RE: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,184298,00.html

In the late eighties it seemed like one year the 1.5 mile run/walk was shorter than usual. Skuttlebutt had that there was concern of heat stroke or worse.
My condolances to the family of Capt. Jurinka.

Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon occurrence. I remember several instances of Army personnel falling out and having heart attacks during PT runs at Ft. Drum in the late 1990's, which is why dog tags were required during PT.

Hell, I had a buddy go to the clinic, be seen, be released, and drop dead leaving the clinic.

That is so sad. He's was 45 years old, and I'm 53 years old, and as a IMA Reservist, I am also expected to take a PT test on an annual basis so that I can do my yearly Reserve duty. The sad thing is that many Reservist do not have access to free or reduced cost gyms (as do Recruiters and active duty family members who has deployed spouses), which is ok if you live in a warm climate most of the year, but is not so good when you live in the frozen tundra of Ohio as I do!
A year's membership at the YMCA here is four hundred dollars plus for a single membership, and while I am blessed with having a civilian employer who pays $200 of that (as part of the wellness program), I think it would be nice if the military would step up to bat and assist our soldiers in contributing to their own wellness by offering some sort of reimbursement for a gym membership. After all, we have to maintain our bodies as part of our service requirement, but there is NOT a requirement that you have a high school education (only the ability to read and follow orders), yet they are building a GED training facility for recruits who did not care enough to get their education before they asked the military to give them a job.

R.I.P. Capt.. My condolences to the family. I am sure when the Capt. met God in Heaven, "He" said "well done my good and faithful servant". The Capt. will surely be missed here on earth. Semper Fi. Capt. AO6541 over and out.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ywbm777,

Hell we use to do our PT then have a beer party afterwords...awwww the good old days..

That's right Cracker, We ran to the beach in NC and then had a beer party there. Hell of a long run and really didn't want any beer for awhile after that, but it was a good day.

Ladies and Gentlemen…I use this tragic and sad event as a stage to voice my 35+ year of concerns that I HAD with the physical conditioning programs found in the USAF. I dare not approach the other services programs as I have not experience with them.

During my time in service, we had to prove ourselves physically fit once yearly. Sometimes we had the 5 BX program. (Sit ups, pull ups, and the 1.5 mile run or walk to name a few of the exercises). This evolved somewhat into just the 1.5 mile run after a few years. Time was factored on age and sex.

Later on after retirement and working as a contractor supporting the A/F, I continued to witness the A/F evolve to the stationary bicycle. Each of these tasks had their limits. Bust the limits you were enrolled into a remedial program until you could do the test within the defined limits.

I always felt this YEARLY testing was a farce, and still do too. If the A/F (or any service) was truly serious about physical conditioning, they would have structured exercises DAILY, be it at sunrise or after the duty day or during lunch, but have it and make it mandatory for all, Officer and Enlisted. Well, needless to say, NO ONE listened to me and this bright idea was never adopted. The specific details (or data) that could be associated with heart attacks and this yearly bust your butt effort was not available to the common rank and file.

The A/F has also now adapted a heat/work index. If it is a certin temp, you work (outside) for so long, then “rest” for so long. The hotter it gets, the longer the rest periods. Unbelievable!! Where will they next go?

I still support the theory that if the service wants 100% physical fit personnel regardless of job skill or rank, they need to have organized exercise daily (5 days weekly minim). Something to think about. About 8 - 10 years ago, there was a well known runner and health nut extraordinaire. His body fat index was almost immeasurable. He was the true example of what you wanted to be. Tall, lean, physical fit, with the ability to run ½ marathons daily and/or ride a bicycle to the top of Mount Everest. Many thought he had a big “S” on his chest too. He wrote books which were used as bibles for the physically fit or how to get physical fit. His diet was all the “right stuff”. According to the doctors of sports medicine he was THE example of what any athlete should be. Many an A/F CO used him as fodder when lecturing at Commanders Call about health concerns and what to do or not to do. Then, one day, sadly this stellar athlete just suddenly dropped dead at the ripe old age of about 42!! The cause was said to be massive heart failure. Go figure.

My point is regardless of your lifestyle, be it a once yearly butt buster or someone who is at the far end of the scale being totally fit, when your number comes up, your chances are slim to recover. Live your life to the fullest, share your smile and remember others.

When I was up at Ft. Drum over the summer for a few weeks I saw units doing PT every month during the week. That's Army though.

I mean every day, not every month.

F22,
I feel you. As an Air Force cop, I felt it was very important that we stay physically fit not only because we would look good, but it would help use in time of need, fights, scuffles, etc., and tried to styart mandaatory PT for the squadrons I was in. Each time at the bases I was at, The Commander would say, "Sgt hayes, that sounds great but, I can't make it mandatory, they have to volunteer." Hell, they were the Commanders, they could do ANYTHING they wanted, especially if it meant improvement.

Capt., God bless you!!

