Swim test details?

MidwestDad

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DS said he just missed the cut time [2:26 vs 2:20] for the Beast swim test to qualify for the advanced course but says top 250 get in regardless of time. Apparently its intense but frees up a lot of time vs the standard course so he's hoping.

Any idea from past years if that time is close enough to make the 250 cut?

He said the test was harder than he expected [he's a good swimmer that just doesn't swim all that much so technique was probably rusty] but I'm pretty confident he can handle an advanced course.

I remember hearing on the USAFA tour how many cadets struggled a LONG time just to qualify on the basic test; its a small blessing to show up with water wings at the SAs.
 
DS said he just missed the cut time [2:26 vs 2:20] for the Beast swim test to qualify for the advanced course but says top 250 get in regardless of time. Apparently its intense but frees up a lot of time vs the standard course so he's hoping.
I believe the four levels of the required course (elementary, low, high, and advanced) all have the same time commitment - 19 classes @ 50 minutes each. According to the RedBook the cutoff for advanced is 2:30, but they may have changed it.

There may be a preparatory course required for non-swimmers prior to taking the required course.
 
OK - thanks. The snail mail Q&A loop takes so long we'll just find out on A day at this point!

His letter was pretty clear on his time; he was just hoping not to have to take any basic course that ties up time unnecessarily.
Good detail on the USMA site but not clear about placing out of any of the PE classes or subject matter lessons.

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I was curious about the qualifying time / range for the high group. My girl will be happy to know that her 1:42 will make the cut.
 
I believe the four levels of the required course (elementary, low, high, and advanced) all have the same time commitment - 19 classes @ 50 minutes each. According to the RedBook the cutoff for advanced is 2:30, but they may have changed it.

There may be a preparatory course required for non-swimmers prior to taking the required course.

The advanced classes are done during Grad week -- 4-5 days, not sure how long each class is. If a cadet takes the class then, it frees up some time for something else during the academic year.
 
I was curious about the qualifying time / range for the high group. My girl will be happy to know that her 1:42 will make the cut.
According to the most recent RedBook (Class of 2018) the qualifying times for the 150 yard swim are:
  • Elementary: 4:00 minutes or greater
  • Low: 3:16 - 3:59
  • High: 2:30 - 3:15
  • Advanced: less than 2:30
 
Gotta love the Rock swimmers. It turns into another class to get hazed in or it did in the old corps.
 
We had a USNA sponsor mid who was an Aqua Rock, as the term is there. He was a sprinter with ultra low body fat. He joked he could run across the pool bottom faster than he could swim it.
 
There's not enough room grad week for all advanced, so they run other advanced classes all year. Grading is less curved (more A's) in advanced based on ability rating. Class moves along quicker - but even an advanced swimmer evidently could be heard screaming expletives going off the high dive the entire way down ;)
 
Also each of the physical classes (boxing, mil move, swimming) is one quarter, so not having to take it during the academic year really only frees up time to sleep or study ...
 
Swimming is not our DD's strength. However, when we spoke with her on the phone she said she knew for sure she wasn't a rock! She was excited about that and she thought that she may be 2 groups above the "rocks." Morale booster for her for sure.
 
There's not enough room grad week for all advanced, so they run other advanced classes all year. Grading is less curved (more A's) in advanced based on ability rating. Class moves along quicker - but even an advanced swimmer evidently could be heard screaming expletives going off the high dive the entire way down ;)
I do not believe that they ran any advance classes prior to grad week last year. DS took the class during grad week in May and didn't indicate that there were any other time options for taking the class. He's quite happy that he'll have a free period this fall that he can use for working out. He spent a fair amount of time in the spring preparing for the class, which undoubtedly helped him get max points on every test. He said a few of tests that you have to pass were a bit challenging, while others were pretty easy.
 
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