<p>Hi, I'm a freshman participating in the ROTC program. I'm not contracted for a scholarship or anything, just a normal cadet. On Sept 19th I went to the ROTC orientation and the instructors made me take a physical test right at the spot. </p>
<pre><code> My results were extremely pitiful. Push-ups I could only do 2, sit-ups 26 and running 2 miles was 24:05. I'm a FEMALE by the way, but in even so, my scores were very poor. I'm 5'3'' and weigh about 130 pounds. Never considered myself skinny, but never thought I'm fat either. This PT result really came as a shock.
Ever since I've been going to the regular physical training 3 times a week 6:00 in the morning sharp, and I even plan to go to the extra practices on Wednesday and Friday starting from tomorrow.
We have another physical exam coming up on Oct 6th, which is next Thursday. I'm so stressed out. I know I'm improving bit by bit, but I'm most certainly not ready for the physical test yet, let alone pass it.
I want to be in the ROTC program very bad, but I'm terrified I might get kicked out if I don't pass the physical test multiple times. How many chances do freshman usually get to pass the physical test before they get disenrolled? I am confident about my GPA and know that I can keep it up to the best, it's just the physical stuff that's pulling me back. A little help please? Should I go up to my instructor and talk about this?? :(
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<p>if I’m not mistaken, as long as you show improvements and are not contracted, they won’t kick you out. have you asked whoever’s in charge?</p>
<p>I haven’t asked any of the sergeants yet…too embarrassed to bring the subject up. Do you think I should go up and talk to them about this?</p>
<p>I know in basic they won’t kick you out over one bad PT score…just get better at it and yes, ask the sergeants just in case. You should be fine…but I don’t know how PT in RO works.</p>
<p>i’m not in ROTC but I’ve known several people who’ve been in. I think you ought to talk to them. If you strike them as someone with potential who really wants to be a great officer they’ll probably be more likely to let it slide (as long as you keep showing improvement) than if you’re a total slouch and boor.</p>
<p>morale, camaraderie, discipline, in case your convoy gets attacked, etc.</p>
<p>Well first of all, I don’t know if you have ever actually ran 2 miles but I was jogging the WHOLE time. Walking at a brisk pace a mile / 12 minutes? You must have very long legs.</p>
<p>And Secondly, it doesn’t matter if you are a female or a male. If you are an officer you should be physically fit and ready to lead your platoon at any time.</p>
<p>As a leader, you should be close to - if not the most - physically fit person in your platoon, doesn’t matter what branch you commission into. Your soldiers won’t respect you if you can’t keep up with them. </p>
<p>Anyway, to the OP: don’t stress so much about it. You’re only a freshman and they don’t expect you to be in peak physical shape when you start the program - they’ll help you get there. If you do want to contract, you’ll have to pass the PT test. But you won’t have to make that decision until the end of your sophomore year, at which point you’ll be light years beyond where you are physically right now if you’re committed to improving. </p>
<p>I speak from experience. I’m in my second year of Army ROTC right now at Princeton University. When I started the program, I could do maybe 4 good pushups and was running a 28 minute 2 mile. Now I’m at about 24 pushups and a 19 minute 2 mile. I still need to improve but I’m getting there. You will too if it’s something you really want.</p>
<p>I would suggest that every day, you run the two miles, buttry to do it 10 seconds quicker than the day before, so GRADUALLY, you will be increasing your speed.</p>
<p>If you will recall, in the movie Officer and a Gentleman, all the officer candidates were out of shape when they started the program.</p>
<p>Of course, that’s just a movie.</p>
<p>That being said, they have no incentive to wash a female out of the program that quickly. I think they will take the attititude that ROTC is a marathon, not a sprint, and will take the long term view, as long as they see you TRYING to improve, and in fact, improving, even if at a slow pace.</p>
<p>I don’t think they care, even at the very end, if you are running slower than the other females, just that you are running the very best that you yourself can possibly run.</p>
<p>I honestly think you should talk to your instructors. You shouldn’t be embarrassed, because they already know your score. I’m in ROTC as a freshman as well, and we have 2 PT tests a semester but if you don’t do well the instructors are certainly willing to work with you as long as they see that you’re trying and improving.</p>