Army PT flip-flop

Back in October, 8th Army Command Sergeant Major Ray Devens, Jr. emailed around a draft copy of "Policy Letter #44" concerning morning PT (Army exercise).

It extended and shifted the PT schedule, emphasized that no one should schedule appointments during PT hours, established standards for pregnancy and post-partum programs, and stated that the notorious Army Reflective Belt would no longer be part of the uniform.

That last one -- the reflective belt issue -- has been the object of much confusion. On August 26th, the 2nd Infantry Division (an 8th Army subordinate unit) announced it was ditching the belt, but 8th Army overruled it within days. [Source] I don't know the reason for the about-face on this. As you can tell from the picture, the Army physical fitness uniform was designed to be reflective by itself -- there's no real need for the reflective belt. In that respect, the policy letter offered a welcome change.

However, there were a few other provisions to the policy letter that raised a few eyebrows. In addition to prohibiting the use of cell phones during PT, the policy banned even carrying them. It also banned organized intramural sports during PT hours.

My favorite was this last one:

Leaders and Soldiers will plan for policing of unsightly/unsafe items (trash) during PRT sessions. The Leader in charge of PRT each day will designate and brief the Soldier(s) who will carry a plastic bag to police/secure unsightly trash while traveling on foot during PRT.

In theory, then, it would be some soldier's job to run around and pick up trash during his company's formation run. I can just imagine how that would have gone down.

Fortunately, Policy Letter #44 was rescinded as of October 28th. Yet even now, two months in its wake, there's still signs of confusion at Camp Humphreys. Some units still wear the PT belt, while others do not. Some units start their PT according to the old schedule; others follow the new one. Given that our brigade hasn't rescinded its own order, I guess we're still with the new schedule.

One way or another, I don't understand the rationale for any of it. Then again, I apparently don't need to -- I'm just a commissioned officer, not an NCO.