I am with you -Bull-
I pay little heed to the scores posted because when I see insane scores, I wonder if the form or test was done to the standards/procedures used at any ROTC unit (A/AF/NROTC)
Our DS's scores actually went up because during the summer he repeated the test weekly. His Dad was an O5, and would call him out on form, aka not count the perfect sit up or push up. He also learned that once you hit max, don't push it any further, instead use that time to let your body rest for the next section.
~ His Dad worked out with him, and would take it even further by adding in butterfly kicks. He also ran in all weather conditions. He would run at 6 a.m. after going to bed at 1. He would run in NC at 5 p.m. 95 degrees and 90% humidity. He would run in light rain.
The main reason why he continued working out over the summer, was Dad was also an AFROTC grad. He turned to DS and said the 1st few weeks they will be screaming your last name. You don't want them the ability to place a name with a face because they were screaming it constantly during PT! You don't want to put a negative spotlight on you immediately.
~ Not knowing your last name or face the first few weeks can be a blessing.
Like you said there are other areas where they will put a face and name together, but PT is one aspect you can control. Show up and bust, the face and name is there. Show up with the belief that you were the sheeaatt in JROTC and try to impress by saying: When I was the CWC at JROTC we did it this way, or I received 169 ribbons, will also not serve you well.
~ If you were in JROTC, great, but don't enter thinking you will have an edge, or respect. It can bite you faster than you will ever be able to imagine. Tick off the POC, and he/she will tell other POCs while they hang out in the cadet lounge.
~~ Hey guys, you gotta hear this one...So I am talking to the flight, and this cadet opens their mouth about JROTC and says well, in JROTC we did ....
~ Now every POC will know your name, including the top ranking Cadet. Who will they support, the cadet that has been in the unit for 2/3/4 years or the cadet that just joined and believes JROTC = ROTC regarding training?