Think you are prepared?

What about for possible summer training opportunities? I'm guessing the APFT those years would matter?

Being a "Navy" guy I can't speak to how it might play into selection for AROTC summer training opportunities. Also, since it's Thompson asking the question, I know he is just curious as to how things work. But for lurkers, it is wisest to always treat the PFT as though it matters immensely, regardless of service. Whether it officially counts or not, it will always play a role in the cadre's assessment/opinion of you. Best to be ahead of the game. :thumb:
 
kinnem said:
Whether it officially counts or not, it will always play a role in the cadre's assessment/opinion of you. Best to be ahead of the game.

+1

As it has always been stated, there is always ONE chance for a FIRST impression.
 
+1

As it has always been stated, there is always ONE chance for a FIRST impression.

SO TOTALLY AGREE!!!!! If you don't make a good first impression, it's just that much harder on you. You will always be playing catch up.
 
What about for possible summer training opportunities? I'm guessing the APFT those years would matter?

Somewhat. Some PMSs put waaaaaaay to much stock in the APFT and warp it into representing the overall quality of a cadet. A good APFT could play a role in getting you a school slot.

I knew a cadet who was a total dirtbag outside of ROTC (always caught drinking, more than questionable actions MULTIPLE times after parties with girls and lack-luster academic performance) but he had a good APFT score and was a stud in Ranger Challenge so all was forgiven right? He got everything he wanted out of ROTC and OML standing.

I hate the emphasis put on the APFT. Yeah I get 300s or close to, so what? It is a crappy demonstration of fitness and a bad substitute for leadership quality.

/endrant
 
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Somewhat. Some PMSs put waaaaaaay to much stock in the APFT and warp it into representing the overall quality of a cadet. A good APFT could play a role in getting you a school slot.

I knew a cadet who was a total dirtbag outside of ROTC (always caught drinking, more than questionable actions MULTIPLE times after parties with girls and lack-luster academic performance) but he had a good APFT score and was a stud in Ranger Challenge so all was forgiven right? He got everything he wanted out of ROTC and OML standing.

I hate the emphasis put on the APFT. Yeah I get 300s or close to, so what? It is a crappy demonstration of fitness and a bad substitute for leadership quality.

/endrant

+1

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies." - Sir Ernest Benn
 
What about for possible summer training opportunities? I'm guessing the APFT those years would matter?

Your APFT score will count as part of your Class OML, School slots are usually given out based on your position on your class OML. Most battalions use GPA and APFT as a big part of the class OML the first two years.
 
Somewhat. Some PMSs put waaaaaaay to much stock in the APFT and warp it into representing the overall quality of a cadet. A good APFT could play a role in getting you a school slot.

I knew a cadet who was a total dirtbag outside of ROTC (always caught drinking, more than questionable actions MULTIPLE times after parties with girls and lack-luster academic performance) but he had a good APFT score and was a stud in Ranger Challenge so all was forgiven right? He got everything he wanted out of ROTC and OML standing.

I hate the emphasis put on the APFT. Yeah I get 300s or close to, so what? It is a crappy demonstration of fitness and a bad substitute for leadership quality.

/endrant

Sadly this happens all too often in big Army, too. Looking good on paper is sometimes half the battle.
 
First test at son's school yesterday. Out of 30 taking the test, 3 or 4 passed - only one MSI. That one was not my son. :frown: He really worked on his form and run time all summer. He did summer training just to stay in shape as well as a camp for a sport he no longer plays just to get the motivation of a coach pushing him. He didn't miss a single su or pu for form yesterday but the numbers just didn't cut it. He just missed the cut-off for both although he scored well over the 180 mark combined due to a great run. All summer he was regularly doing both su's and pu's at around the 80-90 point mark. He was NOT one of those that showed up at ROTC out-of-shape. As others have said, at least he knows where to improve. Hopefully, it was just the stress of doing this format for the first time.
 
First test at son's school yesterday. Out of 30 taking the test, 3 or 4 passed - only one MSI. That one was not my son. :frown: He really worked on his form and run time all summer. He did summer training just to stay in shape as well as a camp for a sport he no longer plays just to get the motivation of a coach pushing him. He didn't miss a single su or pu for form yesterday but the numbers just didn't cut it. He just missed the cut-off for both although he scored well over the 180 mark combined due to a great run. All summer he was regularly doing both su's and pu's at around the 80-90 point mark. He was NOT one of those that showed up at ROTC out-of-shape. As others have said, at least he knows where to improve. Hopefully, it was just the stress of doing this format for the first time.

I know your DS is disappointed but I've also no doubt he will use this to fire himself up and pass by December. Actually, if he just missed it I'm sure he'll pass by December whether he gets fired up or not! :thumb:
 
First test at son's school yesterday. Out of 30 taking the test, 3 or 4 passed - only one MSI. That one was not my son. :frown: He really worked on his form and run time all summer. He did summer training just to stay in shape as well as a camp for a sport he no longer plays just to get the motivation of a coach pushing him. He didn't miss a single su or pu for form yesterday but the numbers just didn't cut it. He just missed the cut-off for both although he scored well over the 180 mark combined due to a great run. All summer he was regularly doing both su's and pu's at around the 80-90 point mark. He was NOT one of those that showed up at ROTC out-of-shape. As others have said, at least he knows where to improve. Hopefully, it was just the stress of doing this format for the first time.

