<p>Folks, I think we've beat this one to death, and we're way off from where we started. Can we bump this?</p>
<p>In concept, I agree with USNA69. The Navy and Marine Corps need people that have degrees in engineering and the sciences. That is probably why the Admissions Board looks for candidates with strong math and science backgrounds. The technical background and the ability to understand these concepts is a necessary requirement of a junior officer (you do have the requirement to check a Preventive Maintenance action that was completed on a piece of equipment, so you should be somewhat technical) and senior officers. But at the same time there are requirements for people who have an understanding of the humanities. However, your career choice could rely heavily on your undergraduate degree. If I wanted to be a submariner, I would not choose European History as my major. If you review the biographies of our senior leadership you will see that many of their postgraduate degrees are in disciplines other than engineering. The Supe was a mechanical engineering major at USNA, but he also has an MBA and a Masters in Public Administration. I believe it is easier for an engineering major to follow this path than it would be for a humanities major to become an engineer. It is my opinion that USNA wants people to pursue the engineering and science disciplines, because the Navy will have more options on where to utilize these resources. And, that is the right thing. However, I do know alot of Marines, SEALS, Pilots and Surface Warfare Officers who were very successful in their careers who were not engineers. But, I personnally would recommend that a Midshipman choose a technical major. I was a math major.</p>
<p>This thread has gotten off tpic :) but I have a question that'll bring it back...</p>
<p>Can anyone give me any advice on the Basketball Throw and the Shuttle Run, I have heard that escpecially for the bball throw technique can really improve scores...</p>
<p>Hi jpr,</p>
<p>Good leadership decision on your part to bring this thread back around!</p>
<p>My mid started out with a puny, disappointing b-ball throw (as a lax and football player, not a lot of experience here) - his little sis and I teased him a bit about this weak spot, as we're both b-ball players. :)</p>
<p>Anyway, he went to his HS's b-ball coach one afternoon, who changed his technique. His throw distance doubled as a result! Turned out there's a right way and a wrong way to do this throw...</p>
<p>The next time I talk on the phone to him, I'll ask him specifically what he did.</p>
<p>Technique helps but so does practice -- especially under simulated test conditions. One of the things CFA tests is endurance -- you have very little rest time b/t events. Thus, the fact you can run a mile in 6 minutes one day and do 12 pullups the next day and 45 pushups the third day doesn't mean you'll do as well when you're doing them back to back. (Nor, BTW, does USNA expect you to do as well in combo as you could with individual events).</p>
<p>There are ways to increase the bb throw- not sure how dramatic the results, but you can get distance up a bit....</p>
<p>one is to rock back and forth a bit before throwing.....
the other is more a side-to-side twist at the waist type of thing.....</p>
<p>two things to keep in mind-
your knees (both knees) but not leave the ground at any time- if they do, the throw is disqualified.
Also- the ball does not have to go "straight".... it just has to travel.... the distance can be measured whether or not it goes straight.</p>
<p>The objective, it seems, is to build up a bit of upper body momentum before releasing the ball..... (sort of what a shot-put thrower does)....only you are on your knees doing it!</p>
<p>Practice with a few different ways and see how you do.<br>
Just keep in mind what USNA1985 posted above....
your testing is done in sequence, with defined rest periods between each one (like a minute or 2)..... so while practicing each event seperately is good to nail down technique or build on that particular skill, make sure at some point to practice under "test" conditions.....and don't worry about one particular event- basically the USNA wants to know that you are physically "fit," not necessarily ready for the next olympic trials! </p>
<p>Best of luck!</p>
<p>Prior to Summer Seminar, my son had practiced the BB throw by twisting at the waist and throwing it from his side. His distance was much improved, but once he took the CFA at Summer Seminar, they told him he was not allowed to do it that way, and that it had to be thrown overhead.</p>
<p>i'm a girl..and a plebe, i maxxed out the bball throw...
if you're used to throwing a football around or a baseball...or better, a basketball...the only technique really is to get some arch on the ball and you're good to go</p>
<p>If I remember my physics, 45 degrees is the optimum angle from which to launch for maximum distance. That's my profound input. I knew ballistic missile pendulums were good for more than shooting my physics professor. :)</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice everyone! does anyone know the average for the male bball throw and shuttle run?</p>
<p>CGO has made certain averages available (pushups, situps, and mile run) but, to the best of my knowledge, not scores for the throw or shuttle run. Absent any "official" guidance from CGO/USNA, anything else is just speculation. At the end of the day, you can only do your best.</p>
<p>HOw about the Shuttle Run? I have heard that flexability will improve scores, anything else?</p>
<p>When our oldest son was trying for the PAE (precursor to the CFA) he was having a hard time trying to improve his shuttle run. Back then, the test was 300 yards and the mean time was 59.6 seconds as compared to 9.1 seconds for the CFA version, which is shorter.</p>
<p>I had a hunch and so I laid out a 300 yard run for him to try. What was different was it had no turns, just a simple straight line. I had been telling him that I thought he was losing time in his turns, but he wasn't listening to that advice. So I had him run the same distance all in a straight line. His time was cut in half. It was like a lightbulb came on in his head, "Oh, I'm losing all the time in the turns". He immediately improved his scores upon the very next run. He went on to become a cadet at the USMA.</p>
<p>Fast forward to our third son. Same problem, same solution. We marked off a course that was 120' straight. His time was reduced to around 4:00 seconds. Same distance, no turns. On his next attempt at the shuttle run his time dropped significantly after doing this once.</p>
<p>Try it for yourself to prove that you lose all of your time in your turns. You'll amaze yourself at how much faster you run the course once you prove to yourself that it IS all in the turns. Don't loiter!</p>
<p>As you come to the line you are to touch both a hand and a foot over the line before running back in the other direction. What typically will happen is the runner will slow down in approaching the line, reach down and touch, then turn around and run, wasting about one and a half to two seconds just making a change in direction. Make sure you don't "hang around" while making your change in direction. Don't stop to take in the view or to think "hey, I'm doing pretty well" or anything else that will take your mind off of the task of getting away from there as quickly as possible. Think "hot potato" or "monkey in the middle" or "Hey, that's a hand grenade that's getting ready to go off, I think I don't want to wait around and see if it does". If you slip, don't quit or slow down, pick up the pace. And finally, as in any race, don't stop at the finish line, run through it.</p>
<p>maj: great advice! thanks a ton...</p>