AROTC Fitness Question

usma5627

5-Year Member
Joined
Feb 6, 2013
Messages
22
Hello,
I just have a question regarding the AROTC scholarship fitness test. I was wondering if my scores are too low to qualify for a scholarship. I am already maximum qualified academically as I have a 3.76 un-weighted GPA and a 31 ACT score. I was just wondering if 50 push-ups (1 min) 50 sit-ups (1 min) and a 7:00 min mile are good enough for physical qualification. If it makes a difference I'm a junior so I still have time to train if the scores are too low. Also, I'm 6 feet tall and 225 pounds. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.
 
Hello,
I just have a question regarding the AROTC scholarship fitness test. I was wondering if my scores are too low to qualify for a scholarship. I am already maximum qualified academically as I have a 3.76 un-weighted GPA and a 31 ACT score. I was just wondering if 50 push-ups (1 min) 50 sit-ups (1 min) and a 7:00 min mile are good enough for physical qualification. If it makes a difference I'm a junior so I still have time to train if the scores are too low. Also, I'm 6 feet tall and 225 pounds. Thanks in advance for any advice you can give.

I just received an AROTC scholarship from this round. I didn't apply to a SA so all I took was the entry PFT's. I got 56 PU 49 SU and a 7:14. In terms of academics I had similar 3.7 UW and 2200 SAT. I also had no sports after freshman year. I might have certainly gotten lucky, but by no means do your scores disqualify you. HoweverIf you're 6 Ft even and 225 you are over H/W standards. I know that for 6'2" it is 211 max but you can easily get the full tables through google.
 
Your PT numbers look reasonable enough, but you are a good 35 lbs too heavy. You need to drop the El Bee's.
 
Well I am 6 fr, 175 lbs and I did a 6:40 mile, 30 pushups, 60 sit-ups. I also had a 29 ACT and a 3.2 GPA (my school transfers GPAs weirdly, my actual GPA is a 3.8). I made the first board and got a four year scholarship.

You seem in good shape for a scholarship! The only thing you didn't mention is your extra curriculars/leadership which matter a lot! (I had 4 sports, a job, JROTC, CAP, etc). My advice:

-work on PT since you have time!
-don't let back on your classes!
-if you have time, do more extra curriculars or leadership!
-tour the colleges you are looking into (call their ROTC battalions)

Good luck!
 
Won a 4 year with: 54 push ups, 56 sit ups, and a 6:34 mile. Your scores are fine, just practice and lose that weight! Eat clean.
 
What about body fat measurements. I am only at 17-18 percent body fat? I lift weights everyday and I would hat eto have to lose all of my muscle. Do they not look at body fat percentage.
 
Also, I am in NHS, Class VP, Mentoring Program, Big Brother Program, History Bowl, Leadership Club, I also play three sports year round for the past 3 years which include Shotput, Javelin, Discus, Lacrosse and Football. I was also Varisty team captain this year and JV team captain for lacrosse and football if that clears up my ec's and athletics.
 
What about body fat measurements. I am only at 17-18 percent body fat? I lift weights everyday and I would hat eto have to lose all of my muscle. Do they not look at body fat percentage.

ROTC h/w is regardless of body fat composition, or at least I have been lead to believe so. Try the paleo diet. It sucks but it works. And I don't think it is a zero sum game. Switching to more cardio and less strength training could allow you to lose alot of weight without losing "all of your muscle".
 
ROTC h/w is regardless of body fat composition, or at least I have been lead to believe so. Try the paleo diet. It sucks but it works. And I don't think it is a zero sum game. Switching to more cardio and less strength training could allow you to lose alot of weight without losing "all of your muscle".

This is not correct.

You will find that there will be several cadets in the Battalion that are over the stated Ht/Wt standards.

These cadets are given a Tape Test to measure body fat, the majority pass the Tape Test depending on how they carry the weight.

There are cadets that have an athletic build, a lot of female cadets fall into this category. A lot of Football players that join ROTC find they need to take the Tape Test.
 
I was thinking something was up with that. I have a 38 inch abdomen measurement and an 18 inch neck, which is actually 19% but I think that is even under active duty requirements.
 
What about body fat measurements. I am only at 17-18 percent body fat? I lift weights everyday and I would hat eto have to lose all of my muscle. Do they not look at body fat percentage.

At 35 lbs over max, you had better be shredded, or you will be considered fat. You are allowed to be 20% body fat at your age. They measure it with the "tape test". The tape test is a method of determining body fat via the ratio between your neck and abdomen (at the navel). It is only slightly more accurate than having a 7th grader just guess your body fat percentage. (I should know, I was Clydesdale of a soldier myself!)

Here's a secret... Even if you consistently make the tape, thin officers still consider you fat... and that matters to your career. My advice... don't worry about the big guns, drop the pounds. You'll be far better of as a tall, thinner, lean soldier. If you can develop a great six pack and still weigh 225, you'll be able to get away with it.
 
