BCT Soldier sets record unit APFT score

By Daniel Terrill, Fort Jackson LeaderDecember 19, 2008

BCT Soldier sets record unit APFT score
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One-hundred thirty-two push-ups in two minutes, 114 sit-ups in two minutes and an 11-minute, 53-second 2-mile run.

These scores earned Pfc. Holden Isley a total of 402 points on the extended scale of his Basic Combat Training Army Physical Fitness Test, one of the highest 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment's drill sergeants have seen.

"People may say they've seen higher, I vote for what I saw," said Sgt. 1st Class Chris Robinson, Company E, 3rd Bn., 13th Inf. Reg. drill sergeant. "The highest I've seen before this was 325 (in BCT)."

Although Isley's official score is 300 -- the highest score for the APFT -- his total score raises the bar for BCT Soldiers who want to compete for the top APFT award given at graduation, Robinson said. The second highest score in the company was 319.

"First time I did a PT test I did 98 (push-ups) and I kept telling myself I wanted the highest APFT score in Fort Jackson," Isley said. "I wanted to leave something here so that people would remember my name."

Isley will get his wish because his drill sergeant will use his score to challenge new recruits.

"I'm getting his APFT score card laminated to hang inside the bay," Robinson said and added, "Some Soldiers during their personal time would read letters and some of them were doing push-ups and sit-ups."

Isley, focused on his basic training-legacy, joined those who exercised during personal time to improve their fitness.

"I do a lot of extra stuff at night. I do extra push-ups, sit-ups; at night I run around the bay," Isley said. "All my drill sergeants teach me the best way to do exercises and other activities."

To help him and others improve, Robinson brought in dumbbells and push-up equipment for Soldiers to use and get better.

"I gave them (the equipment) and started coming into the bay and first thing in the morning they're using them," Robinson said. "They have a little mini-gym they can use and I've noticed it's improved our PT scores tremendously."

Daniel.Terrill@us.army.mil