CFA Administrator Question

MABlue

5-Year Member
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Jan 1, 2016
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I recently asked one of my school PE teachers whether he could administer the CFA for me, and he said he would, however he wanted to know whether he would be asked to send the academy State P.E. teacher License, along with the digital signature on the online CFA form. He was wondering this because I go to a private school, and none of our P.E. teachers are required to have State PE teacher licenses. He is however a certified personal trainer.
 
They accepted my son's club swim coach as the administrator of the test. She was Also the high school teams swim coach. They just need to sign it and submit it correctly on the link they provide, and you're good to go.
 
Thanks for the responses. Already talked it over with BGO. PE coach is fine even without license. Will be conducting it this afternoon
 
@usnabgo08 My CFA administrator IS a PE Teacher, however he also serves as the Strength and Conditioning Coach. I falsely typed in PE coach. His official job title is "Instructor in Physical Education" Also, would my overall CFA(listed below) scores be competitive?
BB Throw: 91 ft
Pull ups: 16
Push ups: 75
Abdominal Crunches: 82
Mile: 6:28(This is the one i'm worried about )
Shuttle Run : 8.8
 
USNA only posts the MAX scores, however BGO Kaullman, back in 2009 had compiled self reported (unofficial) data and posted the following averages:

Averages

Female - 10 scores
BB toss - 44 ft
Pullups - 2
Flex Arm Hang - 16 sec
Shuttle - 9.8 sec
Crunches/Situps - 81
Pushups - 36
Mile run - 7:31

Male - 84 scores
BB toss - 69 ft
Pullups - 11
Shuttle - 8.8 sec
Crunches/Situps - 82
Pushups - 61
Mile Run - 6:38

Source: http://www.serviceacademyforums.com/index.php?threads/average-cfa-scores.6253/
 
just double checked because I was freaked out not valid. The coach is a PE at high school they coach at, just not our PE at my kids high school. They have to be a PE, but does not have to be from same school. I wasn't involved in the process, my son set it up so I shouldn't have commented.
 
just double checked because I was freaked out not valid. The coach is a PE at high school they coach at, just not our PE at my kids high school. They have to be a PE, but does not have to be from same school. I wasn't involved in the process, my son set it up so I shouldn't have commented.

Again, USNA verbiage on the website states the following:
"The CFA MUST be administered by a high school/prep school physical education teacher, commissioned officer (for military candidates), or the candidate's Blue and Gold Officer. "

It does not say your DS's own particular physical education teacher, only a PE teacher at a high school or prep school.
 
The intention of my post is not to be accusatory...but to CLEARLY reiterate the policy instituted with this admissions cycle and to ensure that future candidates are reminded of who is now authorized to administer the CFA. I think the CFA webpage could be a little clearer by explicitly stating that non-P.E. coaches are not allowed to administer it (it would certainly eliminate any confusion). BGOs have been made aware that non-P.E. coaches may not conduct the CFA.
 
If the CFA is supposed to a uniformed gauge of physical strength, agility, speed and endurance why do the USAFA, USNA and USMA have different requirement as to who can administer the test?

USAFA-Your examination may be administered by any physical education teacher, Service Academy Liaison Officer or JROTC Instructor. Any active duty commissioned officer may administer the CFA for service members.

USNA-The CFA MUST be administered by a high school/prep school physical education teacher, commissioned officer (for military candidates), or the candidate's Blue and Gold Officer.

USMA- Who can administer the test? Physical Education Teachers, Military Academy Liaison Officers, Military Officers or Noncommissioned Officers, Professors of Military Science, J/ROTC Instructors
 
Actually, the guidance passed down was a consensus from senior leadership at all 3 SAs. There are minor difference on how it is worded from each school...such as USNA saying "high school/prep school" PE teacher...maybe USMA/USAFA is making an assumption that the P.E. teacher is most likely to be from H.S. or beyond. USMA allows NCOs...that wasn't specifically passed to us.

However, the common theme through all SAs...is the word "coach" isn't present.
 
Is this the case because the academies believe that coaches will be biased in their conducting of the exam? In any case, wouldn't the administrator have to mark down that they are a PE teacher when submitting results?
 
