CFA

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sdhitt

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I was accepted to NASS session one, but on the CFA I can't do a pull up unassisted (btw I'm a girl). Is that really going to hurt my chances of being accepted? Also, what are the average CFA numbers for women?
 
I don't think I've seen "average" scores for females in the pull-ups/hang. However, I do know that being able to do one pull up is better than the max time on the flexed arm hang. You have several months before NASS -- I suggest you talk with a gym teacher and set up a program that will help you do at least one pull-up by NASS. Even if you don't do as well as you like there, you can resubmit your CFA later in the year if your scores improve.
 
the best way to get better at pull ups is to simply practice them, if you cant do a pull up unassisted then do them assisted until you can
 
from what everyone else is saying I'll echo them... go for at least one pull up. You want to push yourself for the best scores on the CFA for your best chance of admission.
 
I have a few things to add to theraven's comment. My daughter (now a Plebe) came really close to a full pullup at her NASS, but missed by a few inches. They had everyone try a real pullup first, then they did flexed arm hangs for those who didn't make a full pullup.
- There are lots of ways to build up to doing pullups. You don't have to have any special equipment. If nothing else, you can go to a playground and do the monkey bars.
- In addition to doing assisted pullups as often as possible, do lots of pushups and "core" exercises, like curlups and "planks." Change the width of your hand placement when you do sets of pushups so you work different sets of arm and shoulder muscles.

Good luck!
 
It may be different for the NA, but the mean number of pull-ups for entering female cadets at the AFA is 3. This info can be found in a CFA Instructions document located here (click link).

Like the others have said though, there are several ways to build up your strength. I'd recommend researching them and figure out what would work best for you. Best wishes!
 
You can get a qualifying CFA without a pullup as a female, but don't rest with that as your score.

Get the pullups in. Keep improving. Do pushups, shoulder presses and assisted pullups until you can do them on your own. Once you can do them on your own, do them about 5 times per day. In other words if you can only do one, then do one, and try to do a second about 5 times through the day until you can do two.

Once you can do two, do that, and try to do a 3rd about 5 times a day. You'll improve.

Work on core excercises also. Pullups are more than upper body strength, it takes a good core.

Remember, admissions is competitive, the best score you can get the better you are. But you can still get a qualifying CFA without a pullup, but you shouldn't rest comfortable with it.

JB
 
Good point. Pull downs are a great excercise to get to the pullups.

Another thing. Once you are able to do a couple. You can use the Armstrong program to improve and max out.

If your'e not familiar with it, just google this: Major Charles Lewis Armstrong, USMC Pull Up Program.

JB
 
Flex Arm Hangs with slooow release

Best exercise I've seen to get to that first pull-up is to start at the flex arm hang position and slooowly let yourself down, until fully extended. Repeat. Lots. Often.

Averages for the CFA are given on both USAFA and USMA CFA webpages. As mentined above, USNA does not list their average.
 
heyo

this wasn't addressed so i'll ask again in case it was missed,
does anyone know the boy:girl ratio for the usna summer seminars?
and if there are any girls out there who did go to nass, how was it in terms of... i don't know... i guess awkwardness and feeling out of place? i kind of just put that out there, but i am kind of nervous...
i was accepted to nass #3 '09, but i'm still working on all the physical stuff like for the cfa and even just the regular pt stuff... i feel confident i can reach the minimums that are posted on the usna website, but it would be great to get another girls' perspective.

thanks!
 
Regular admissions at USNA are gender blind. USNA gets about the percentage of qualified female candidates (~22%) as the percentage of women they want at USNA. So, while they obviously know your gender, there are not a specific number of spots allocated for females nor are admissions decisions broken down on a gender basis -- they just take the best candidates regardless of gender and know that the numbers will fall within the expected male/female ratio. This has been the case for at least the last 7-10 years and maybe even longer.

I would assume the same is true of NASS -- you could expect 20-25% of students to be female.
 
i went to ss #3 in 08
there was only one girl in our squad, and i dont think more than four or five in our platoon
hope that helps.
 
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