pre-AROTC PT test

gojack

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I took Dip Stick over to the track for a pre-AROTC PT test...
he did 63 SU, 56 PU and a 15:16 2 mile run
Is that competitive?
 
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APFT

Those are respectable (though not outstanding) passing scores. However I have one cocky family member who was surprised to fail his first on-campus APFT because his sit-ups did not meet regulations.

Also, there are acceptable resting positions for the sit-up and pushup tests while other positions will result in termination of the test.
 
I took Dip Stick over to the track for a pre-AROTC PT test...
he did 63 SU, 56 PU and a 15:16 2 mile run
Is that competitive?

DS here is around 65 PU, 50 SU and 14:30 run...seems content going into orientation weekend and a non-count APFT with the ROTC unit. At his guard drills they only do the PFT so far, but at least he knows his form is decent. The run is a run, form isn't seconds, but yes, several guard newbies got called out for pu/su form....devil in the details :wink:
 
Check with the ROO or PMS

I took Dip Stick over to the track for a pre-AROTC PT test...
he did 63 SU, 56 PU and a 15:16 2 mile run
Is that competitive?

Depends on who he is competing against. LDAC this year the top was about 100/100/11:00. I think the key is working on your goals on a consistent basis; DS has dropped his run time almost an entire minute over the summer. Remember iron sharpens iron, so find a partner if possible so you can both push each other.
 
Depends on who he is competing against. LDAC this year the top was about 100/100/11:00. I think the key is working on your goals on a consistent basis; DS has dropped his run time almost an entire minute over the summer. Remember iron sharpens iron, so find a partner if possible so you can both push each other.

Absolutely!! Partner would be a great boost, they will have a lot of new partners come school starting:thumb: DS is concerned since he's not technically a varsity athlete, but even working alone he's coming along.

That is amazing that your DS has had such great results on his run time!!

Thank goodness they have 3 school years to work toward that 100/100/11:00 and I'm sure glad the meal plan at school is unlimited...can't even imagine the food intake:biggrin:
 
Just remember that form is extremely important. If it is done incorrectly it will hurt you in multiple ways.

1. You wasted time by it not counting
2. You exerted more energy than if you had done it correctly.

Most cadets will find their scores dropping from the PFA to the PFT based purely on the fact that the cadre will be sticklers on form and rest times.

The third reason they score lower is because they didn't practice in all types of weather. The unit is going to set the date and time. If it is 98 degrees with 85% humidity, and you only did your training during fair weather days (80 degrees, 20% humidity), OH WELL!

The other thing I suggest is that you wake up early and do it at the time PT will be at school. Being exhausted because you are not use to working out at 5:30/6:00 a.m. will also play into the equation, and it will not be accepted as an excuse for poor scores.

Be realistic when you do that early workout. Don't go to bed at 9 and wake up at 5 for a 6 show, fresh eyed. You are going to be a college kid living in a dorm, it is doubtful you will fall asleep at 9, likely it will be 11+ (noise alone in the dorm will make it hard to sleep before that time). It is doubtful you will wake up at 5, shower, eat breakfast, etc for the 6 show, likely you will wake up at 5:30, roll out of your bed and put your PT gear on to make it to the 6 show.

We did that to our DS, and he was the one of only 3 AFROTC C100's that were able to get exempted from mandated PT. I don't know if AROTC or if every AFROTC unit does that, but at his school, if you max the test you are allowed to train on your own schedule, you must submit paperwork to prove you are working out, but if you want to do it at 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. you can. He actually would mix it up and work out every few weeks with the cadre to make sure he was still competitive.

There is a downside to being exempted. Most likely because you showed that is your strength they may make you the PT instructor next semester. DS in 6 semesters, only got that exemption 1x. (Fall freshman). The rest of the time they either had him be FCC, PT instructor, or SFT trainer, which meant his butt was there for PT. Worse yet, it meant he had to be there an hour early to set up/review/meetings, so he was at the unit at 5 for a 6 show, which meant 4:30 was his rise and shine time 2X a week.
 
AROTC

We did that to our DS, and he was the one of only 3 AFROTC C100's that were able to get exempted from mandated PT. I don't know if AROTC or if every AFROTC unit does that, but at his school, if you max the test you are allowed to train on your own schedule, you must submit paperwork to prove you are working out, but if you want to do it at 1 p.m. or 7 p.m. you can. He actually would mix it up and work out every few weeks with the cadre to make sure he was still competitive.

