Personal Trainer For CFA ??

[runningtowardsjesus]

Hi, everyone! I understand the AFA CFA can be administered by an athletic coach, does this mean my personal trainer is qualified to administer the exam?

 

[OldRetSWO]

I don't know and the only authoritative source would be USAFA itself but I most strongly advise AGAINST even bringing it up. The CFA is not terribly difficult for most reasonably active candidates and one of the things is that it should be an OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT of your fitness. Having someone who you are PAYING is not what I would consider objective. Prospective Military Officers need to get into the mindset of making sure that both actions AND appearances are appropriate.

 

[runningtowardsjesus]

I don't know and the only authoritative source would be USAFA itself but I most strongly advise AGAINST even bringing it up. The CFA is not terribly difficult for most reasonably active candidates and one of the things is that it should be an OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT of your fitness. Having someone who your are PAYING is not what I would consider objective. Prospective Military Officers need to get into the mindset of making sure that both actions AND appearances are appropriate.

This is a great perspective - thank you!

 

[T-37IP]

I believe it specifically lists who can administer the CFA. Coaches, teachers, essentially anyone involved with the school. I don't think, and you would have to be very specific, that a hired, non-school associated trainer would count. Having said that, a personal trainer to help with the shuttle run and basketball throw isn't a terrible idea. My son had a speed coach help him with the shuttle run techniques. (It wasn't planned, just met him at the gym).

 

[TLINAU2230]

It does specify who can administer the CFA, and if you can follow that guidance that is great, but I don't think it's super important. I was homeschooled and didn't have any PE teachers or anything like that to administer it. I knew the athletic director at a small school and asked him to do it for me. There were no problems with that.

 

[runningtowardsjesus]

It does specify who can administer the CFA, and if you can follow that guidance that is great, but I don't think it's super important. I was homeschooled and didn't have any PE teachers or anything like that to administer it. I knew the athletic director at a small school and asked him to do it for me. There were no problems with that.

Same boat I'm in! Homeschooled and not many connections in the area.

 

[unkown1961]

Same boat I'm in! Homeschooled and not many connections in the area.

I'm guessing you do sports in some manner, there must be a club coach, martial arts instructor, running club director, or someone connected to the activity who might be willing to help.

 

[AFmama]

If it’s possible to have someone who has done it before administer it, I would go that route. We asked a qualified individual who had never done it before and there was a learning curve that had me praying for both of them when they went to complete it.

 

[lipton_hot_tea]

For everyone homeschooled your ALO can administer it. Finding a school or community gym that allows a guest during Covid is another story.

 

[palmettoag]

Copy/Pasted from USAFA 2026 Candidate Handbook---

4. Test Administration: The CFA is an important component of the admissions process at each Service Academy and is used to determine if candidates can meet the physical rigors of military life. The test must be administered properly and to specific standards to accurately reflect a candidate’s physical and motor fitness and to be fair to all candidates. The CFA must be administered by a PE-certified teacher, athletic coach, an AFJROTC instructor, service academy liaison officer, a 17 non-family member who is in the military, or another service academy representative (hereafter referred to as the test administrator). Service members may have any active duty commissioned officer or the NCOIC of their base gym administer the CFA. The test must be administered according to the directions with strict adherence to the standards and time schedule. Practice tests are highly encouraged. This will help to familiarize the candidate with the “pace” and stamina required to complete the entire test battery. However, the officially reported score must come from a single test administration.