West Point Candidate Qualified Letter

[bookreader]

My son passed the CFA but didn't pass it on Rday. What he found was that many of his (sit up or push ups - I forget which) reps didn't count. They would have counted for this CFA but at WP, they required a slightly different technique and he didn't know this until after the CFA on Rday. Had he known going in, he would have done things differently. So, @frenzymando , I think you are correct. It may also be correct that not everyone stays in shape, but that was not the case with my son. He was one of the most fit new cadets in his unit.

 

[mom3boys]

That PE SOE must be new.

I think they were finding a great disparity between the results of CFA's administered "in the field" and the results of diagnostics taken on R-day or shortly thereafter.

Last summer, before Rday, my DS received a letter that stated something like: You reported X pullups on your CFA; you are expected to be able to do Y pullups on Rday. They expect the CCs to stay in shape, so I think you are correct on the concern over the disparity.

Mom3boys, do you recall what pullup numbers "X" and "Y" were? And on Rday, did they perform the entire CFA, including the run? Can't imagine they had time to do that?

X and Y were dependent on the individual cadet's CFA. Only the pullups were done on Rday. My cadet had 18 on his CFA and he was expected to do 11 (I think??). It was no big deal; he did 19 to show he didn't embellish. =) He's a skinny thing w/ lots of upper body strength. Now he's on a WP team that takes advantage of that type of strength.

 

[mom3boys]

My son passed the CFA but didn't pass it on Rday. What he found was that many of his (sit up or push ups - I forget which) reps didn't count. They would have counted for this CFA but at WP, they required a slightly different technique and he didn't know this until after the CFA on Rday. Had he known going in, he would have done things differently. So, @frenzymando , I think you are correct. It may also be correct that not everyone stays in shape, but that was not the case with my son. He was one of the most fit new cadets in his unit.

I think you mean the APFT that was done during beast. There is no CFA at beast...and only pull ups on Rday. Many find that they do sit ups and pull ups different than the Army standard once they get there.

 

[Stemmom]

Anyone know what triggers the 3Q letter? Son completed application in Aug, FF interview in Sept, DODMERB in Sept, all teacher recs August/sept, CFA first week in Nov, nomination received end of Nov. PE SOE completed. test scores in top 99th%ile, top 7% of class etc. no LOA or 3Q letter.

 

[845something]

Once a completed file is reviewed for qualification, then a letter is generated. That review wouldn't have started until the CFA was complete. If his scores are truly that high and his school is competitive, the RC may be trying for an adjustment. Or perhaps there is a delay since they want to see the PE SOE. Is there anything in his file that would require review by the admission committee?

It can take some time to get the qualification review done and then all of the sudden, there'll be a 3Q letter in the portal. In the end, it is not important as the status is what matters, not the letter.

 

[Stemmom]

Once a completed file is reviewed for qualification, then a letter is generated. That review wouldn't have started until the CFA was complete. If his scores are truly that high and his school is competitive, the RC may be trying for an adjustment. Or perhaps there is a delay since they want to see the PE SOE. Is there anything in his file that would require review by the admission committee?

It can take some time to get the qualification review done and then all of the sudden, there'll be a 3Q letter in the portal. In the end, it is not important as the status is what matters, not the letter.

Nothing that we can think of would need review which is why we are really getting worried lol. He has so many leadership positions too, multiple varsity sports etc. I encouraged him to contact his field force rep next week and see if he can check on his app and see if there is anything missing that we are not aware of. Thought he had finished so many things early except CFA. He is in a competitive school a special program - maybe they are going to adjust for that??

 

[bookreader]

I think you mean the APFT that was done during beast. There is no CFA at beast...and only pull ups on Rday. Many find that they do sit ups and pull ups different than the Army standard once they get there.

You are correct @mom3boys - I used the wrong terminology in my post. When he took the APFT during beast, he didn't pass it (he passed some parts of it) as he found that the standard was a different one than what was used during his CFA. He did ace the swim test which he didn't prepare for - so he was definitely fit - he just needed to learn the new standard for the APFT.

 

[buff81]

Not all RCs send a 3Q letter.

 

[mom3boys]

You are correct @mom3boys - I used the wrong terminology in my post. When he took the APFT during beast, he didn't pass it (he passed some parts of it) as he found that the standard was a different one than what was used during his CFA. He did ace the swim test which he didn't prepare for - so he was definitely fit - he just needed to learn the new standard for the APFT.

I don't remember the percentages, but I think it's at least 50% of the NCs don't pass the APFT on the first try (called a diagnostic APFT)...mostly for reasons you state: different way of doing situps and pushups.

 

[bookreader]

@mom3boys - My son told me the number but I don't remember it either. Mostly he was frustrated because his not passing lumped him with the cadets who didn't say in shape. He actively worked to stay in shape and was in fact one of the stronger cadets in his group. He knew that he'd pass it just fine when tested again (since he now knew exacatly what he needed to do), but it irked him nonetheless.

I"m beating this dead horse to point out (to other service academy readers) that some don't pass for reasons other than that they didn't stay in shape.

You can bet that he'll have a very different experience this summer.