CFA

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Jul 6, 2015
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When I do the actual CFA can I start in the Gym for the BBall throw, then move over to a weight room for pullups, and go outside for shuttle run(change into cleats) then go out to an asphalt track? I don't have any decent facilities at my school so our gym doesn't have a pull-up bar and the floor is always dirty so I prefer to not do the shuttle run in there. Am I allowed to change shoes throughout the CFA? Because wearing cleats literally added half a second to my shuttle
 
Agree with 83gradwife about the cleats. Also, keep in mind, the CFA is a timed test with specific time frames between each phase. It is all explained in the pre-candidates booklet.
 
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As far as I know you are not permitted to change shoes during the CFA, sorry.

Also, there is already another thread labeled "CFA" on the front page of this forum. In the future, please consolidate topics as much as possible even if your question is different than the original one.
 
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Not only are you not allowed to change shoes, but you only have so much time between each event.
 
Not only are you not allowed to change shoes, but you only have so much time between each event.
This is a huge factor. I did much worse on the actual CFA than I did when I practiced individual events. I ran the mile almost 2 minutes slower than I normally do on the CFA partially because of fatigue.
 
Ahh alright thanks everybody. I was just reading through the pre candidate guide and it didn't say not to use cleats but I see where it says don't bring extra equipment besides cloths for cold.
 
I did the whole CFA at the Air Force academy seminar after their doolie day and did pretty well especially since im from sea level in florida. My mile time up there was 10 seconds off max. My pullups were 18 but they weren't under cadence. My pushup and sit-up I managed to max pretty easy but my shuttle was below average and bbal throw was just above average. Im not sure about how much rest time I got between events they just shooed us off to the next event since there was a huge crowd so I had pretty much no rest until the walk out to the track for the mile
 
I did the whole CFA at the Air Force academy seminar after their doolie day and did pretty well especially since im from sea level in florida. My mile time up there was 10 seconds off max. My pullups were 18 but they weren't under cadence. My pushup and sit-up I managed to max pretty easy but my shuttle was below average and bbal throw was just above average. Im not sure about how much rest time I got between events they just shooed us off to the next event since there was a huge crowd so I had pretty much no rest until the walk out to the track for the mile
There isn't really a point in taking the CFA again if you already did that well on it at the summer seminar. I also heard the Air Force Academy generally doesn't allow candidates to retake the CFA(the other service academies are more lenient on retakes).
 
Apparently their CFA was unofficial. We only had recorded our scores for the element challenge and no scores were reported in my application portal (thankfully) so I still got a chance to max out each event in a month when school starts up again and i talk to my Jrotc instructor. I heard other cadets talking about West Point and Naval seminar had to take the real CFA so their scores are official.
 
There isn't really a point in taking the CFA again if you already did that well on it at the summer seminar. I also heard the Air Force Academy generally doesn't allow candidates to retake the CFA(the other service academies are more lenient on retakes).

Last year, they could only *submit* one result. So it was take the CFA and submit your best result. Often times, the first result wasn't the best (first time to perform it under controlled proper circumstances for many applicants) and the second time was better. Some kids don't have access to the necessary facilities to practice a "run through" before the official test. I have no clue if the rules have changed on that.
 
Apparently their CFA was unofficial. We only had recorded our scores for the element challenge and no scores were reported in my application portal (thankfully) so I still got a chance to max out each event in a month when school starts up again and i talk to my Jrotc instructor. I heard other cadets talking about West Point and Naval seminar had to take the real CFA so their scores are official.
The CFA is a pretty small part of the application. The difference between what you got and max in events is probably minimal. Also, it is unlikely, if not impossible, that you will learn how to chuck a basketball 30 more feet and cut over a second off of your shuttle run even if you spend countless hours sprinting and chucking basketballs over the next few months. IMHO you are much better off spending that time studying for the ACT/SAT and improving those scores. You also probably won't tear your rotator cuff while studying for the ACT- if you do you are studying incorrectly. Academics is 55% of your application and the CFA is 15%. The benefits of improving the latter are much smaller, especially considering you are already very good at it.
 
Frenzy, the CFA that the students did at AFASS does not count. He will have to take the test again and submit his scores regardless of how well he did at the seminar. And yes, it is a small percentage of the overall application, but fail one portion and you will not get an appointment. Jest will most likely do well on his CFA, and he is right to strive for the best he can do and then it's all up to the board after that. And even if he doesn't get appointed, he will know he did his best and can hold his head up high. I think at times you focus too much on statistics and percentages, when in all reality, any applicant should put forth the best effort and most outstanding picture of themselves possible and hope to be competitive enough for selection. That's my 2 cents worth.
 
