PE Teacher Eval

millardz said:
I had my PE teacher 2 years ago before I was physically fit or mature to the point that I am today.
AFAIK, he will not be giving me any excellent recommendations based on his prior experience with me.
Am I out of luck?
Click to expand...
I'm just a candidate, but here is what I think: I were you I would explain to him/her that I need a evaluation form filled out and that I have improved my physical condition greatly since I had him/her. Then I would offer to take a physical fitness test for him to demonstrate that I am physically fit.

I read that in years past all of the SOE's combined only made up 10% of your WCS. If the SOEs are only worth 10% of your WCS this year(and I don't know if they are or not, they may have changed it this year) and all of the SOEs carry the same weight(can't tell you if this is true or not), 10%/4 is 2.5%, so 2.5% of your application is this PE SOE. If he gives you a fairly bad one and you just get half of the points you are only missing out on 1.25% of your WCS. A lot of teachers just give good recommendations to basically anyone too. He/she may not even remember you if it's been 2 years. I wouldn't give up because of 1 potentially bad SOE.
 
millardz said:
I had my PE teacher 2 years ago before I was physically fit or mature to the point that I am today.
AFAIK, he will not be giving me any excellent recommendations based on his prior experience with me.
Am I out of luck?
Click to expand...


Maybe there's a comment section where he can explain his scores?
 
frenzymando said:
millardz said:
I had my PE teacher 2 years ago before I was physically fit or mature to the point that I am today.
AFAIK, he will not be giving me any excellent recommendations based on his prior experience with me.
Am I out of luck?
Click to expand...
I'm just a candidate, but here is what I think: I were you I would explain to him/her that I need a evaluation form filled out and that I have improved my physical condition greatly since I had him/her. Then I would offer to take a physical fitness test for him to demonstrate that I am physically fit.

I read that in years past all of the SOE's combined only made up 10% of your WCS. If the SOEs are only worth 10% of your WCS this year(and I don't know if they are or not, they may have changed it this year) and all of the SOEs carry the same weight(can't tell you if this is true or not), 10%/4 is 2.5%, so 2.5% of your application is this PE SOE. If he gives you a fairly bad one and you just get half of the points you are only missing out on 1.25% of your WCS. A lot of teachers just give good recommendations to basically anyone too. He/she may not even remember you if it's been 2 years. I wouldn't give up because of 1 potentially bad SOE.
Click to expand...

Or just to validate the CFA score. Good CFA score, bad PE SOE, a cause for concern. Bad CFA score, bad PE SOE, makes sense.
 
MemberLG said:
frenzymando said:
millardz said:
I had my PE teacher 2 years ago before I was physically fit or mature to the point that I am today.
AFAIK, he will not be giving me any excellent recommendations based on his prior experience with me.
Am I out of luck?
Click to expand...
I'm just a candidate, but here is what I think: I were you I would explain to him/her that I need a evaluation form filled out and that I have improved my physical condition greatly since I had him/her. Then I would offer to take a physical fitness test for him to demonstrate that I am physically fit.

I read that in years past all of the SOE's combined only made up 10% of your WCS. If the SOEs are only worth 10% of your WCS this year(and I don't know if they are or not, they may have changed it this year) and all of the SOEs carry the same weight(can't tell you if this is true or not), 10%/4 is 2.5%, so 2.5% of your application is this PE SOE. If he gives you a fairly bad one and you just get half of the points you are only missing out on 1.25% of your WCS. A lot of teachers just give good recommendations to basically anyone too. He/she may not even remember you if it's been 2 years. I wouldn't give up because of 1 potentially bad SOE.
Click to expand...

Or just to validate the CFA score. Good CFA score, bad PE SOE, a cause for concern. Bad CFA score, bad PE SOE, makes sense.
Click to expand...
What would the concern be with a good CFA score and a bad PE SOE?
 
millardz said:
What would the concern be with a good CFA score and a bad PE SOE?
Click to expand...

Easy grading. There were issues with new cadets with several pull ups on the CFA but couldn't even do one on R-day. There is a lack of consistancy in CFA administration.
 
So now there will be an issue with a lack of consistency in PE SOEs, as they get ones from PE teachers years prior who barely remember the kid, or know nothing about their actual fitness state. A homeschooled friend of ours (who obviously has never had a PE teacher) was asked to find the guy who certified him as a lifeguard 2 years ago to do his PE SOE. A guy who taught a class of over 50 people for just 2 days, and then moved on to teach other such classes, so there is not a chance in the world that he really knows anything about my friend or his physical ability, other than that my friend passed the lifeguard certification. My friend passed the PFT *at* West Point, during Summer Seminar, so if there's inconsistancy, it's starting at West Point! Good grief. Way to not actually solve whatever the real problem is, West Point!
 
