CFA concern/question

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runjoeyrun

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Nov 21, 2017
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I'm a female candidate at USNA, and after searching this site for weeks, I can't find anyone answering one of the specific questions I have. (If it has been answered somewhere else, please link me to the thread.) I took my CFA in late September and submitted it to USNA. I was relatively pleased with my other scores, but my concern lies in the flexed arm hang and the run. I wasn't expecting to be so tired after everything, and my body fatigued very quickly.

BB: 50 ft
Hang: 18.9 sec
Shuttle: 10.2 sec
Situps: 66
Pushups: 40
Mile: 9:20

Since submitting this score, I haven't heard anything back from USNA. I submitted a score to USAFA this last week because I needed to meet my deadline, but the weather was a lot worse and I had a pretty bad cold (although that isn't much of an excuse for a mile that bad), and here were my scores.

BB: 52 ft
Hang: 20 sec
Shuttle: 10 sec
Situps: 68
Pushups: 37
Mile: 9:52

USAFA responded the next morning informing me that I had failed and had until Dec. 12 to retake the CFA. I plan on retaking then and sending to USNA as well, and am currently training everyday by doing a mixture of quarter mile sprints and 2-4 mile runs, but while I can run an 8:10-8:30 mile at home, I can't seem to break 9 on the CFA. I've been working on a pull-up also, and I'm very close.

My question is two-fold. First, is the fact that Navy hasn't contacted me with a failure a good thing? A midshipman I met with mentioned it probably is, but he was one of those who had passed his on the first try. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to settle with what I already have, I'm working hard to ensure success this next time around, but the more I know about the process the better. Second, what can I be doing to further increase my scores in the next 3 weeks? I've been told by my BGO and my region's coordinator that the CFA is the largest thing in my way, and I need to kill it this next time around.

Thank you.
 
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I'm curious to know the answer to your question too... especially your 1st question...are your USNA CFA scores passing (the ones from the top of your post)?
Good luck to you!
 
With a 6-minute mile being the maximum (USNA) score, I would think that the issue here is your mile time.
One thing you can be sure of - is a lot of running - at the Academy.
 
USNA lets you know if you've failed. I have a friend who turned her CFA into all 4 academies that require it and she had approximately a 9:30 mile time... She got into USMA, USAFA, and USNA. I would double check with whoever's in charge of your USNA file, but considering my friend's mile took longer, I'd say you most likely passed.

As for Air Force, your mile time is probably just barely slower than the minimum so I'd guess that's what failed you. (I agree with THParent). Do some running and re-take the thing.

You've got this!
 
Check with your BGO for USNA. He/she knows whether you have passed or failed. Are you active in varsity sports or sports outside of school? That can help with a sub-par CFA.
 
usna1985 said:
Check with your BGO for USNA. He/she knows whether you have passed or failed. Are you active in varsity sports or sports outside of school? That can help with a sub-par CFA.
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I asked my BGO after I had taken the exam, and he told me to assume the best and focus on being in shape when/if I get there. I swim for my school's varsity team, and am a co-captain of that team, as well as play varsity women's rugby, so while I'm active and a strong swimmer, I'm just not a fast person. I'm hesitant to contact my BGO again, as if I had passed I believe he would have told me right off the bat, right?
 
GoArmy2022 said:
USNA lets you know if you've failed. I have a friend who turned her CFA into all 4 academies that require it and she had approximately a 9:30 mile time... She got into USMA, USAFA, and USNA. I would double check with whoever's in charge of your USNA file, but considering my friend's mile took longer, I'd say you most likely passed.

As for Air Force, your mile time is probably just barely slower than the minimum so I'd guess that's what failed you. (I agree with THParent). Do some running and re-take the thing.

You've got this!
Click to expand...
I'm not doubting you, but doesn't that seem high? I've seen other people on this forum getting failure notices from WP and AFA due to a 8+ mile.
 
runjoeyrun said:
I'm not doubting you, but doesn't that seem high? I've seen other people on this forum getting failure notices from WP and AFA due to a 8+ mile.
Click to expand...

That's weird because she didn't retake it. Maybe she just exaggerated her mile a little and said it was slower than it actually was.

Also, I'd recommend you contact your BGO again, even though I understand you're worried about demanding too much attention. It's important to know that you've passed or failed. Please let me know how it turns out.
 
GoArmy2022 said:
runjoeyrun said:
I'm not doubting you, but doesn't that seem high? I've seen other people on this forum getting failure notices from WP and AFA due to a 8+ mile.
Click to expand...

That's weird because she didn't retake it. Maybe she just exaggerated her mile a little and said it was slower than it actually was.

Also, I'd recommend you contact your BGO again, even though I understand you're worried about demanding too much attention. It's important to know that you've passed or failed. Please let me know how it turns out.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'll probably do that. Either way, I've requested a retake so I don't know if my old scores are even still in the system. Any tips for crushing the mile?
 
Your BGO does know if you passed or failed. He/she is permitted (and encouraged) to tell you. You can also contact your RD. Remember that a "passing" score may not be a competitive score meaning that, if you're competing for your slate, someone equally good with a better CFA could prevail.
 
Ask someone at your school who is a track or cross country runner to help you. Better yet, ask a coach. Maybe even search for running camps near you. These people will help you run much more efficiently than you will train on your own. Running with others increases your speed most of the time because you'll be more motivated!
 
if i recall correctly, i had a 9;40 mile time and a 43 bb throw. the only difference between mine and yours is that i maxed pushups and situps. i passed but it doesn't really mean anything. i'd hold off your application as a long as you can to max your score.
 
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