There is a downside to being exempted. Most likely because you showed that is your strength they may make you the PT instructor next semester. DS in 6 semesters, only got that exemption 1x. (Fall freshman). The rest of the time they either had him be FCC, PT instructor, or SFT trainer, which meant his butt was there for PT. Worse yet, it meant he had to be there an hour early to set up/review/meetings, so he was at the unit at 5 for a 6 show, which meant 4:30 was his rise and shine time 2X a week.


Anyone know is an exemption is possible for AROTC?
 
One other note, as a Mom of 2 DS's with 2 different body types/frames (DS1 AFROTC 5'10 147 lbs, DS 2 6'4-6'5 and 240 lbs), they have different strengths and weaknesses.

DS1's body is built for the PT, DS2's not so much. DS2 could run everyday, which he does for FB (March - Dec), but will never max running even with people next to him to push him.

Don't beat yourself up if you can't max. You only should beat yourself up if you know you are not training to your fullest potential.

Bullet was never a runner, and when he was training for his jt assignment with the 82nd AB as an AF ALO, he was given 2 tips to increase his time.

1. Practice wearing his boots...assumption is like BBall players in the practice box swinging with 2 or more bats, once the weight is removed you perform better.

2. His running gate was too short of a stride, by expanding it his time decreased.

Don't know if that helps anyone, but it helped him.

DS also increased his sit ups by doing butterfly kicks, tons of them. It also happens to be one of the main components at his det., and at every SA. Tons means 100. PROPER FORM as always.
 
Meals

Absolutely!! Partner would be a great boost, they will have a lot of new partners come school starting:thumb: DS is concerned since he's not technically a varsity athlete, but even working alone he's coming along.

That is amazing that your DS has had such great results on his run time!!

Thank goodness they have 3 school years to work toward that 100/100/11:00 and I'm sure glad the meal plan at school is unlimited...can't even imagine the food intake:biggrin:

I knew I was in trouble about 5 years ago when DS asked for a toast snack. Asked him how many pieces and he replied, "Whatever is in the the bag." I replied, "Probably not, there are 11 pieces left." He said that would be a "perfect" amount.:biggrin:
 
Anyone know is an exemption is possible for AROTC?

At DS school, no exemption, but possible placement on Ranger Challenge team likely. 3x weekly regular PT, RCTeam 5x week...like Pima mentioned, also early high scorers are used for PT training. In the guard, same deal, if you do well(max) you get extra PT duty and placement on their team.

Yes, the "snacks" are worse than the meals...DS eats constantly and still maintains 160 on his 5'10" frame. I'd be over 200+ on his "diet":shake:
 
Paradoxer,

I would ask Marist or Clarkson that. As I stated I don't know if it is an AFROTC deal, or it could be a unit deal.

Additionally, this happened for DS back in 08, so it may be even not allowed anymore.

My point was and is... that there are bennies to maxing. Actually, being exempted is not the biggest of all of them.

The biggest is week one, the cadre knows your name in a positive manner. When a unit has 100 new cadets, you want to be known as fast as possible in a positive light.

I will tell you DS who held those jobs said he only would know about 6 cadets those first few weeks. The ones that shined on both ends of the spectrum.

DS's job was either to lead/pace the run or be the guy at the back screaming XYZ move it, move it, move it. If he was in front of the pack there was always a cadet that would try to overtake him and that is how he knew their name.

OBTW, DS never was a runner in HS. He did TKD and Lifeguarding. The new cadet trying to overtake him was his motivation because he didn't want to catch grief for letting a C100 beat him out. He still isn't the fastest runner, I believe his time is @11:30/12:00 minutes.

He was rewarded at the end of the yr (early spring). His AFROTC unit, as I suspect every ROTC unit, does community service. For them that yr. it was the Susan G. Kohlman race. He was allowed to carry as a C100 the Det flag. The others carrying flags were POCs. The unit started the race. Still have the pic of him from the newspaper...PT gear (shorts) running in the rain with hats and gloves on due to the cold.

HMMM....that might also be the reason I say no fair weather only practices :wink: S*cks to run in rain when it is 35 degrees out. Guess what that PT test is given 2x a yr., and unless you are in the south, you will be running when it is cold outside. Running in extreme heat and cold will burn your lungs if you are not use to it. Running in a higher alt. will mess with your time. I.E. if you are from NC and go to UC Boulder, that is going to mess with you too.

As I have stated before, the real trick is to acclimate your body prior to going, be it heat, cold, alt. time of day, etc. You need to be honest and use this last month to adjust.
 
Don't beat yourself up if you can't max. You only should beat yourself up if you know you are not training to your fullest potential.

Bullet was never a runner, and when he was training for his jt assignment with the 82nd AB as an AF ALO, he was given 2 tips to increase his time.

1. Practice wearing his boots...assumption is like BBall players in the practice box swinging with 2 or more bats, once the weight is removed you perform better.

