Accepted for 4 year AROTC...PT test fail?

[rotcapplicant]

Hello everybody, I have been accepted for a 4 year AROTC scholarship at a private college of my choice. Once upon campus, I am to take the APFT, as are all the cadets, to receive my scholarship benefits.

One problem is I recently feel I am getting heel pain which I think is plantar fascitiis and achilles tendonitis...on both feet. The pain started 3 weeks ago when I stepped up my running preparation program a little too fast which coincided with spring break...where I was on my feet contiunally without rest. This caused a lot of stress on my legs and feet, which is probably why I got these setbacks/injuries.

However, I started stretching, resting, and got proper arch support insoles to help relieve the pain and improve the condition. I feel it is going away slowly, however, not fast enough. Running hurts, and I've been told by my school trainer that I should not keep running and increasing mileage.


This leads me to the question : What will happen if I can't pass the running portion of the APFT for this reason? I am able to do ~70 situps in 2 minutes, and ~60 pushups in 2 minutes. I ran a 6 minute mile 3 months ago for the presidential fitness test, but not anymore due to the pain. Can I provide them with a note or something if I go to a doctor? Will they understand? Can I max out on pushups/situps and offset my very low running score?

Thanks for all the help and wish me luck.

 

[rotcapplicant]

anyone???

 

[Just_A_Mom]

You need to pass the APFT for your scholarship to be paid. They give you into the fall but if you fail it then you are responsible for the tuition.

Perhaps it's time to seek medical care and get some treatment.

 

[live4ever]

Sorry you got so little feed back.
Was just talking to my daughter, she will be an MS2 at AU. First thing you must do is contact your PMS. Policies change from schools to schools. Some let you contract first, some won't let you contract until you pass your PT test. You def. do not loose your scholarship right away, you get more than one chance to pass the PT test. However you will not get your stipend until you pass the test. She told me that you def need to see a doctor and get a note detailing what you have and how soon you can resume physical training.
Hope this help!

 

[singaporemom]

Remember that you do not take the test until the fall. You have a few months to recover. If you can swim between now and then you will keep the aerobics up and should pass. You do get a couple of tries. My son missed situps by ONE...his unit offered the test every week until they all passed.

 

[rotcapplicant]

haha, by one? That is pretty unbelievable. I am in pretty good shape but my injuries in my lower body hurt like hell. I am able to do ~50 pushups...55 situps. however I did not even try running the 2 miles since I am in pretty bad condition with my feet. Swimming helped, and I need to keep doing my stretches, icing, and strengthening.

Thanks for the post

 

[goaliedad]

A couple more thoughts regarding your situation...

Shoes...

If you are doing running as training, your shoes should be top quality and be replaced every 2 months as even great shoes wear out quickly under intense pounding. By the time you are feeling pain in your feet the damage is already done. A reputable running store will have a professional (not the kids who work Foot Locker) who will be able to watch you walk on a treadmill (they will often video the test) in various shoes to see which make of shoes give you the best mechanics. They also know foot shapes and shoe manufacturers products and will be able to quickly identify good candidate shoes.

Training while not running....

In addition to swimming, I recommend spinning (exercise bike with weighted wheel) and if you can tolerate it elipitical (when you are getting closer to healed). I mention this because you will want to work your way back to motions closer to running to get you legs more used to the use that you will be doing when you are running.

Plus, the variety of exercise will break up the tedium.