CFA Questions

yankeefan8182

10-Year Member
5-Year Member
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Jul 7, 2009
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I currently have an LOA, a nomination to USMA and am medically qualified. My appointment is contingent upon taking and passing the CFA. I have been training hard since the end of the football season trying to shed some extra weight (I was an offensive and defensive lineman) and have lost about 20 pounds while maintaining my strength fairly well. With about a week remaining until I take my CFA I'm worried that I will not score as well as some of my lighter peers! I can throw the basketball very far, run about a 9 second shuttle run, do about 50 pushups and a good amount of sit-ups. My best mile time ever was about 7 minutes, however this was done while I my body was relatively fresh. I understand that my mile time will be significantly worse after taking the other parts of the test beforehand and fear that I will do poorly. Also, I have been working on my pull-ups regularly but can only do about 4-5. How much will this hurt my chances of getting an appointment to the academy? Also, I am currently in contact with the football coach and may be able to play on the team. While I am not considered a recruited athlete, will this be taken into consideration should I make the team? Any insight would be greatly appreciated!
 
Because you have a LOA, you do not need to have an extremely competitive CFA score, you just need to pass it. According to my JROTC instructor who administered the CFA at my school, 3 pull ups are usually the "magic number." If you can do 4-5 pull-ups, you should be good. I am not certain, but I believe a mile time under 8:00 would also be passing.

For now, just rest up so that you can be as fresh as possible for the CFA, then do your best. If you do not pass, they will just ask you to try again. I wouldn't fret -- you have a LOA, so they obviously want you. Just keep on training after your CFA so that you can be in the best shape possible for Beast.

For your other question, are you asking if your CFA scores will be taken into consideration if you make the football team? I would think they'd just look at your football performance...
 
No, I know that cfa scores have nothing to do with what athletics become available to cadets. It is my understanding that sports teams have made exceptions for athletes, ie. football players (specifically lineman), who would not have terrific scores at the weight that they are required to maintain.
 
I took the CFA today and i think i did alright...Let me know if you think my scores will be passing bearing in mind I have an LOA(don't know if this holds any weight):

Basketball Throw: 91 feet
Shuttle Run: 9.4 seconds
Pull-Ups: 3 :thumbdown:
Sit-Ups: 85
Push-Ups: 31
Mile Run: 7:02
 
Well, like I said before, according to the AFJROTC instructor at my school (who is an AFA grad and has administered the CFA to dozens of candidates over the past three years) said that 3 is the "magic number" for pull-ups as to whether you passed. I think (but I may be wrong) that you should be good here. But your push-ups is also very low... If I were you, I would continue training, submit the scores, and if they ask you to retake it (which they will if you do not pass), and with the extra training you should have improved your push-ups and pull-ups by the time you are requested (if you are) to retake it.
 
I received an email today informing me that I failed the fitness test by 1 push-up. I'm pretty disappointed but I'm glad that they're giving me the opportunity to retake it. My LOA says that the CFA must be in by January 8th or it will be withdrawn. I'm afraid that I will be cutting it close now because I'm still on break, will they acknowledge that I have already completed a CFA or must I have a passing score by January 8th?
 
I received an email today informing me that I failed the fitness test by 1 push-up. I'm pretty disappointed but I'm glad that they're giving me the opportunity to retake it. My LOA says that the CFA must be in by January 8th or it will be withdrawn. I'm afraid that I will be cutting it close now because I'm still on break, will they acknowledge that I have already completed a CFA or must I have a passing score by January 8th?

Just adding on...according to the average, you might also want to work on lowering your mile time, as average is around 6:40 and below (crazy, I know)
 
Yankee, your basketball throw was great, shuttle good, pull-ups not good although I see where an instructor said that would pass and push-ups way off of average and mile is off. Below is Maxium Performance or challange and then the Average performance of CFA. Maybe this will help. This is how I trained. I figured if I beat all of the averages I would have no problem passing. beat everyone but the pull-ups and only did 7. No place do they actually tell you what is passing, however if you do the average or above you will pass and not have to think about it. Can give females if anyone wants them.