2. His running gate was too short of a stride, by expanding it his time decreased.

Don't know if that helps anyone, but it helped him.

DS also increased his sit ups by doing butterfly kicks, tons of them. It also happens to be one of the main components at his det., and at every SA. Tons means 100. PROPER FORM as always.

Great tips!! Butterfly kicks are the "punishment" for stupid at guard drills - no more push ups -- most recruits apparently have trouble with sit ups rather than push ups so 50 flutter kicks is the normal payment for doing something dumb. Core strength will also be a big componet of sucess in the new version APFT from what I've seen on videos/youtube.
 
Good advice

Paradoxer,

I would ask Marist or Clarkson that. As I stated I don't know if it is an AFROTC deal, or it could be a unit deal.

Additionally, this happened for DS back in 08, so it may be even not allowed anymore.

My point was and is... that there are bennies to maxing. Actually, being exempted is not the biggest of all of them.

The biggest is week one, the cadre knows your name in a positive manner. When a unit has 100 new cadets, you want to be known as fast as possible in a positive light.

DS is well aware of the first impression benefits. Several years ago he came dressed for his first hockey game in shirt and tie when everyone else was wearing tee shirts. New coach said to him, "If I knew nothing else about you you would be starting tonight. I can see you came ready and prepared."

In April ROO told DS best current cadet run time and DS is now 1 minute faster than the best- assuming you can't be missed if you are in the lead. Although the whole "is the form correct" issue is unknown he's aiming for the max. I know he will be disappointed with anything less than 300.
 
JMPO, don't worry so much about maxing, but understand everything matters.

Your DS will see that it is like the scholarship process...the WHOLE CADET, not just the one that shines in one area.

ROTC is not just physical ability, it is everything in it's entirety. It is great to arrive prepared, but make sure they prepare for the entire exam. That means things that are not physical, but mental.

I don't know if this is your 1st, last or only child to go, but I can say that for many cadets the pressure can get to them quickly because they eyeball only 1 issue and are like a dog with a bone, when it isn't just one aspect that will make or break you. WHOLE CADET is key!
 
DS is well aware of the first impression benefits. Several years ago he came dressed for his first hockey game in shirt and tie when everyone else was wearing tee shirts. New coach said to him, "If I knew nothing else about you you would be starting tonight. I can see you came ready and prepared."

In April ROO told DS best current cadet run time and DS is now 1 minute faster than the best- assuming you can't be missed if you are in the lead. Although the whole "is the form correct" issue is unknown he's aiming for the max. I know he will be disappointed with anything less than 300.

You mentioned the LDAC scores for this year.

There is one thing to consider for LDAC APFT. the graders are the newly commissioned LT's that are filling time working at LDAC before going off to their Branch BOLC. A lot of these new LT's are looking to impress the higher ups with how strict they can be on form, and some don't stress too much about it. If you go into LDAC having had scores well above 300 you might be shocked to see how many PU's don't count. My son scores all through his Junior year were 320 and above, at LDAC he got a 287. 100 pts for both the run and SU's and 87 for the PU's, he told us they didn't count at least 20 PU's. It is very subjective at LDAC, the cadet being scored just 2 over from him never had a PU not count, he had a different grader that just sat up and watched.

The best advise....be sure you can do a lot more then the max on PU's when you go to LDAC, just in case you get a very tough grader.
 
DS here is around 65 PU, 50 SU and 14:30 run...seems content going into orientation weekend and a non-count APFT with the ROTC unit. At his guard drills they only do the PFT so far, but at least he knows his form is decent. The run is a run, form isn't seconds, but yes, several guard newbies got called out for pu/su form....devil in the details :wink:

You may have switched up the numbers, but 50 SU is not passing. The minimum is 53. Other than that, those numbers are good enough to go to campus with.
 
I took Dip Stick over to the track for a pre-AROTC PT test...
he did 63 SU, 56 PU and a 15:16 2 mile run
Is that competitive?

Good scores, but he may want to get comfortable with the 2-mile. Nerves and bad nights rest/bad run can easily add on 40 seconds to that time which would be a failing time.
 
You may have switched up the numbers, but 50 SU is not passing. The minimum is 53. Other than that, those numbers are good enough to go to campus with.

Thanks Bull for the reassurance. I know he barely passed the su last year, does better now and I could be using his current 1min. times from guard drill...too much stuff for a momma to keep up with:wink:

Well, OT but... DS is officially 18 today - no more having to sign all the paperwork for him:thumb: We're off to campus for orientation/registration and a couple of meetings with the AROTC cadre and cadets.

Stay cool.:smile:
 
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