60%

[Silverback]

THE SIXTY PERCENT SOLDIER

We DO NOT promote soldiers simply because they are eligible. I continue to see DA form 3355s submitted for 60% soldiers. 60% soldiers show up for the APFT to pass, do common tasks to pass, and shoot their assigned weapon just to qualify. They don’t compete for NCO or Soldier of the Month. They do not volunteer for Airborne, Air Assault, Jumpmaster or Ranger School, or any other professional training such as Recruiter or Drill Sergeant. They seek out and hide for years in TRADOC or AC/RC assignments. They are often caught in violation of AR 670-1. They grow side burns and keep their appearance just under regulation. I hear them ask the question in the APFT push-up line, “How many to get 60 points?â€

[hit_it]

This applies to my current chain of command in so many fucking ways......

83 days, bitches.....

[Everett Ruess]

SB, you have once again spoken words of wisdom. It's men like you that make me proud to be an NCO when it seems I'm always alone in my opinions (at least in my guard unit). I was taught taking care of soldiers and training them to stay alive in combat was an NCO's primary job. I've learned long ago the only way to do that is invest yourself in your soldiers. A 60% soldier hasn't learned to invest themselves in anything yet.

[mikelogics]

Well said.

[fireranger]

Thanks for the wisdom SB.

[VAK]

Good Post and certainly well timed...

[ANGRYCivilian]

My section chief would smoke the fuck out of any of us who didn't do our best AND improve. The 60%'ers got nothing but trouble, and we learned to hate them because they were totally unreliable. The difference is we learned from, improved by, and appreciated the smoke. We wanted those turds AWAY from us, and out of the Army.

[Vee]

Good words Ranger SB. My guys would've rather stuck their heads in a bag of rattlesnakes than try and jump up after meeting minimum standards. I had weekly Saturday morning 10 mile runs in BDU trousers, jungle boots, tshirts and dummy weapons for those that thought they could be late to something, not give 100% and generally be slackers. I only had to do it a few times

Fuck that

[chkray]

Good words Ranger SB. My guys would've rather stuck their heads in a bag of rattlesnakes than try and jump up after meeting minimum standards. I had weekly Saturday morning 10 mile runs in BDU trousers, jungle boots, tshirts and dummy weapons for those that thought they could be late to something, not give 100% and generally be slackers. I only had to do it a few times

THAT sounds like Joe Heckard! He used to have his "Fuck-Ups" go on a 12 mile Road March with him EVERY Saturday. He really had it in for one of my squad leaders (guy named Plunkett) - all Plunket had to do was fart in formation, and he'd be there the next Saturday.

As far as MY Company went, I rarely had to resort to "Ass Smokings." I generally attacked their sense of pride. Something like, "Young stud, are you going to have to admit that yer old, broken down First Sergeant can smoke your ass in a PT test?" - statements like that generally shamed them into at least trying to max the task.

[Silverback]

For the record I did not write the piece I presented. The author is unknown

[chkray]

For the record I did not write the piece I presented. The author is unknown

Sounds a little like the Purd - only without the "Fuck me"s and the "Goddamnit"s.

[AbnRgr289]

For the record I did not write the piece I presented. The author is unknown

Sounds a little like the Purd - only without the "Fuck me"s and the "Goddamnit"s.

Excellent post SB.

The "Purd" would Smoke himself if he didn't think he was giving 110%! "Honestly", he would!!

[panzer275]

We had a fairly decent CSM speak at my recent PLDC graduation. The best thing I had heard in my short tenure so far in the Army. "If everyone just met the standard we would fail as an army." So rightfully so. 60% does not help you survive until sunrise. It only gets you to the sunset.

[Silverback]

Bump so the newer DEPs can read this