CFA Test Compared to Other Fitness Exams

[TrackStar]

Back when I was considering a future in the military and applying to West Point two years ago, I took the Candidate Fitness Assessment after a month of training specifically for the events and got the maximum score. Today I took the test again without training for it just for fun and once again got the maximum score. Each of the six events is done one right after the other and every event leading up to the mile is given a two minute testing time with a three minute break afterwards. Here are the maximum scores and average scores for each event:

Perfect Score
BB throw - 102 ft
Pullups - 18
30 Foot Shuttle Run 2x - 7.8 seconds
Situps - 95
Pushups - 75
Mile Run - 5:20

Average Score
BB throw - 67 ft
Pullups - 9
30 Foot Shuttle Run 2x - 9.1
Situps - 72
Pushups - 54
Mile Run - 6:43

It seems like the maximum score can be easily attained by a lot of high school athletes with only 4 months of training. I know that Army, Navy, and Air Force are more than just about physical fitness, but you'd think the maximum (not average passing) score should be more comparable to the standards a Division-1 College Athlete is held to.

I know there are a lot of people on this board who have ambitious pursuits and have taken or are training for one kind of fitness test or another. I'm curious what the rigors of these tests are compared to the CFA. Also, if anyone here knows what the fitness standards are for a Green Beret or a Navy Seal could you add those too? Its hard to know whether the stuff online is accurate.

[Matt Mendes]

Fitness assessments for the SEALS, Green Berets, PJs, Recon, and Rescue Swimmers are always going to stop at average for the entrance assessment and above average for the graduation. You wont' see D-1 times or requirements in America. Any person with decent genes, time and proper training can get to D-1. Put them in the water for water confidence or in team drills after being up for 24 hours and suddenly their 4 min mile or 30 pull ups means nothing because they can't hold it together. But you know who can? The 5'6" skinny average Joe whos never really done anything with sports until this point but he doesn't quit and is used to adversity although he's barely passing the pt each week. PT tests will never measure the immeasurable. They serve to assure candidates for SOF have the fitness necessary to not die in the field and to weed out those without the motivation to train for it, that is it. It may be a way to widdle down that officer candidate pool for some military school, but those standards you list are far above the maximums for the enlisted SOF. Who do you think is "tougher"? Thats up to you. Beyond that its all about that intangible thing commonly called heart. It doesn't take D-1 times to have a big heart. A fitting day to remind ourselves of that.

[greg57]

BB throw?

ball bearing?
barbell?
bean bag?