VFT VMI

bjkuds

5-Year Member
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Oct 25, 2010
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Question DS failed his most recent VFT. Actually he has never passed the pull up part. This semester he is dealing with the Rat Line and adjusting to college classes and is doing okay all around. I asked him if he had time to hit the gym to work on pull ups regularly and he said "not with as much studying as I have to do"..He assured me that he is working on them but can't find the time to regularly go to the gym. His scores have consistently improved on the VFT but if you don't pass every individual category it doesn't matter if you ace the other requirements. His NROTC PT in much easier because pull ups aren't part of it and he does great there. Does this affect his GPA? What is the downside to not doing well on the VFT? He said that he is not alone in the category of not passing. I have drilled into his head that GRADES FIRST, and that is where he is putting his greatest effort, so I don't want to nag him because he is handling things correctly.
 
Is it primarily pullups that he's struggling with? If so, how many can he do right now?

If he can do at least two, he can begin doing max rep workouts several times a day without even having to worry about the gym. There are several sets of pullup bars (2-3) per stoop, so any time he strains by a pullup bar, he can hop up and crank out 2-3. Doing this consistently will lead to relatively quick improvement, but it really only works quickly if he can already do at least two. This would actually make for an awesome 5 min break for every hour of studying.

If he can't do any pullups, it will take a lot more time. He can either get one of his BRs to go out to the stoop pullup bars and spot him for assisted pullups or negatives (start with a flexed arm hang and then lower yourself as slowly as you can), or he can try to fit gym time in once stuff begins settling down a bit.

He'll get in shape. Between Rat Challenge (or NCAA team practice), PT with ROTC, and general Ratline stuff, the running and the situps will fall into place. Pullups take a little more creativity.

Is this the diagnostic VFT he took during Matriculation Week, or has he taken the VFT again since then?

Jackie M. Briski '09
First Class PVT (Ret.)
 
Is it primarily pullups that he's struggling with? If so, how many can he do right now?

none. He can do 5-8 with just a little wider grip but that is not extending fully either. He is great on the sit ups and the run is an easy pass by several minutes now. He is skinny and his upper body strength is just not there when it comes to that exercise. He had no problems with Rat challenge except climbing the rope. This was his second test since Matriculation. He just took it yesterday. He has dropped a lot of weight already and he matriculated with a 28 inch waist and he is just shy of 6ft so he isn't overweight at all.
 
As for the VFT affecting academics, it won't affect his GPA at all until he starts taking PE courses. It used to be that eight (.5 credit) PE courses were required for graduation--one per semester. A few years back they reduced it to seven courses, so rats don't take PE their first semester.

Once he starts taking PE classes (next semester), the VFT will be 25% of his grade. They'll also look at his spring semester VFT score if he applies for rank for his Third Class year. If he can't pass the VFT by then, they'll probably assign him to the Remedial PT program, which is designed to help him improve to the point where he can pass it.
 
As for the VFT affecting academics, it won't affect his GPA at all until he starts taking PE courses. It used to be that eight (.5 credit) PE courses were required for graduation--one per semester. A few years back they reduced it to seven courses, so rats don't take PE their first semester.

Once he starts taking PE classes (next semester), the VFT will be 25% of his grade. They'll also look at his spring semester VFT score if he applies for rank for his Third Class year. If he can't pass the VFT by then, they'll probably assign him to the Remedial PT program, which is designed to help him improve to the point where he can pass it.

That is good to know. Thank you :thumb:
 
As for the VFT affecting academics, it won't affect his GPA at all until he starts taking PE courses. It used to be that eight (.5 credit) PE courses were required for graduation--one per semester. A few years back they reduced it to seven courses, so rats don't take PE their first semester.

