper angle does not terminate the testee's performance in the event. When the soldier comes to the vertical position, the scorer must be sure that the base of the soldier's neck is above or past the base of the spine. A soldier who simply touches his knees with his elbows may not come to a completely vertical position. The scorer must ensure that the holder uses only his hands to brace the exerciser's feet.

As you can see from the picture, this senior NCO is not in the correct position to properly grade the sit-up event.  And it's easy to see why, for to do so, the sergeant would have to get his uniform dirty by kneeling or sitting on the muddy ground.  He might get his uniform dirty.  You'll notice that he is not in the same uniform as the troops, though he is doubtlessly dressed in accordance with the orders of the day.

But this is where there is a problem with leadership, this NCO's, and his commander's.  It's a very cold morning.  The troops are decked out in their Army Physical Fitness Uniform.  But the graders, the first sergeant and the other senior NCOs are wearing their Army Combat Uniforms.  They're dressed more warmly than their troops.  Notice that the young soldiers are down in the mud getting their uniforms dirty, ("if it ain't rainin', it ain't training," as the old saying goes).  But the NCOs are not sharing the same burdens as their troops.

"All Soldiers are entitled to outstanding leadership," says the NCO Creed; "I will provide that leadership."  Well, providing that leadership means, first and foremost, setting the right example.  It means following the regulations just like you'd expect the troops to follow them, not cutting corners.  It means partaking of the same hardships as the troops, not using your position "to attain pleasure, profit, or personal safety."  What the senior NCO in the photo is exhibiting, more than anything else, is "RHIP" that rank has its privileges.  He is not showing good leadership.