Class of 2015 Preparation Advice

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hopkins2010

5-Year Member
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Jan 4, 2010
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Hey, I'm a member of the class of 2014 at USMA. I just wanted to share some info regarding physical preparation for the challenges of not just CBT but Plebe Year.

Probably the biggest piece of advice I'd like to give is to definitely keep up work on pullups past the CFA. Although pullups are not tested as part of the APFT, you will definitely see them again, especially in Plebe Gymnastics/Military Movement. You can survive without being good at them, but that upper body strength comes in handy with not only the actual pullup test in the class, but the numerous rope climbs. For those who struggle with some of the more gymnastic type events in the class (to include myself), good performance on this can mean the difference between passing and failing.

You don't need to go crazy with your physical prep, but anything that you can do helps. Try to make sure your 2 mile is below 15 minutes, and be prepared to run at least 3 miles. I don't recall actually running more than a 5k worth of distance in Beast, but then again, it differs based upon your run group. Also, make sure you can pass the West Point standards for the APFT, which is something like 59 pushups and 61 some situps, not just the minimum.

For those candidates who have been admitted, congratulations, and try to enjoy the next 6 months. If anybody has any questions about life at the academy, feel free to PM me or reply.
 
Thanks for the info! I've definitely been worrying about what to focus on preparing for physically. This is helpful. Thanks
 
Thanks for the tips. I'm good on everything except push-ups then. I'm still workin on them but I usually get to around 55 and tire out. I still have a few months till Beast to improve though.
 
hey hopkins, what kind of backpacks do cadets carry for school? I read they have to be all black with no labels.
abeastlybeast, for push-ups, I have this Special Forces PT guide, and it recommends do three sets of as many as you can do in 30 seconds. every day. so do as many push ups as you can in 30 sec, and do 3 sets of that number. I've been doing that for about three weeks, and I'm up to 84 push ups in 2 minutes. Good luck!
 
You'll be issued a black backpack during reorgy week, but if you want to use a civilian one, that's fine. No one seems to care if the pack has labels. I use an oakley with a very large logo on the back.
 
condor17 said:
hey hopkins, what kind of backpacks do cadets carry for school? I read they have to be all black with no labels.
abeastlybeast, for push-ups, I have this Special Forces PT guide, and it recommends do three sets of as many as you can do in 30 seconds. every day. so do as many push ups as you can in 30 sec, and do 3 sets of that number. I've been doing that for about three weeks, and I'm up to 84 push ups in 2 minutes. Good luck!
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That's a good number of push-ups. I'll try doing that. I was using the APFT guide online and it said to do 3 sets of around 25 push-ups with one minute rest in between sets if you can do a max set of 55. Maybe I'll try both routines? :confused:
 
For me, I've just tried doing as many sets as possible with each set to the point of muscle failure for the sake of workouts. I've managed to reach 125 high-quality pushups in 2 minutes this way.

I've also heard that during Beast, we'll also be doing many dips, which use the same muscles as pushups. Don't neglect the dips.
 
freedomtruck said:
For me, I've just tried doing as many sets as possible with each set to the point of muscle failure for the sake of workouts. I've managed to reach 125 high-quality pushups in 2 minutes this way.

I've also heard that during Beast, we'll also be doing many dips, which use the same muscles as pushups. Don't neglect the dips.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads-up. I'm not too bad at dips. I'm just gonna keep workin on all these exercises till then.
 
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Hey Hopkins, how much rucking do you do at CBT? Are there any specific times we should aim for? Thanks for all the advice!
 
Rucking Info

During CBT, you will be doing about 5-6 required rucks, in addition to the other rucks you'll do between sites on the reservation.

they range in distance from 3 miles to 12 miles for the marchback.

Do not worry about speed. You will be praying to go faster. The rucks during CBT are all done in what I think is called traveling overwatch or something along those lines which means you keep strict tactical intervals.

Unless you are completely out of shape, rucks are not going to be a problem completing. they are just going to suck, much more than the self paced ones you'll encounter later.

Just a word about boots and foot care. Try to break in the boots. Also, if you have a history of foot problems, make sure you keep an eye on them. none of this is so horrible that you should be worried, but having your heels disappear is not very fun. Especially during land nav.
 
freedomtruck said:
For me, I've just tried doing as many sets as possible with each set to the point of muscle failure for the sake of workouts. I've managed to reach 125 high-quality pushups in 2 minutes this way.

I've also heard that during Beast, we'll also be doing many dips, which use the same muscles as pushups. Don't neglect the dips.
Click to expand...
pretty awesome, freedomtruck. I'll start using that method...you know for 17-21 year old standards, 100% on the APFT is only 74...
Everybody, don't neglet the core either...it's the basis of everything you do.
 
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Hey thanks. Another reason for my being able to achieve high reps on most calisthenics exercises is that I'm a relatively small male, 5'5, 124lbs. What I'm most anxious about is training among those much bigger than I, and not being able to keep up.
 
haha...I'm 6'0, 175 lbs...maybe I won't get 125, but 100 is my goal.
in my experience, the smaller you are, the better. the big guys just get more to carry. the optimum is small but strong, fast, and endurance, which obviously you are. you're apart of the class of 2015 at USMA, right?
 
freedo truck said:
For me, I've just tried doing as many sets as possible with each set to the point of muscle failure for the sake of workouts. I've managed to reach 125 high-quality pushups in 2 minutes this way.

I've also heard that during Beast, we'll also be doing many dips, which use the same muscles as pushups. Don't neglect the dips.
Click to expand...

I have done basically the same. What I do is I will start doing as many as I can and then just keep doing sets, and once I cant do 10, I wait a while. Do more if I have time, but I haven’t been doing that too much:thumbdown:
 
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Rucking: I reported to CBT this past summer 4'11'', 90 lb (finished at 76 lb:eek:). I finished all the rucks- slightly slower and covered in bruises- and carried just as much as every other new cadet. You can do it.

Running: practice running hills. They can be rough on your knees if you're not used to it.

Push-ups: don't cheat yourself in the comfort of your bedroom. Go ALL the way down.
 
@condor
I have been appointed to the Class of 2015

@futureAFA
I haven't been as diligent in exercising either with school going on ;)

@vampsoul
That is very sobering. Thank You!
 
Everyone in this thread should go to hundredpushups.com and do the workout program. It got me from the 50 range to 100+ at the end of my junior year.
 
Keep in mind that the quantity of pushups are far less valued than the quality of the pushups.
 
freedomtruck said:
Keep in mind that the quantity of pushups are far less valued than the quality of the pushups.
Click to expand...

I agree. Plenty of kids show up thinking they're going to max the diagnostic APFT and are dismayed to find the counter calling out repeated "No"s to their not-low-enough reps.
 
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Is passing the APFT at WP the same as 'regular' Army standards or no?
Are the maximums the same?
 
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