This altitude is no joke!

JohnUSAFA

USAFA 2015 Appointee
5-Year Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2010
Messages
90
I just did my first altitude run since the summer seminar (I'm from Miami, so I'm used to sea level). The difference is pretty noticeable. Do they cadre give us some time to acclimate before killing us (at least on runs)?
 
You will take a diagnostic AFT (1.5 mile run) the first full day of BCT.
 
I remember that first AFT the second day back in BCT 2006. I think I ran about 3 min worse than my sea level time and I remember hacking/vomiting for the last quarter mile or so. O_O. That was a shocker!
 
Sorry, a little confused. Are we just doing the 1.5 mile run on the first full day, or the whole test (situps, pushups, etc)?

And by diagnostic you mean it won't be weighted on our MPA (correct me if that's not the right acronym)?
 
You will only take the AFT that day and the purpose is so you know which running group to run with.
 
OMG I remember my daughter telling me about the run. No amount of preparation can ready you for that especially if you have been training at sea level. Like Hornet, she spent the last 1/4 mile hacking and puked her guts out (in a garbage can luckily) when it was over.

_____________________________
2014 Like a Machine
 
Not sure if they still do it, but when my son started the academy in 2008, the academy sought volunteers who were from high altitude; especially if they were IC athletes. Although IC athletes wasn't a mandatory requirement. High altitude was. They used them as test/control subjects to determine what they could handle. They got my son in the program. He's from Wyoming and we live over 6,000 feet. Plus he was playing for the football team. When BCT was over, I think he received 2-3 extra "Passes" for volunteering to be part of the test program. Honestly, I don't know what he did as a test subject, but he got a few more weekend passes. That was nice. He definitely didn't have any issues with the altitude. The only problem he had in bct was the lack of working out. he list 15 lbs. I think all the football players lost a lot of weight.
 
Supplements

During BCT last year, our son was given mandatory meal supplement drinks to keep from losing too much weight. He said it was required for everyone over 6 ft. tall.
 
Sorry, a little confused. Are we just doing the 1.5 mile run on the first full day, or the whole test (situps, pushups, etc)?

And by diagnostic you mean it won't be weighted on our MPA (correct me if that's not the right acronym)?
1)You do the PFT one day and the AFT the next day.

2) Your AFT and PFT go into your PEA (physical education average) along with your grades from your PE classes. Your MPA is your military performance average which you get from SAMIs, AMIs, and ratings from other important leadership on how you fulfill your role in the PITO model.
 
You will take the diagnositc AFT the first full day of BCT. The PFT will be taken later on in BCT.
 
I normally run at sea level and last summer I went to colorado and was running at 8000-10000 feet. It's hard and it sucks, but there is also a significant part of it that is just a mental game, so don't stress out too much
 
You'll get used to your throat/lungs burning, and you'll acclimate.
 
I did a 1 mile today at the top of pikes peak, now that was a lung burning experience, gave me a little more confidence for BCT tommorow.
 
My kids trained extra hard here at home hoping to combat altitude-impaired performance. Kept them "in the game."

Both of mine were on the meal supplement, though neither is six feet tall. They even traded off to get their favorite flavor.
 
1)You do the PFT one day and the AFT the next day.

2) Your AFT and PFT go into your PEA (physical education average) along with your grades from your PE classes. Your MPA is your military performance average which you get from SAMIs, AMIs, and ratings from other important leadership on how you fulfill your role in the PITO model.

Hi Rage 14,
Could you please explain the acronyms in your post? Thanks!
 
Hi Rage 14,
Could you please explain the acronyms in your post? Thanks!

The AFT is the aerobic fitness test. It is a 1.5 mile run. The PFT is the physical fitness test. It is consists of pull-ups, standing long jump, sit-ups, push-ups, and a 600m sprint. Based off of how fast you run and do these other things, you get a grade that goes into your PEA which is your physical education average. Your PE class grades also go into this average. The first test at the beginning of basic is just a diagnostic so it will not factor into the PEA, but when it is taken again at the end of BCT it will count.
 
Hi Rage 14,
Could you please explain the acronyms in your post? Thanks!

Sorry, I forgot that I mentioned MPA as well. MPA is your military performance average. You get it from the things I mentioned earlier. SAMI stands for Saturday Anti-Meridian Inspection, or Saturday Morning Inspection. These are conducted several times a semester on a wing wide level to inspect cleanliness and general hygiene throughout the wing. Your room receives a grade based on a set criteria. An AMI is the same thing as a SAMI except it is conducted during the week. Your basic will do a SAMI at least once during basic, and he will fail it. It is inevitable, it happens to every basic. My roommate and I were sure we were going to pass, but we failed miserably. Freshman knowledge test scores go into their MPA. Every week a freshman is given a set amount of knowledge they have to memorize verbatim and then take a test on it Sunday night. Their PAI also goes into the MPA. PAIs are usually conducted during the SAMI. It is a Personal Appearance Inspection, which means that they do an inspection of your uniform and check to see that hair is in regs and that your shoes are shined. The only other thing that I know of that contributes to a freshman's MPA is a grade given by their AOC and AMT. An AOC is an Air Officer Commanding, and an AMT is a Academy Military Trainer. Every squadron has an officer and a couple of senior non-commissioned officers attached to it to oversee the squad and make sure it is run well. They also give out punishments if need be. I am sorry this was long, but I hope this helps!
 
Thank you, Rage 14! I can see you're quickly becoming my answer person! Those details are exactly what I was hoping to understand. Awesome!
 
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