<p>I was just wondering how much emphasis is placed on the Candidate Fitness Assessment? I took mine recently and totally bombed it. I won't post the scores so I don't embarrass myself further, but let's just say it was way below average. Even with an otherwise strong application, will I be disqualified? I meet the weight requirement, I just haven't been very active.</p>
<p>It will sure not help. If I am not mistaken you can take it as many times as you want and submit the highest, but maybe that has changed from when I applied. Take some time and work on it. While it will not destroy your application it will be a red flag raised, and when they are trying to find reasons to admit you, you do not want to give then a reason not to. </p>
<p>Coming to plebe summer not being able to pass the CFA is not going to be a good thing if you are accepted. You will quickly garner negative attention from the detailers, and that is the last thing you want. </p>
<p>Long story short, work on it, if you can take it again, do so.</p>
<p>Are you a candidate for 2014?
My Mid will be a detailer this summer. He is a very reasonable person, not one to pick on others, supportive of genuine effort and good intentions. But as he always says, “Fitness is the easy part. You just have to do it.”
If you show up out of shape – as if you didn’t try, “inactive,” unwilling to put in the effort – hope you are not in his company.</p>
<p>It is very important, and is an indication of minimum physical fitness. And yes, not passing it can sink your boat.</p>
<p>The CFA is one component of the “triple q’d.” It is important to pass it.
The good news is that you can take it as many times as you like, as long as you have it in by the application deadline.</p>
<p>I would suggest practicing the components, practice running [sprints], and build some upper body strength. When you feel you can improve your scores, take the test again.
You need to have a “pass” in order for your application to move forward.</p>
<p>“not being active:”… watch it, you are entering a place where beign active and physically fit is the name of the game.</p>
<p>Our fave Mid says much same. Fitness is the easy part. Unless one’s not fit, in which case it becomes the well-spring of enormous grief both on and off the athletic floors and fields. Unfit plebes become the quick and immediate targets to be tested about their ability to get it done. In any case, I’d not want to be in the position of depending upon so-called reasonable detailers. Conversely, none are ex-communicated for that in plebe summer. First class year may be another story.</p>
<p>The short answer to your question: My guess is this is NOT good news if your in this spring’s hunt w/ an alleged 17K candidates to date.</p>
<p>Candidate files are due completed NLT March 1. Therefore, you are out of luck to improve your score. Check with your BGO to see if you are physically qualified. If you did, indeed, pass the CFA, become “very active”, very quickly. If not, better luck next year when you will be better prepared.</p>
<p>More to the point, the Physical Readiness Test (PRT) will be a part of your Naval Academy experience for the entire four years. If you’re not used to regular, strenuous physical exercise, it’s not something you can “cram” for and do well on unless you are just naturally fit.</p>
<p>In the Fleet or USMC you will take the PRT at least twice a year, and the Marine PFT is a lot tougher test than the Navy PRT. A regular fitness regimen needs to be a big part of your life to be successful in the military.</p>
<p>Think hard about that reality before you decide that you want to commit to the military. Being out of shape, overweight and/or over body fat is a career-killer, and you’ll be miserable if you don’t like to exercise.</p>
<p>To followup on USNA84’s post, here is an article that might be of interest!</p>
<p>[Naval</a> Academy Takes Aim at Physical Readiness](<a href=“http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=51357]Naval”>http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=51357)</p>
<p>I reckon I’m on the same boat as ZappedZ. The only thing is that I graduate high school in 2011 instead of 2010. How long of a timeframe would I have to become fit and prepare for the CFA?
I’m also thinking about attending NASS to get a taste of USNA before I decide to aim to go there. Would my physical fitness affect my experience in NASS?</p>
<p>Short answer: Yes.</p>
<p>You will take the CFA as part of the NASS experience. If you are selected to attend NASS - it’s fairly competitive - you will also be evaluated by new 3rd Class Midshipmen, and that will become part of your file. </p>
<p>You’ve got three months to prepare for NASS. That should be plenty of time to get ready for a typical 16-17 year-old.</p>
<p>A word of caution about NASS though:</p>
<p>I am hard pressed to find someone who did not have a blast at the end of “Camp Tecumseh” as we call summer seminar here. It is a week long, camp like experience that introduces you to the fun side of the academy, and leaves out just about every nasty bit imaginable. It is a recruiting tool, and make sure you realize this as you are going through it. </p>
<p>That being said, NASS is a great place for you to begin making a good impression, because if you get accepted to NASS and are physically qualified, and your youngster isn’t a total jerk, you have a very good shot at getting your acceptance letter.</p>
<p>Tl/Dr: Try to go to NASS and make a good impression, but remember what it is and take it with a grain of salt. </p>
<p>Sorry for the thread hijack, i’ll back out now</p>