Class of 2016-Mailbox Stalkers Club

So let me get this right....on the portals for our DS and DD it acturally says it that they failed the CFA?
 
DS's problem was the pull-ups. He was able to do only 8. If the average is 12, then he was fairly low. I guess this year, because of how competitive it's been, and because of a lower number of appointments, they just aren't going to be opening the portals. Personally I don't believe this to be a good idea, not sour grapes, just an observation.

Timing for DS to get his CFA done insured that, because of Football, his body build would not be conducive to a great score on the pull-ups, his other scores were average, although he did max his push-ups. I can understand the need for cadets cardiovascular systems to be very good, and DS's cardio is fine. But this year, without an opportunity to re-do, it kinda ensures that the big guys, both wrestlers and football lineman, have less of a chance than some others. I'm sure recruited athletes are looked at differently. I wonder though if any of the SA's recruit for linemen, usually it seems the excitement in recruiting is for 'backs.

Some of you long-term forum folks might chime in on this...I have understood from gathering info from previous years that it is good to get the app done ASAP. But perhaps, for those that are struggling with the CFA because of sports participation, it may be best to wait to submit until they can best address the areas they know they're going to struggle with. I know that DS's coach had him on an exercise and diet regimen that made him thick with muscle where it needed to be for football, but it sure wasn't helpful for the pull-ups. He was also average on his scores for the mile, and shuttle.

I'm hoping that this will encourage many of you, his pull-ups were low. My guess is that if you have hit pretty close to the averages on ALL the events, you're fine.
 
A failing score = not meeting the min in any ONE portion of the CFA.
As stated mins are never released.

A BB throw of 45 for a guy MAY be a fail. Nobody knows.

AFA really cares about the CFA because they are the SA that has alt. level issues, but yet the cadets must meet the physical requirements set forth by the AF.

AFA in yrs past would re-open the CFA for candidates that they thought were competitive. Candidates cannot request a re-do after submission.

Hindsight for this yr., I can't recall any thread where a poster stated the AFA wants me to re-do my CFA. LY there were several. It always freaked the candidate out, but their nerves were calmed because, as I stated, only the AFA can open that portal, candidates do not have that ability.


For 17's take heed here. Don't rush the CFA to make the 1st board or for nom purposes.

~ Noms don't look at CFA.
~~ No nom can be charged to the MOC until ALL noms have a WCS.

