Striving for Continuous Improvement

Yesterday was my weekly PT session with the Marine Corps Poolees... the delayed entry kids who have committed to joining the Corps but not yet gone to boot camp.  Once per month, we do the Initial Strength Test (IST) to measure physical fitness.  We did the IST yesterday, and I matched or exceeded my personal best in each category.

Pull-ups:  Minimum is 3.  20 is a perfect score.  I cranked out 11, which ties my personal best.  Once upon a time I was able to do 12, but I was in my early 40's.  I'm striving to get back to 12, but consider 11 a personal best.

Plank:  Minimum is 40 seconds.  3:45 is a perfect score.  I got a perfect score, singing the Marine's Hymn while doing it.

1.5 Mile Run:  Maximum allowable time is 13:30.  I believe 9:00 will get you a perfect score, but am not 100% certain. I ran in 12:42, which is a personal best.  This is the third time in 2026 that I have hit personal bests in running.  I'd like to get down to 12:00.

I'd like to clarify that these are perfect scores for people entering the Marine Corps.  I'm approaching 60 years old going up against kids in their late teens and early twenties.  If I've maxed out my physical fitness, I'm okay with that.  But this does not mean I'm done trying to improve.  My presence at PT serves a few purposes: 1) I act as a liaison between the Marine Corps League and the Marine Corps.  These kids are exposed to the Marine Corps League at a young age, and I hope they consider joining when they're eligible.  2) I serve as an example to encourage and motivate the poolees.  The recruiters call me the "minimum acceptable standard," and call out any poolee who cannot match or beat me in all three events.  And believe me, these kids are humbled when they get beaten by a man old enough to be their grandfather.  3) It keeps me in touch with my beloved Marine Corps.  I am personally invested in the well-being of my Marine Corps recruiters, and I am personally invested in my poolees.  I tease the kids when I beat them, and I high-five them when they eventually beat me.  I welcome them back from boot camp with a big hug, and I'm saddened when the occasional kid washes out of the program.