What!!!!! :thumbdown:

I had "Rat Beating" during Fall Semester of Rat year and it was horrible. I remember having to go to a foreign language lab after several of those classes with my head spinning around. The stupid bouts were graded on ability, and if you couldn't box, you got horrible grades. It was nothing like PE in high school (where you got an "A" for putting on your gym uniform). Also, in those days, if you failed any portion of the VFT, you got a 0 for 25% of your total PE grade (which, in passing the test, saved my grade a couple of times). Oh, I hated taking all those PE classes.
 
What!!!!! :thumbdown:

I had "Rat Beating" during Fall Semester of Rat year and it was horrible. I remember having to go to a foreign language lab after several of those classes with my head spinning around. The stupid bouts were graded on ability, and if you couldn't box, you got horrible grades. It was nothing like PE in high school (where you got an "A" for putting on your gym uniform). Also, in those days, if you failed any portion of the VFT, you got a 0 for 25% of your total PE grade (which, in passing the test, saved my grade a couple of times). Oh, I hated taking all those PE classes.

Yep- back in the olden days: Rats had "Beating and bleeding" and "groping" (wrestling) one semester and swimming the next. They still have Boxing and wrestling- just not first semester. ( I actuially liked boxing and did it as a club sport for a year. That lasted till I wound up boxing in a "smoker" in Korea at which some PFC smoked me in the longest 3 rounds of my life- stopped being fun after that. I dunno whether swimming is mandatory anymore- it should be. I wound up taking a lifesaving course for one of my PE requirements- most useful PE course I ever took anywhere- and it ought to be mandatory. If you can't swim strongly and stay afloat in an emergency for a relatively long period of time- you are a liability anytime you are around water.

As far as the VFT- bjk: he's gotta pass it and you can improve your pullups a lot- but you have to work at it. It's the one event that you can't just show up and gut thru- but pullups- if you can't lift yourself up that bar- you can't so you have to work on it. It's not something for parents to worry about though- his BRs and dyke should be able to help get him pointed in the right direction and the PE department surely can help if he goes and asks for it.
 
Yep- back in the olden days: Rats had "Beating and bleeding" and "groping" (wrestling) one semester and swimming the next. They still have Boxing and wrestling- just not first semester. ( I actuially liked boxing and did it as a club sport for a year. That lasted till I wound up boxing in a "smoker" in Korea at which some PFC smoked me in the longest 3 rounds of my life- stopped being fun after that. I dunno whether swimming is mandatory anymore- it should be. I wound up taking a lifesaving course for one of my PE requirements- most useful PE course I ever took anywhere- and it ought to be mandatory. If you can't swim strongly and stay afloat in an emergency for a relatively long period of time- you are a liability anytime you are around water.

As far as the VFT- bjk: he's gotta pass it and you can improve your pullups a lot- but you have to work at it. It's the one event that you can't just show up and gut thru- but pullups- if you can't lift yourself up that bar- you can't so you have to work on it. It's not something for parents to worry about though- his BRs and dyke should be able to help get him pointed in the right direction and the PE department surely can help if he goes and asks for it.


In the 90s, Rats had "Rat Beating" one semester and "Rat Drowning" the other. I MUCH preferred swimming to boxing. I'm a swimmer, not a fighter...:shake:

Wrestling was still required, but you took it as an upperclassman (typically as a Third). It wasn't my favorite, but not as bad as boxing.
 
Just so so guys can sleep better the "Rat Beatings" and "Rat drownings" still exist. Just the next couple of semesters, as well as wrestling . They still do "some" things the old (right) way so rest easy:yllol: Thanks for the info everyone.
 
If I recall correctly, there are five standard PE classes and two electives. In order to graduate, you have to take swimming, boxing, wrestling, principles of physical conditioning, and drug & alcohol awareness. I took CPR, volleyball, and weight training for my electives.

It's possible that they did away with the requirement for drug & alcohol awareness, making it four directed courses and three electives.

By the way, most of the stuff I shared on the Getting in shape thread is stuff I learned in the principles of physical conditioning class. :thumb:

-jmb-
 
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