Tape Test

ameisen_zug

ameisen_zug

Reapplicant
5-Year Member
Joined
Jan 7, 2013
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I'm a female reporting to c/o 2019 in a couple weeks, and I am about 3 pounds below my weight limit after a significant amount of weight loss. I realize I could possibly be over the weight limit on R-Day if they were to round down my height. I had to take the tape test to gain admission and was exactly 30 percent (max allowed for women). I have since then lost about 40 pounds and now am around 25-27 Perce BF on any given day. I'm super nervous (maybe needlessly) to be taped on R-Day. Would they turn me away if I was slightly over on the tape test R-Day?
 
It's possible. This is a touchy subject, but you need to get a handle on your weight. You're too young to be flirting with the weight control limits. It's generally considered poor form for an officer to be taped unless you're a stud with a lot of muscle mass. I doubt they'd throw you out on R Day.

That being said, they will separate you during the academic year for it.
 
My DS has a similar problem. He is 6'1" and currently weighs about 210lbs. His max weight should be 195lbs according to the height/weight chart. He has been working with a personal trainer for the past few months and his body has changed dramatically. He is heavier and stronger now. His trainer is a former Marine who focused on using body weight exercises and building lower body strength (think squats, lunges, mountain climbers, etc...) Although he is heavier than the chart he easily passes the tape test. He is concerned about his weight but said he feels strong and prepared. As a former wrestler he knows about cutting weight and might try to drop a few pounds. As a "big guy" his main concern is pullups. He did 10 on his CFA but the letter said "cadence pullups" which are significantly harder and can get around 4 of those. He should be good to go on marching with a heavy ruck though!
 
tntele said:
My DS has a similar problem. He is 6'1" and currently weighs about 210lbs. His max weight should be 195lbs according to the height/weight chart. He has been working with a personal trainer for the past few months and his body has changed dramatically. He is heavier and stronger now. His trainer is a former Marine who focused on using body weight exercises and building lower body strength (think squats, lunges, mountain climbers, etc...) Although he is heavier than the chart he easily passes the tape test. He is concerned about his weight but said he feels strong and prepared. As a former wrestler he knows about cutting weight and might try to drop a few pounds. As a "big guy" his main concern is pullups. He did 10 on his CFA but the letter said "cadence pullups" which are significantly harder and can get around 4 of those. He should be good to go on marching with a heavy ruck though!
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He will be fine. I don't know if I'd try to cut weight right before R-day if he passes the tape test. R-day can be stressful enough and that's an added stressor.
 
Thanks for the quick reply...my thought is that he will lean up during beast anyway. He is a former baseball catcher and has a catcher butt and legs...I figure that a strong lower body will help him during beast.
 
tntele said:
My DS has a similar problem. He is 6'1" and currently weighs about 210lbs. His max weight should be 195lbs according to the height/weight chart. He has been working with a personal trainer for the past few months and his body has changed dramatically. He is heavier and stronger now. His trainer is a former Marine who focused on using body weight exercises and building lower body strength (think squats, lunges, mountain climbers, etc...) Although he is heavier than the chart he easily passes the tape test. He is concerned about his weight but said he feels strong and prepared. As a former wrestler he knows about cutting weight and might try to drop a few pounds. As a "big guy" his main concern is pullups. He did 10 on his CFA but the letter said "cadence pullups" which are significantly harder and can get around 4 of those. He should be good to go on marching with a heavy ruck though!
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He should really try for at least 6 pull-ups which shouldn't be too hard if he practices the rest of the week. 3 is the minimum so be cautious.
 
You can find details if you google it but in a nutshell it's measuring the circumference of one's neck and abdomen and using that along with height and weight to determine fat content.
 