He needs to lift weights to improve those numbers. Working out is kind of the social "thing" to do in college so I am sure he will improve rapidly. In my opinion the run is the hardest to improve on. Lots of ROTC kids are the skinny track/CC body types so core and upper body are often really foreign work outs, just tell him to do free weights 3-4 times a week with an experienced ROTC buddy or friend and he will be fine. If he wants he can focus on doing different SU/PU rotations but it isn't necessary to improve. I max both PU/SU everytime and the only time I do PU/SUs is during a PT test
 
DS has been a runner since 8th grade but rarely did upper body work-outs. Now he does pull-ups after his run to strengthen his arms/upper body. Never had an issue with sit-ups, but had push-up troubles. Now (starting 2nd year of NROTC) he does well on PRT and is on the Endurance Team. I think he picked up pull-ups from all the Marines on Endurance Team - they never pass a pull-up bar without doing a few :shake:

Participating in PT helps, but they also have to work out on their own time.
 
Any idea of what the average 2 mile run time in your respective battalions? Do most cadets after MSII max out the run? I'm a bit worried about my time, as it seems like most ROTC cadets have done track or are in track. I know I can pass it, but I want to be somewhere near the top.
 
Only a handful passed run in BTN of DS on first test. He ironically wants to get bigger and stronger as MS1 for sit ups and pushups so he can match their size and strength that is typical in his group. He ran 10:20 and second kid was around 12:00

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Any idea of what the average 2 mile run time in your respective battalions? Do most cadets after MSII max out the run? I'm a bit worried about my time, as it seems like most ROTC cadets have done track or are in track. I know I can pass it, but I want to be somewhere near the top.

At my son's battalion the run times are all over the place. Of course the track and X-country runners don't have much of an issue.

The average my son tells me is about 14:00 minutes, the fastest being about 10:45 and the slowest just passing.

What is your run time now?

The best thing you can do is pick the brain of those track and X-country runners, ask them about a good training schedule. You will need to mix it up, some long runs, shorter/faster runs, and some intervals (800m and 400m fast runs) thrown in. The intervals will help with leg strength and the longer runs will help your endurance. The combination of the two will inprove your run time.

Remember, the running you do in PT will not decrease your time, at best it will keep you where your at. The old track coach saying is that if you run 3 times a week you'll maintain, to get faster you need to run at least 5 times a week.

Those new cadets that were track and X-country stars in high school will see their times increase as they build mor muscle bulk as ROTC goes along. The trick is to find a balance of upper body/core strength and run speed.

Once you start FTX's, summer schools, and then on to training after you graduate, you will find that endurance is a lot more important then looking like Sylvester Stallone in his prime.

Best of luck.
 
Well 13:00 is scores you 100. I told my son to shoot for that magical 90/90/90 then work towards the 100. he ran a 14:07 which scored him an 83 so he needs to knock about 20 seconds off his time to reach the 90 pt mark.

He was in the top 1/3 of his battallion on the run. less than 50% passed the first apft. Out of 25 trying to contract, he was 1 of 14 to pass on their first try.
 
I increased my training the last 5 months, but have had to reduce intensity for a few weeks due to some ankle pain. Before I eased up, I was running ~3 miles almost 5 days a week day, at ~13:15-13:30 2 mile pace. I have 1 more year until I hope to contract (LTC+2 year), so hopefully my time will decrease. At this point, I am trying to avoid overuse injury. I am also looking to join a club so that I can get more advice on training, as I am not a xc/track runner.
 
I increased my training the last 5 months, but have had to reduce intensity for a few weeks due to some ankle pain. Before I eased up, I was running ~3 miles almost 5 days a week day, at ~13:15-13:30 2 mile pace. I have 1 more year until I hope to contract (LTC+2 year), so hopefully my time will decrease. At this point, I am trying to avoid overuse injury. I am also looking to join a club so that I can get more advice on training, as I am not a xc/track runner.

Sent you a PM
 
I increased my training the last 5 months, but have had to reduce intensity for a few weeks due to some ankle pain. Before I eased up, I was running ~3 miles almost 5 days a week day, at ~13:15-13:30 2 mile pace. I have 1 more year until I hope to contract (LTC+2 year), so hopefully my time will decrease. At this point, I am trying to avoid overuse injury. I am also looking to join a club so that I can get more advice on training, as I am not a xc/track runner.

All good ideas. Take care of that ankle (RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation). If the pain persists it might be time to have a pro look at it.

If I were to make one suggestion.... sprint intervals. Look 'em up. That should improve your run times and make you fitter.
 
Vary your running workout. Run some 200 and 400 meter sprints on some days.

If you run the same day after day you have a tendency to run the same times.

Do some 1 mile sprints. X-country runners do not run 3 miles every day. They also do some core workouts.

I agree, as you get a stronger core and build muscle your times will improve (as long as you do not stop running altogether). But don't run injured either.

DS's battalion does PT 3 times a week, varying what they work on. 1 day this week they ran two 1 mile sprints. Oddly it was up hill the entire way and they ended up where they started:shake:

Another day they did core workouts.

On his off days he lifts weights to build upper body strength and on the weekends he may just take off for a run to clear his head and get away from other people.
 
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