In years past, we ALO's had to administer the CFA and fully 30-40% of the male candidates we tested FAILED the CFA. Why?
a. Pull ups
b. Push ups
It always amazed me...okay, true confessions time: I'm 6'2", and about 25lbs heavier than I want to be (for my own good health, I still do fine on the fitness test and folks are amazed because I still look good in uniform, and yes, I am losing it due to an increased workout regimen) BUT...I was still beating "kids" 20+ years younger than I am; heck, almost 30 years younger.
Why? Because there's NO focus on fitness in school, home, etc.
PIMA is dead on accurate and if you want to ask about fitness tests, ask Bullet about the Airborne PFT.
I wanted my jump wings BAD when I was a 'dink...but back then, if your GPA wasn't above a certain level you would NOT be selected for AM490 (freefall at USAFA) so...I did soaring, BCT, SERE Cadre, etc...etc...etc...but no jump.
THEN...I said: I can go to Airborne! All I have to do is pass the Airborne PFT. BUT...PROBLEM...Steve is an IC...shot put, discuss, javelin...I'm a BIG guy and get this: while I can/could do 16 pullups, I never EVER did more than about 38 pushups. NEVER. Figure that out.
SO...the Airborne PFT required 45 minimum; more was better. And I had a whopping 2 months to take the test.
SO...just like PIMA said, my roommate and I made an agreement: you walk out of the room, for ANY reason, when you return you "Drop!" So we did (he did AM490...great academics) it; he wanted to help.
LONG story short, well not really if you've read this far, I have a nice shiny set of AIRBORNE wings on my uniform to this day, I am NOT a LEG! Why? Because that preparation ensured that on PFT day, I breezed through the pushups. I did 60+ with ease.
YOU can do the same thing with a pullup bar, either at school, a local gym, or at home; and that would be best if you can get one and set it up like PIMA said.
Good luck!
Steve
USAFA ALO
USAFA '83