Frenzy, the CFA that the students did at AFASS does not count. He will have to take the test again and submit his scores regardless of how well he did at the seminar. And yes, it is a small percentage of the overall application, but fail one portion and you will not get an appointment. Jest will most likely do well on his CFA, and he is right to strive for the best he can do and then it's all up to the board after that. And even if he doesn't get appointed, he will know he did his best and can hold his head up high. I think at times you focus too much on statistics and percentages, when in all reality, any applicant should put forth the best effort and most outstanding picture of themselves possible and hope to be competitive enough for selection. That's my 2 cents worth.
It is very important that one passes the CFA, but the OP isn't even close to failing the CFA. I think he will likely pass the CFA with flying colors even if he does nothing to prepare for it. He has much more room for improvement for his SAT/ACT than he does for his CFA.

I agree with putting forth one's best effort, but every person only has 24 hours each day, and every person has to decide how he or she is going to use those 24 hours. The OP could spend 8 hours every day for the next few months chucking basketballs and sprinting and he might add 10 feet to his basketball throw and cut a couple tenths off of his shuttle run, or the OP could spend 8 hours every day for the next few months studying for the ACT/SAT and bump up his composite by 3 points. IMHO, the OP would be much better off doing the latter. Equal effort does not always mean equal results. I think the rewards of studying for the ACT/SAT are far greater than that of practicing for the CFA(unless one is close to failing).

A former USMA RC said:


"Take the CFA as many times as you wish. However, bear in mind that it constitutes only about 10% of your overall file strength... once you've passed it, I'd recommend you leave the score alone. Your time would be better spent studying for & retaking the SAT/ACT than practicing for hours a day trying to throw that damn basketball a few feet further (and risking blowing out your rotator cuff in the process)."

For the USAFA the CFA is 15% of one's overall file not 10%, but I still think what that RC said holds true. That's just my opinion, I'm not saying it's right, but it's what I think. The OP may indeed be better off spending his time practicing for the CFA rather than studying for the ACT/SAT, but I highly doubt that that is true.
 
Bottom line, the OP has to take it again regardless. His original question was about wearing cleats and I think that was answered. Aim high! :D
 
Has the WCS changed?
60% PAR
20% Recs/Essays (Teachers, ALOs)
20% ECs and CFA

If it is still that breakdown than the CFA may actually be smaller than 15%, and more like 10%.

frenzy,
USMA may allow a candidate to submit multiple times, but as MombaBomba stated, USAFA allows it once. If the candidate is considered competitive in their eyes they will contact you personally and reopen it for you. You as a candidate cannot go back into your portal and submit new scores just because you want to. It is locked once submitted by the administrator.
 
Judging by that slide, I would infer that the CFA is pass/fail. You are either qualified or you are not.

Although I could see the Academy using your CFA score to try to project how well you will do on the PFT/AFT.
 
USMA may allow a candidate to submit multiple times, but as MombaBomba stated, USAFA allows it once. If the candidate is considered competitive in their eyes they will contact you personally and reopen it for you. You as a candidate cannot go back into your portal and submit new scores just because you want to. It is locked once submitted by the administrator.

I am aware of this, that's why in post #9 I said

I also heard the Air Force Academy generally doesn't allow candidates to retake the CFA(the other service academies are more lenient on retakes).

Has the WCS changed?
60% PAR
20% Recs/Essays (Teachers, ALOs)
20% ECs and CFA

According to the USAFA website, the breakdown is 55% academics, 20% extracurricular activities, and the other 25% is not accounted for on the website. I think I remember reading somewhere that the CFA is 15%, but I don't remember where. I could be wrong.
http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/academic-performance/

http://www.academyadmissions.com/admissions/the-application-process/extracurricular-activities/

Heres a pic of the slideshow they showed us at the academy about which parts count for what percentage

The information on that picture is not consistent with what the Air Force Academy website says. I would guess that the slideshow is outdated, but it could be that the USAFA website is outdated.
 
Judging by that slide, I would infer that the CFA is pass/fail. You are either qualified or you are not.

Although I could see the Academy using your CFA score to try to project how well you will do on the PFT/AFT.
On the Air Force Academy website it says "Although the CFA is Pass-Fail, it is imperative that you perform to the best of your ability on each of these events:"

This makes it sound like you get more points on your WCS for doing better on the CFA.
 
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