<p>I used a swing-set at the local park when I was home to do pull-ups. It works better if you have big hands, because the bar is usually about 3 inches in diameter.</p>
<p>If you have a park near you with monkey bars, those work well if they are high enough.</p>
<p>Go to a Sports Authority, Garts Sports, etc.... for $14 you can get a chin up bar that fits in any doorway. That's what my son bought and used. later... Mike....</p>
<p>The chin-up bar at my son's school was too short for him, so I took a shovel and dug a hole under it. Worked fine.
BTW, I think if you're on recondo the first semester you have to wait until the second semester PFT before you're off. Could be wrong, but that's what I've heard. Still, if you get a good recondo leader, it can be a great experience (said easily while I'm sitting in a leather chair).</p>
<p>No you're off recondo as soon as you pass. They take it in a week or two.</p>
<p>We had a chin up bar between our dining room and kitchen for years until my b-i-l hit his head on it so hard, he passed out!! </p>
<p>Now, the kids have their bar in their room, and do their chin ups from a hanging position with their knees bent 90 degrees, about 2 " off the ground. </p>
<p>On another matter, after reading about some of the concerns of prospective and current students of other colleges, it is a relief to read what the students and parents write here. To all: keep up the good work. It is great to read about so many young people who love their country!</p>
<p>recondo pft is tomorrow! good luck! hopefully they're allowed to also push back the AFT, since that is schedule for the 12th and 13th.</p>
<p>Daughter took hers today scored 386...maxing both pushups and sit-ups and getting 5 pull-ups with a 6 foot jump and a 1:59 run. Came at good time too. She was feeling a little down after PW. A word to the prospects you will have good days and bad days, but tomorrow will always be a new day with new opportunities.</p>
<p>Congratulations to your daughter
Sounds like her hard work has paid off</p>
<p>Just took the PFT and got a 350, so I'm really happy. My jump was terrible but that's ok because I wasn't expecting any pull-ups and I got 3! All I have left is the AFT, which is more my department. I'm so relieved!</p>
<p>Yeah, I took mine today and passed. (A relief for a guy on recondo)</p>
<p>Nice job on passing, raimius! You were on recondo too? What squad are you in? I probably saw you...</p>
<p>Yeah, it stinks when you're a runner and do great on the AFT and poorly on the PFT and everyone wonders why you're on recondo... I'm glad I'm off. :)</p>
<p>Our squadron had four on recondo, I believe. Our two girls already took the PFT and they're both off. :) The two guys get to take it tomorrow.</p>
<p>I'm in 3. I took it 1st period. Unfortunately, my Cum. PEA is still under 2.0, but I'll fix that fairly soon.</p>
<p>I know you all have allready talked up the pushup thing quite a bit, but here is a site that few of my upperclassman have been using and told me about a yesterday, they say it works incredibly well. So I'm going to get on it, because my weak spot is also pullups. </p>
<p>For all you future cadets, good luck with it, stay focused, enjoy your highschool years, and keep working hard, it'll pay off. If your supposed to be here you will be, believe.</p>
<p>Thanks for the Armstrong Pullup Program link. I've been looking for a focused program with a single goal of improving pull up count, so it is much appreciated.</p>
<p>Meeting with Congressman set for Tuesday afternoon! S is very excited! Fencersmother is a little bit nervous. Questions: should S wear a suit? Get a hair cut? I advised him to take his resume with him and some transcripts too, just in case our Rep. wants to take a look at them.</p>
<p>Here's another question on a slightly different topic: has anyone else enrolled USAFA, or any other service academy, without actually seeing it? I don't know if we'll be able to get S to CO SP before he would leave next summer.</p>
<p>I am sure there have been cadets that did not get the opportunity to visit before entering BCT, but if at all possible you should make an effort. Academic year visits can be made, and during orientation many of the 2011, 2010, and beyond CC cadets will look forward to accomodating your son for a visit. Seeing the place up close and personal can make a big difference. It is a shame to hear about the Cadets who drop during BCT and Ac year becuase the thought it would be different.</p>
<p>1st; Good luck on the interview. If your son stays relaxed and sincere, then he'll be fine. I recommend a shirt and tie at minimum.</p>
<p>As far as visiting goes, I can't speak for the current cadets, but I would venture to say that the majority of applicants probably have never seen the academy in person. 10,000+/- applicants. 700+/- accepted to summer seminar. 500+/- applicants within driving distance. I would say that the majority of applicants probably hasn't seen the academy.</p>
<p>However, they only take 1300+/- applicants and give them appointments. Hypothetically, if all 700+/- of those that attended the summer seminar were given appointments and went, then more than 50% have seen the academy. This however is very unlikely. Matter of fact, I wish more applicants were afforded the opportunity to go to summer seminar. A lot of applicants have second thoughts once they see what they are basically getting into. So, it is my totally "Uneducated" guess that probably about 30-40% of the cadets who make it to training in June and successfully enter classes in the fall have actually seen the academy ahead of time.</p>
<p>Not sure how accurate people on this forum saying; "I did" or "I didn't" will be. Now, if there were 4000-5000 cadets posting on this forum, we'd have a very accurate account. But, FWIW, the academy is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. 18,000 acreas of mountain foothills, hills, and trees. Bigger than any other campus you would ever see. Of course, the academic/living area is pretty traditional. One of the LARGEST tourist attractions in Colorado with over 1 million visitors a year. As far as the campus goes, it puts just about any other college or university to shame. Then again, it's all tax dollars. Anyway, I don't think that not visiting is a problem. Once you do visit, it will be more majestic and beautiful than anything you could have imagined. Later... Mike....</p>
<p>Used to be the very first question asked in the ALO interview was "Have you visited the academy?" Don't know if they still ask that, but it was used to gauge a cadet's interest. I would be curious to know the percentage of people who haven't seen the academy before reporting, but my personal thought is that most people make a visit using one of the several ways such things can be done. After all, most students in general visit their prospective campus at least once before they make a decision. Not to do so can lead to some pretty poor choices. When you visit a campus, you get at least a subtle "vibe" that tells you a whole about the environment. Many people get turned on or off about a particular campus as soon as they visit it.</p>
<p>I highly recommend visiting. I visited for Summer Seminar, and it sealed the decision for me. My roommate last year had never seen it. His is excelling, but has had some tough things to go through because of not knowing what to expect. (He is the ultra-committed to the AF type, so he takes whatever is thrown at him.)</p>