Thank you for the advice, I am just now coming off of an ankle injury and will be able to start running regularly in two weeks (right now my doc doesn't want me doing anything more than 10 minutes of running). I will definitely start losing some weight once I start running regularly (I'd like to lose 20 pounds and get down to 205-210, I am also already on a diet and consume about a 1000-1200 calories a day). Also, all of the sheets I have seen say that you can be 24% to enter. Does that not apply to ROTC because even though I have time 19% is cutting close to 20%. Side note, how do my athletics and ec's look?
 
Your academic stats and ECs are fine. As it's still early in your junior year, you'll probably improve on your ACTs. You may want to try the SATs as well.

Unless you're concerned about your relative inactivity due to your injury, I'm not sure why you're on a 1,000 calorie near-starvation diet. Just eat nutritious meals, stay away from the pizza, fries and milkshakes, and you'll be good.

Regarding your weight, it looks like you may have a big frame. Even so, once you're done with football next year, you'll have plenty of time to unbulk yourself. Good luck.
 
Second the notion that a 1000 calorie diet for a high school junior who is an athlete is probably not a great idea. I am not a doctor or nutrition expert by any means, but recommend, if your parents have the ability, you visit your family doctor or a nutritionist. They can guide you onto an appropriate diet for your age and lifestyle. I also agree, that tape tests are as accurate as a grade school kid picking a random number, but it is the method they use. So know it and understand the regs and ensure you are within them. Lots of people get taped, but make sure you are under them.
 
I third the notion that going on a 1000 caloric diet for your age is not a good path.

If you do not learn how to maintain your weight, without doing the extreme diet and workouts that can translate into a permanent diet every semester right before weigh ins.

Our DS1 was a contracted cadet and taped every semester, but for the opposite reason, too thin. The weight issue will not go away when you are in ROTC. It also will be a factor when you go AD at your annual physical. Trust me, every parent here can attest the weight will slowly creep on over the course of a year even in your twenties.

If you don't learn how to adjust your weight now, it will be that much harder next yr. When you are not playing FB.
~~~DS2 was an FB player 6'3, 240 lbs. His body shape and metabolism changed his freshmen year when he was not playing FB anymore. He had to change his eating habits because college food can put on the freshmen 15 very quickly. I.E. ordering in pizza at midnight is uncommon living at home with the folks, not so much in the college dorms on a Friday night. Eating salad and veggies for dinner because Mom made it not so uncommon, choosing that over a cheeseburger and fries uncommon.
 
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ht/wt

A quick BMI calculation of your stats lists you as obese. But then again, using the same calculation most of the defensive backs in the NFL are also obese (and we know this not to be the case). You may want to spend the money and get a scale that calculates your weight and body fat percentage, or go to a trainer/nutritionist and have an actually body fat analysis done. If you come in lean mean and muscular, my guess is you'll pass the tape test, but on the other hand, if you're just a bulky dude (I'm speaking from experience nearly same ht/wt but MUCH older) you're going to need to make some changes.

Everyone focuses first on exercise when they talk about weight loss...fact is, I can eat something in 45 seconds that would take 45 minutes to burn off. Weight loss is ultimately deficit spending...burn more calories than consumed=weight loss. Understand that all calories are not created equal, two oreos contain 90 calories and will leave most people with a desire to eat more. They're chemically engineered that way. Two cups of broccoli has 108 calories and if you eat that much, coupled with a lean protein turkey, chicken, fish etc. you'll be less hungry.

I agree with other posters that severe diets for young athletic males can be dangerous for many reasons. Consider Jack LaLaine's advice when it came to nutrition "if man makes it don't eat it."
 
My son is similar in size (5'11" - 215lbs) and had to do a body fat worksheet for USAFA. He is down almost 20lbs. since football and his first tape test. He lost 3" on his waist but he still has an 18" neck. Course, he has a 26" circumference head to hold up so that is probably a good thing. ;)

He is built like a tank and will always have to be taped I am sure. He plans on getting down to 200lbs. by June. He is a wrestler and does weightlifting gym every other day. There is a lot more running in his future! He also finds just eating less of his normal diet works pretty well for his weight loss.

Good luck!
 
navymom,

I agree a lot of taping will be in his future. Bullet is 5'11" and I would say taping was part of his annual physical whenever he was near the 200 marker.

I will say for Bullet, the diet of his choice is South Beach with his own variation.
 
Word to the wise... Being heavy in the military is a LOT of work. I trained for then ran a marathon... and a later the same month, still had to tape test to make the standard! PIMA is right... It didn't get easier as I got older.
 
Well, if DS gets down to 193lbs, he'll only have about 3% body fat. He's just thick. But I would guess that some of those strong thick guys would be appreciated on the battlefield too.
 
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