The use of the tape test is a debated topic. Many say it is a very ineffective way to test for fitness and body fat. My DS is 6-1, 220 lbs. Tntlee, he also feels his size hampers pull ups. Longer arms means further to pull all that mass. Also, his bone structure is against him. They measure according to their own guidelines and that means they measure right at the biggest part of his hip bone structure. They have shown him ways to try and make his neck muscles stand out stronger because this affects their outcome on the measurements. Getting taped is always a stressful time for him but he does not want to give up the strength training, something he has been doing since he was in the ninth grade. So, Ameisen, I would advise get your weight down if at all possible so you don't have to keep going through the tape test
 
WP uses Flickr files to post pictures of events throughout the year -- R-Day, A-Day, etc. I saw a picture yesterday of a male new cadet who, to put it nicely, had a bit of a gut. My assumption is that he's a football player. But just looking at his size, my guess is he's going to have some obstacles with the tape test, timed runs, pullups?, eventually Mil Movement.
 
ca2midwestmom said:
WP uses Flickr files to post pictures of events throughout the year -- R-Day, A-Day, etc. I saw a picture yesterday of a male new cadet who, to put it nicely, had a bit of a gut. My assumption is that he's a football player. But just looking at his size, my guess is he's going to have some obstacles with the tape test, timed runs, pullups?, eventually Mil Movement.
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On the USAFA Official Facebook page, I saw a at least 4 pretty fat basics showing up to the USAFA I-day. They weren't football players. It amazes me that candidates show up that out of shape.
 
Just got back from R-Day...I was surprised by the different sizes I saw...I saw one guy who couldn't have been taller than 5'0" and another one that was at least 6'10"...I also saw several people who were drastically overweight...interested mix...
 
The range in height didn't surprise me but the range in weight did. I was stunned to see some that were quite overweight. I didn't think that was an option. Ever.
 
bookreader said:
The range in height didn't surprise me but the range in weight did. I was stunned to see some that were quite overweight. I didn't think that was an option. Ever.
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Time will tell. I strongly believe that regardless how some of the new cadets might appear, they all can graduate. Some will have to work harder that others. One of my roommates at West Point did not look like what a new cadet should looked (I guess fit and trim) when we started, but he lost a lot of weight, graduated, had a successful Army career and still serving.
 
We caught a glimpse of VelveteenCadet crossing the street with his group (pre-haircut, thank heaven) on R-Day and I, too, was surprised at the range of forms. I felt so sorry for one very tiny girl who wasn't much bigger than the pack on her back. She was trying so hard not to fall backward and would have done so if she were standing up straight. It would have been comical under any other circumstances. But I was also surprised by the amount of visible weight on some of the new cadets as, like bookreader, I didn't think that was allowed. I think Beast will take care of some of those issues, though.
 
At the halfway point of Beast, here is what my new cadet says:
  1. Did 6 pullups on R-day but was given credit for 0...the instructor said his form was wrong
  2. Did 50 pushups on his first APFT but was given credit for only 18...again his form was wrong
  3. Wished he had spent more time running prior to R-day
My DS reported at 6'1" and 210lbs...over the weight but easily passed the tape test. With the exception of the football players (80 recruited athletes in Class of 2019) he is the biggest in his company. He hasn't weighed but estimates that he has lost about 20lbs. Feels great and is working w/ the instructors to correct his form on pushups.

He was unaware (as was I) that there is a video somewhere on the internet that goes over the proper pullup and pushup technique...for any aspiring applicants please watch it as my DS did not...on pullups he cleared the bar but apparently did not go up quite high enough and for pushups his arms were at an incorrect angle and spread too far apart. He has long arms (37") but that is no excuse.

Just some thoughts from my now NC.
 
tntele said:
He was unaware (as was I) that there is a video somewhere on the internet that goes over the proper pullup and pushup technique...for any aspiring applicants please watch it as my DS did not...on pullups he cleared the bar but apparently did not go up quite high enough and for pushups his arms were at an incorrect angle and spread too far apart. He has long arms (37") but that is no excuse.
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This could be a significant problem going forward, if fitness is a struggle now. Son, a 2014 grad, has explained that he is expected to be in better shape than any of the soldiers in his platoon. Son of friend in USMA 2012 was separated two weeks before graduation for being 1% over permitted BMI. And the food at USMA doesn't help; they've complained about few fresh fruits and vegetables, lots of starch.
 
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