Actually, the guidance passed down was a consensus from senior leadership at all 3 SAs. There are minor difference on how it is worded from each school...such as USNA saying "high school/prep school" PE teacher...maybe USMA/USAFA is making an assumption that the P.E. teacher is most likely to be from H.S. or beyond. USMA allows NCOs...that wasn't specifically passed to us.

However, the common theme through all SAs...is the word "coach" isn't present.

Understood. Roger that.

So, if a high school (non-military) student takes a CFA administered by a "commissioned officer" for the purposes of his WP application and if WP accepts his CFA scores, then can the student ask WP to forward his score to the USNA and USAFA to be accepted by them????
 
Understood. Roger that.

So, if a high school (non-military) student takes a CFA administered by a "commissioned officer" for the purposes of his WP application and if WP accepts his CFA scores, then can the student ask WP to forward his score to the USNA and USAFA to be accepted by them????
Yes, you can ask the SA to forward CFA to other SAs. However, in my experience (and others) the SA offices usually are very busy and sometimes don't forward scores as soon as you'd want them to. It is much easier to get the administrator of the CFA to send the scores to all of them, if possible.

After a few weeks of waiting on USAFA to send scores to USNA/USMA, I just got my tester to send it - much faster.
 
Yes, you can ask the SA to forward CFA to other SAs. However, in my experience (and others) the SA offices usually are very busy and sometimes don't forward scores as soon as you'd want them to. It is much easier to get the administrator of the CFA to send the scores to all of them, if possible.

After a few weeks of waiting on USAFA to send scores to USNA/USMA, I just got my tester to send it - much faster.

However, I don't know if that would work in my hypo. The USNA and USAFA only allow military member candidates to be graded by commissioned officers whereas WP allows anyone to be graded by commissioned officers. That's why it's kinda weird that each SA has differing standards for CFA test administrators.
 
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However, I don't know if that would in my hypo. The USNA and USAFA only allow military member candidates to be graded by commissioned officers where as WP allows anyone to be graded by commissioned officers. That's why it's kinda weird that each SA has differing standards for CFA test administrator.
I see what you mean. I don't know, but imho it would be fine. Reason: I got clearance from my USAFA ALO to take the CFA with AROTC officers, because I'm homeschooled (unique circumstances), he said USAFA would take the scores. I decided not to submit, because I wanted to improve, but ALO said they would accept if I did.
 
I think the clause "for military candidates" is thrown in there because it might be hard for military candidates to find a PE teacher or liaison officer (since military candidates aren't directly assigned one). So the clause is thrown in there to make it easier for military candidates to complete the CFA, not necessarily to restrict a commissioned officer to conduct a CFA for a civilian candidate. I am sure if you ask USNA, they would say it is okay.

I think the problem with the coaches (and please don't quote me) is that they ran into some "fairness" issues -- i.e. the candidate's own coach administered it and aided them. Yes, there is a loophole in that if your own coach is a P.E. teacher, they are allowed to administer it. I don't think it has anything to do with "PE teacher" qualifications...otherwise BGOs, officers, etc. wouldn't be able to conduct it. I am not so against having BGOs and/or commissioned officer or CPOs administer the exams...it could take a lot of bias out, but at the expense of placing a heavier burden on BGOs and further restricting who could administer the exam.
 
I think the clause "for military candidates" is thrown in there because it might be hard for military candidates to find a PE teacher or liaison officer (since military candidates aren't directly assigned one). So the clause is thrown in there to make it easier for military candidates to complete the CFA, not necessarily to restrict a commissioned officer to conduct a CFA for a civilian candidate. I am sure if you ask USNA, they would say it is okay.

I think the problem with the coaches (and please don't quote me) is that they ran into some "fairness" issues -- i.e. the candidate's own coach administered it and aided them. Yes, there is a loophole in that if your own coach is a P.E. teacher, they are allowed to administer it. I don't think it has anything to do with "PE teacher" qualifications...otherwise BGOs, officers, etc. wouldn't be able to conduct it. I am not so against having BGOs and/or commissioned officer or CPOs administer the exams...it could take a lot of bias out, but at the expense of placing a heavier burden on BGOs and further restricting who could administer the exam.
I appreciate your insights as always @usnabgo08.
We live in the DC area so it's not a problem finding a commissioned or NCO, but my DS hasn't had PE since 7th grade. He's been on travel teams and varsity teams for the last 4 years and doesn't know a PE teacher who can administer a CFA for him.
 
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