AFROTC PFA... requirements?

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone here on the forum can help me with a question I have.

I'm getting ready to take my Physical Fitness Assessment -next week- to complete my Air Force ROTC application.

On the official AFROTC website, it says that there are no minimum requirements for the PFA. I know what the requirements are for the PFT (the test one has to take if awarded a scholarship). I'm operating under the assumption (from what I've read on the forums and other sites) that one has to meet the PFT minimums on the PFA to even have your application looked at.

I'm not worried about the run or the situps, as I've been practicing them. However, I recently learned that I have been doing the pushups completely wrong, and when I attempted to do them the proper way, I found I could hardly do any.

I've been working very hard the last few days to try and improve them, but my question is, what should I do since I can't do even the minimum pushups required for the PFT right now?
Should I take the test? I know it's one of those you don't know unless you try situations, but if there is anyone on here who can give me advice on this problem, I would really, really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Take the test, because if you don't you have no chance of getting a scholarship.

The way the PFA works is the same as the CFA, you must meet ALL mins for each section. Bust one and you bust the test...score 0.

You'd be amazed how if you practice you can get the number up fast. The question is how badly do you want it? Do you do 6 and call a day, or do you do 6, relax for 10 minutes, than do 8 the next time, wait a few hours and do 12, etc. etc.

The other thing to think about is many do the PFA incorrectly. There are max points, and if you surpass them you are just wasting your energy, especially since there are required rest periods. If you are running faster than the max, slow it down to still max, but also so you have more energy for the next phase. Same with situps. It is also about efficiency.

Finally, I hope you have been practicing the entire PFA as it will be performed. In other words, if there is a 2 minute rest period, at the 2 minute period you start the next requirement. If you fail to do it this way 2 things may happen.

1. By taking longer rest periods your scores will be hurt.
2. By taking shorter rest periods your concern may be for naught because you were just too tired to perform correctly.

Get on that PFA, because the bigger issue here is the clock is ticking and the 1st AFROTC board already met. Traditionally they have a cut off date for each board, but it is a First In First Out scenario. Whoever has submitted prior to you will be reviewed before you. The longer you wait, the longer the line in front of you until you find out.

Thank you so much for your help, the advice is really useful. I'm definitely going to use it!


So there are minimum requirements for the PFA? I was just wondering because they weren't listed on the AFROTC website.

I knew there were some for the PFT, but it said there were none for the PFA (the one I'm taking).

They will never list the mins publicly because they want to do everything to ensure that candidates won't game the system.

I would look at the CFA, and go from there.

The PFA and CFA are different, but you can get a gist of what is the max for PFA.

CFA Max:
Run: 5:30 mile
Shuttle: 8 something...I think
Sit Ups: 85
Push Ups: 75
Pull Ups: 18

The time difference allotted is different, and understand that will play into the equation. Longer distant runs will expect longer time, same as longer times for push ups will decrease the ability to perform than shorter times.

One thing I would stress is that the PFT will be given within the 1st week at college. DO NOT stop working out because the PFT score will be a part of tour ROTC packet/profile for future boards like SFT.

Your physical ability to perform will be here to stay for at least the next 4 yrs.

I'd recommend following Pinma's guidance. She's the AFROTC and AF expert around here. That being said, you are technically correct that there are no minimums but it's important to do as well as one possibly can on the test. Here's the exact quote from the AFROTC web site:

There are no minimum requirements for the PFA. However, your performance will be considered by the scholarship selection board as one factor in their "whole person" evaluation of your application.

Click to expand...

It's possible that Pima may be looking at this more from the view of a scholarship holder and not an applicant. I have no idea how stringent they are when assessing scholarship applicants. However, I would certainly do everything humanly possible to get to at least 33 pushups. Do as many as you can, rest a few, do as many as you can, rest a few, until you can't do any more. Do this a few/serveral times each day and you should be able to get up there quickly. If you get to more than 33 so much the better.

Keep in mind I'm not a personal trainer so my advice may be totally worthless but that's essentially how my DS got his pullups up to standards for NROTC MO. I know its only a week away but might a personal trainer be able to help?

Good Luck

The way at least the system worked in yrs past, key word PAST, is they will bust you if you do not meet the requirements on all of the portions.

In other words great on you if you max 18 pull ups, but if your run is not in the allotted time for any cadet regarding PFT, you bust. Just like in ROTC, you bust when you don't meet the mins for ALL categories. You cannot and will not contract even as a recipient until you pass the PFT.

I do not know if you are a male or a female, but Pull-ups/hang time are traditionally the hardest aspect for most. If this is an issue go to Wal-Mart or Dick's Sporting and get a door pull up bar.

This was DS's downfall. We purchased the bar and took advice from an SAF poster. Everytime he entered or exited the room he had to do a min amt of pull ups. It increased every few days. Within a few weeks he was at max. because you'd be amazed how often you enter and exit your bdrm everyday, esp. if you have supporters or tattle tale family members that call you out if you don't do it!

He also had no choice with us, I woke his arse up early in the morning and made him go run 1 1/2 miles before school. At night he did sit ups and push ups with his Dad.

I would have preferred myself to sleep in past 6 a.m., but he wanted this and we told him the minute he quits, we quit. If he skipped a day because it was too cold or rainy outside, I was done waking him up when it meant I got 30 mins more of sleep.

The question really comes back to how bad you want it. I bet 1K bucks your parents will do what we did if you stick to what our DS did.

The other issue here, which is off topic, but why the wait to now to submit?

Did you just learn of the program? Or did you just now get around to it? Are you fearful that you have no chance and delayed for that reason?

These are important because it comes down to motivation.

The fact is you need to apply. Submit the best packet you can. You also need to understand that scholarship recipients ARE the minority, and have no impact on how successful you will be in AFROTC or AF AD.

Best of luck, I am sure you will do great in your future.

Aim High, ABOVE ALL

My daughter's stats

My daughter, who was awarded a Type 7 in December, took her test two weeks after we moved from sea level to high altitude and she absolutely bombed. She would do much better now that she is altitude acclimated and has been practicing for six months. Her other stats were very good, 30 ACT, 3.9 GPA, oodles of leadership and a pilot. I think the fitness test may have knocked her down from a Type 7 to a Type 2, although she (and I) are very grateful for the Type 7.

Here's her stats:

Push ups: 25
Crunches: 43
1.5 Mile Run: 14:10

Good luck.

nsliyalum said:

Thank you so much for your help, the advice is really useful. I'm definitely going to use it!


So there are minimum requirements for the PFA? I was just wondering because they weren't listed on the AFROTC website.

I knew there were some for the PFT, but it said there were none for the PFA (the one I'm taking).

Click to expand...

The PFA is the test you take every semester when you're in ROTC. I'm not sure if there are minimums when applying for USAFA/scholarships. But the one you take when you're in AFROTC does have minimum scores in each category. But simply meeting the minimums won't get you the 75 points needed to pass. Your goal should be reaching the max scores rather than the mins.