Maxium
BB throw 102 ft
Pull-ups 18
Shuttle 7.8 seconds
Modified sit-ups 95
push-ups 75
1 mile run 5:20

Average
BB 67
pull-ups 9
Shuttle 9.1
sit-ups 72
Push-ups 54
Mile run 6:43
 
I received an email today informing me that I failed the fitness test by 1 push-up. I'm pretty disappointed but I'm glad that they're giving me the opportunity to retake it. My LOA says that the CFA must be in by January 8th or it will be withdrawn. I'm afraid that I will be cutting it close now because I'm still on break, will they acknowledge that I have already completed a CFA or must I have a passing score by January 8th?

You have to pass the CFA by January 8th.

As long as you crank out a few more push-ups, you should be good. Remember, because you have a LOA contingent upon passing the CFA, all you have to do is pass for now. That means hitting at least 3 pull-ups and (according to your email) 32 push-ups. If you can get those and keep the same scores you have in the other areas, you will be fine.

While yes, your mile is also a bit under average, you aren't aiming to get a competitive score at this point, because you only have just over a week left, and because you aren't still competing for an appointment -- you have it as long as you pass, whether you are above the average scores or not.

For other prospectives and candidates, this information may not apply to you. If you do not have a LOA contingent on passing the CFA, of course you want to get as close to the max as you can, because you want your scores to be as competitive as possible. When you are competing for admission, every little bit helps.
 
Just adding on...according to the average, you might also want to work on lowering your mile time, as average is around 6:40 and below (crazy, I know)

You dont need to hit the averages in every event. If you are good other places a mile around 7:00 should be fine.
 
Female averages

Racer1, if you are still around, please post female CFA averages. We have been on the AFA forum for my son and now my younger daughter is expressing an interest in USMA! Thanks!
 
Racer1, if you are still around, please post female CFA averages. We have been on the AFA forum for my son and now my younger daughter is expressing an interest in USMA! Thanks!

This is not based of this years'.

Female Avg's:
BB throw: 41 ft
Pull-ups: 3
Flexed Arm Hang: 19.8 (seconds)
Shuttle Run: 10 (seconds)
Sit ups: 68
Push ups: 33
Mile run: 8:06

Here's the source if you want it.
http://admissions.usma.edu/prospectus/CFA_Instructions05.pdf
 
Does anyone have any idea what a 'passing' mile time is for a FEMALE? I realize that mile times will be significantly lowered because it's the last event...Also, how many pull-ups would be passing for a female?

Thanks for the help!
 
I think just 1 pull up would be passing since females have the option of either the flexed arm hang or pull ups. I've heard it's better if you can do pull ups as a female, even if just one.
 
I think just 1 pull up would be passing since females have the option of either the flexed arm hang or pull ups. I've heard it's better if you can do pull ups as a female, even if just one.

They told the girls at SLS that one pull up was better than the flex arm hang for 25 minutes. So try to get that one!
 
Does anyone have any idea what a 'passing' mile time is for a FEMALE? I realize that mile times will be significantly lowered because it's the last event...Also, how many pull-ups would be passing for a female?

Thanks for the help!

The passing time for females is around 9:00. I've heard somewhere between around 9:09 and 9:15 as being passing for the various acadmies, but would shoot to be able to get under 9 min (and remember, this is after everything else in the CFA) as a very, very minimum. Honestly, if you can't get under about 8 minutes, you're going to struggle throughout Beast in the long run so might as well get in shape now and improve that run time! :thumb:

(Please note, this is directed to anyone concerned with the run, not specificially meant to imply that you personally are not a good runner! :wink: )
 
I don't think it was a typo - while not realistic, I know they always emphasize to the girls that no matter how long you flexed arm hang (even 25 minutes!!), you don't get as many points as you do for one pullup.

But yes, it would be impressive!
 
25 minutes! That's just insane if someone did that. I would think you could get a few pull ups in if you could do that. :wink:
 
Thanks for all the help/feedback!
My admission officer informed me that one pull-up is the same amount of points as the maximum arm-hang, but I am not sure how long the maximum arm-hang is.
Thanks again!

Best Regards,

Kelsey
 
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