~ Pull Ups are usually the killer
~~ Forum is always littered with this...typical answer is:
Purchase a Pull Up bar for your BDRM door frame.
~~~~ Everytime you enter or exit the room do X amt. Increase the amt every few days. Trust me you will be amazed how often you enter and exit your room every day. Within weeks you will be close to maxing.

~ Running
~~ Run in every type of weather. Every yr there is a poster or two who will say it was raining, or hot, or whatever. You will run in all types of weather. Train in every type.

~ CFA has exact regulations regarding form and down time between events
~~ Practice to the tee using their regs. If it is a 2 min. rest, than it is 2 mins., not 2:30 mins.


Aim for the Max. Goal is an apptmt. it is not 1st appointed. Do not submit the CFA until you can say I can't do anymore even if I have another month of training.

Xposted with profsparrow.

As a parent that had their child's CFA portal re-opened in Dec, I will reiterate what they told us. Take the time, the score matters, don't rush it because he has noms, and the AFA won't close his file until the 1st of March.

We didn't have a clue to the process and felt pressure to get the package in at the earliest date, had nom by Oct.1. He was fortunate because for his yr group they did re-open. We were not informed where he was lacking, but looking at MAX scores we knew it was pull ups. His final for pull ups was 13, Max was 18.

Due to this issue, I have always been a proponent of MAX the CFA, if that means not submitting until Jan. so be it. The goal is an apptmt.!
 
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jagabiti said:
So let me get this right....on the portals for our DS and DD it acturally says it that they failed the CFA?
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It doesn't say on the portal. The portal said under Application; "Complete, but disqualified for administrative reasons." HE then called his ALO and we contacted his USAFA admissions counselor. The admissions counselor told us it was due to the CFA.
 
I did pretty well on the CFA, maxed out/near maxed a few things except for the mile, which I did pretty bad on... a 6:52. Seeing how I was below the average, which is a 6:36 I would be technically disqualified by not being 16 seconds faster. BUT, since my CFA was taken at 9,600 feet (2,300 feet higher than USAFA) I think the review board let it pass.... from what I think....
 
Pima said:
Traditionally, Thursday through Sat. are Snoopy Mailbox days.

Some will get it on Monday, but the bulk is Friday and Sat. You may live xcountry, but when you get it is more about the USPS.

If it was me I wouldn't be hanging by the mailbox today, Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.
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DS received BFA on Feb 7, which was on a Tuesday. The envelope was postmarked Monday Feb 6. We live 70 miles from the Academy. Past conversations with Academy councelors make me believe that the boards have made their selections and a mass mailing is imminent.
 
So this thing with the CFA disqualifying you...

I took the CFA this past summer and did above average on everything except the mile which I basically bombed due to being sick. I first had it sent to the Naval Academy, so I asked my counselor there if I needed to redo it, and he said I had "passed." I assumed this meant I also passed for the Air Force Academy, so I had it sent there and didn't even think twice about it.

I received an appointment to the Naval Academy two months ago, so I figured I was in decent standing for USAFA. Does this CFA thing mean there is nothing I can do and no chance I can get an appointment to the Air Force Academy?

Any info on the subject would be great!
 
There is nothing anybody can do about the CFA now (unless asked by AFA). Being below the average isn't going to necessarily disqualify you. Approximately 1/2 of the class is below the average if one assumes the CFA scores are distributed normally.
Class of 2016 nothing you can do so don't worry.
Class of 2017 let this motivate you.
 
skydivingkittens said:
I did pretty well on the CFA, maxed out/near maxed a few things except for the mile, which I did pretty bad on... a 6:52. Seeing how I was below the average, which is a 6:36 I would be technically disqualified by not being 16 seconds faster. BUT, since my CFA was taken at 9,600 feet (2,300 feet higher than USAFA) I think the review board let it pass.... from what I think....
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Just my opinion, but if you maxed everything else, your mile really isn't bad. Provided the rest of your WCS is good, I wouldn't worry too much about your CFA. Also, I'd guess that if you haven't been DQ'd by now for CFA, you probably won't be. Especially since it's "down to the wire" by now and most DQ's have probably already been done. I'd expect a lot of BFE's will go out this and next week. I know it's easy to say don't stress about it. Most of you know if the CFA score was a concern, we did. If it was a concern BUT, your portal hasn't changed by now my guess would be that it won't. GOOD LUCK!
 
What about height/weight standards?

profsparrow said:
Just my opinion, but if you maxed everything else, your mile really isn't bad. Provided the rest of your WCS is good, I wouldn't worry too much about your CFA. Also, I'd guess that if you haven't been DQ'd by now for CFA, you probably won't be. Especially since it's "down to the wire" by now and most DQ's have probably already been done. I'd expect a lot of BFE's will go out this and next week. I know it's easy to say don't stress about it. Most of you know if the CFA score was a concern, we did. If it was a concern BUT, your portal hasn't changed by now my guess would be that it won't. GOOD LUCK!
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That's part of the CFA too. And the SAs are sticklers about it. If a linebacker is 20 lbs over the weight limit for his height, it looks bad on paper, even though he's an athlete and isn't fat. Could the height/weight issue have been a part of the CFA DQ also? Just wondered. Thanks.
 
YorkieMom75 said:
That's part of the CFA too. And the SAs are sticklers about it. If a linebacker is 20 lbs over the weight limit for his height, it looks bad on paper, even though he's an athlete and isn't fat. Could the height/weight issue have been a part of the CFA DQ also? Just wondered. Thanks.
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He had to get a waiver for his weight and have a body-fat determination completed. But according to his counselor it was the CFA that was the issue. I understand that the reason the CFA is so important is because of the altitude at the Academy. So that is really the underlying issue.
 
Stalked app portal.....no change. SMNE........

I'm on pins and needles waiting for the phone to ring. I'm considering bubble wrapping myself for the trips to the mailbox the next few days.
 
Unless things have changed the answer is NO yorkie.

DS is 5'10 and 147 lbs, male. The weight issue is not a CFA issue, it is more a DoDMERB issue.

DS has been taped 2X a yr every yr for 4 yrs.

Prof,

Every poster that spent anytime in the AD world would say many times it is all about timing. Enter one yr earlier or later life could be different.

Let me use Bullet as an example.

He entered as an AFROTC cadet, extended graduation/commission date by 6 months from the original date. FF to 92. Had he actually commissioned in 86, not 87, he would have been RIF'd. That yr group was 95% for ROTC commissions. FF to 98, O4 selection was 80%, but in 97 it was 60%.

My point is, sometimes it is really about being at the right place at the right time. He did his best, but in the end of the day it was about timing.

Bless him. Bless your family. Thank all of you in your family for stepping up to the plate, so my HS SR and college DD didn't have too! God speed, may the road always rise up to meet you and keep you safe!
 
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Thanks

Thanks profsparrow and Pima. I just wanted to know. No offense to anyone. Sorry if it sounded wrong. Just having a mini-panic attack right now, checking DSs portal every 5 min.

:redface:
 
To add a little humor...USAFA beat USNA last year. My DS is going to USNA IN June. I guess USNA will be getting some of the bigger guys this year. BEWARE FALCONS! FEAR THE GOATS! :sofa:
 
Y'all I'm having issues with all this news too... Stalked portal via phone... (Which is hard to do) Nothing has changed - phew.

I'm a phone/email/voicemail/portal/mailbox stalker - does that make me a quintuple threat? If so... I rock that title good! Haha and this is after I've calmed down CONSIDERABLY (after AFTOTC good news)!!!
 
Will not swear by it, but I believe the portal update is similar to the mailing. In other words, you can check every hour 7 days a week, but it updates portals only 1X or 2X a week at a certain time.
 
Pima said:
Boards meet on Monday, letters starting going out on Wednesday.

As far as how it works, it is the FIFO way ...First In First Out.
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DD heard from 2 different sources at USAFA last week and this week that the board is meeting on Wednesday and did not meet last week at all for some reason. I realize that everyone has different information, and I thought really hard about whether I should post what I know given that others have consistently said that the boards meet Monday...but everyone has been really generous with what they know and I figure it's all hearsay anyway until the decisions are made...so take it for what it's worth.
 
How do the boards work? Havent they been running since october or so? Any info is appreciated.
 
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