AFwife Claire said:
A homeschooled friend of ours (who obviously has never had a PE teacher) was asked to find the guy who certified him as a lifeguard 2 years ago to do his PE SOE.
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In the instructions it says "Home schooled candidates or those who have NEVER taken PE in high school should contact their Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) administrator to complete the PE SOE."
 
frenzymando said:
AFwife Claire said:
A homeschooled friend of ours (who obviously has never had a PE teacher) was asked to find the guy who certified him as a lifeguard 2 years ago to do his PE SOE.
Click to expand...
In the instructions it says "Home schooled candidates or those who have NEVER taken PE in high school should contact their Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) administrator to complete the PE SOE."
Click to expand...
Why not have current coaches fill out the PE SOE? Doesn't make sense.
 
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Right . . . but he had taken the CFA at West Point during summer seminar. So admissions told him to find this lifeguard trainer guy instead. He has a LOA, so this should all be a formality, but you never know. Admissions was really patookie about the whole thing, and it made me really glad we didn't have to deal with any of this ridiculousness last year when my son was applying (as a homeschooled student as well).
 
I agree @AFwife Claire . I'm also glad that my son miss out on this new 'fun' requirement. He was homeschooled also and we would have been challenged to find someone who could give a meaningful assessment for the SOE. His coaches knew him well but his CFA adminsitrator did not.
 
Padre101 said:
Why not have current coaches fill out the PE SOE? Doesn't make sense.
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Same reason that coaches can't administer the CFA. They are viewed as not being impartial in their grading since that is one of their athletes. Years ago, a Coach's evaluation was a requirement. It was scrapped. I'm going to guess that when a statistical analysis was done, it was found to be insignificant in determining the candidates success at West Point or distinguishing between candidates.
 
AFwife Claire said:
So now there will be an issue with a lack of consistency in PE SOEs, as they get ones from PE teachers years prior who barely remember the kid, or know nothing about their actual fitness state. A homeschooled friend of ours (who obviously has never had a PE teacher) was asked to find the guy who certified him as a lifeguard 2 years ago to do his PE SOE. A guy who taught a class of over 50 people for just 2 days, and then moved on to teach other such classes, so there is not a chance in the world that he really knows anything about my friend or his physical ability, other than that my friend passed the lifeguard certification. My friend passed the PFT *at* West Point, during Summer Seminar, so if there's inconsistancy, it's starting at West Point! Good grief. Way to not actually solve whatever the real problem is, West Point!
Click to expand...

If so, your friend shouldn't apply to West Point. Why should someone attend an institution that can't solve a problem. From my perspective, the system is designed to focus on the majority. There is no system that can equally address all West Point applicants. I don't know what's going on exactly, but if PE SOE has no point value and it's to give more assurance about CFA, the consistency is not a big deal as the CFA will be the primary evaluation, not PE SOE. If your friend passed CFA during the summer at West Point, with my guess, the PE SOE won't matter. My understanding is that the candidate essays has no point value, why there is no way to guarantee that someone else don't write it.
 
They won't come right out and say it, but they are trying to eliminate cheating on the CFA.

Sad, but some overzealous applicants will work the system any way they can. Homeschoolers have a catch 22. Have their parent give the CFA? They are already second-guessed for their parental administered GPA and lack of school activities and offices. Seek out a casual coach or instructor from way back when?

Perhaps FF Reps should she schedule days to do the CFA for the kids in their areas. That would eliminate the bias and provide a clear solution.

In my opinion retake of the CFA should not be allowed unless requested by the academy. Some will complain of not feeling good, or having a bad day. Othe kids suck it up and get on with it. That's how it is on deployment, no excuses... just perform.

When a kid comes in and falls way below their CFA during Beast, BCT, & Plebe and Swab summers, it's easy to wonder how they performed so well on the CFA. It happens all the time, especially on the run and pull ups. The academy wants to remedy those discrepancies.
 
@Maplerock - that's what happened in my area. The FFR scheduled a CFA and kids from all over (evenneighboring states) came. There was a large number of students there that day. However, if the homeschooled applicant has to get a PE SOE from this source, I'd wonder how my son would be remembered (if remembered at all) from the large crowd of other CFA candidates. So, it seems to me that it wouldn't be a particularly meaningful recommendation letter.

That said, who am I to question the wisdom of the army? ;)
 
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