Very sad and unfortunate but, as others have stated here, not all that unusual.
This paragraph in the article is flawed, if you
ask me:
The death of Capt. Werner Jurinka, 45, came as a "huge shock" for friends and co-workers, who saw him as a healthy, young man.
IMO, 45 is not the age of a "young man".
He is, or was, a middle aged man
who, in five more years, could have joined AARP if he so desired.
AARP is not for young men.
RIP Cap'n.

quote:

Originally posted by leashad:
That is so sad. He's was 45 years old, and I'm 53 years old, and as a IMA Reservist, I am also expected to take a PT test on an annual basis so that I can do my yearly Reserve duty. The sad thing is that many Reservist do not have access to free or reduced cost gyms (as do Recruiters and active duty family members who has deployed spouses), which is ok if you live in a warm climate most of the year, but is not so good when you live in the frozen tundra of Ohio as I do!
A year's membership at the YMCA here is four hundred dollars plus for a single membership, and while I am blessed with having a civilian employer who pays $200 of that (as part of the wellness program), I think it would be nice if the military would step up to bat and assist our soldiers in contributing to their own wellness by offering some sort of reimbursement for a gym membership. After all, we have to maintain our bodies as part of our service requirement, but there is NOT a requirement that you have a high school education (only the ability to read and follow orders), yet they are building a GED training facility for recruits who did not care enough to get their education before they asked the military to give them a job.

Currently, if you are on active duty orders or a Reservist on mobilization orders - you and your family can go to the YMCA free. Google it. Most of the YMCA's across the nation are following this incentive to get more people into their facilities and to contribute something to this war.

How many highly trained, highly qualified and highly trusted service members have been booted out because they had a few inches to many over their belts or took a couple extra minutes to run 1.5 miles ? If I were a pilot and wanted my aircraft fixed right the first time then I would not care if the mechanic ate one hamburger to many at lunch or if he needed a few extra minutes to jog over to the kegger at the beach..... all I want is the best wrenches.....to hell with the PT crap !

It is tragic. Recall that these things were not extremely uncommon in the 70s, either. USAREUR's CG required all troopers run 2-miles in 17-minutes or less. A number of officers and NCOs died on runs.

Just a little confusion here but are ppl saying he died from lack of PT?

Anyway, reminds me of an old neighbor at FT Sill who was either in his late 30's early 40's who dropped dead of a heart attack. We had just moved on post, and he and his wife had just bought a house and were moving there stuff off post. They hadn't even settled in,or cleared housing--he died the 2nd or 3rd day they were moving stuff.

Aren't servicemembers tested yearly for things such as high cholesterol, high BP, and such? There are clues if people pay attention. Then again as someone said, when it's your time it's your time!

quote:

Originally posted by DocTrowerFMF:
Very sad and unfortunate but, as others have stated here, not all that unusual.
This paragraph in the article is flawed, if you
ask me:
The death of Capt. Werner Jurinka, 45, came as a "huge shock" for friends and co-workers, who saw him as a healthy, young man.
IMO, 45 is not the age of a "young man".
He is, or was, a middle aged man
who, in five more years, could have joined AARP if he so desired.
AARP is not for young men.
RIP Cap'n.

When I hear of somebody dying before the age of 60, I generally tend to think they were young too

When I was at Camp Roberts in 1987, we had a guy die of a heart attack during a PT test...on the 2 mile run.

He was only in his late 30's early 40's.

SSG Rex Baublitz

He was a good man, and a fine NCO.

Horrible shame, RIP Captain and may God accept you into his loving arms for all eternity and may He comfort your loved ones...
Thank you for your service to our great nation, the American people and our allies...
I must ask the question, given the present feelings about Americans, by the Italians, see the news articles in the Italian press about the American female on trial for murder, did he get full and unprejudiced treatment at the hands of the physicians?
Respectfully, SUNLINER81

That's too bad, a loss to the Navy and his family.
I taught at the Navy Diving & Salvage Training Center in the mid-nineties. There was a young(probably early '30s, but considerably younger than me) Marine Recon Sergeant, an instructor who occupied the cubicle next to mine. He was a hell of a nice guy and an absolute PT animal in peak shape. One day he was out PTing with his class, a couple of miles or so from the school when he collapsed from a sudden heart attack. CPR was started and they rushed him back to medical, but unfortunately he didn't survive. It was a tragic loss that shocked everyone at the school. An autopsy later revealed he had a previously undiscovered congenital heart defect that sufferers are normally lucky to make it into their early 20s with. It kind of reminded me of "Pistol" Pete Maravich similarly dying during a friendly neighborhood pick-up game a few years after retiring from the NBA. Both guys probably lived a lot longer and got more out of that life than they would have if they hadn't been so athletic.
I'm 56 and retired, but I work at staying in shape. I still run the Navy PRT twice a year with the sailors I work with. I'll keep on PTing in whatever form I can manage for as long as I'm able. I'm convinced it not only adds years to your life, but adds life to your years.