[Animalm0ther3]

So I signed up for AROTC in the fall and have a diagnostic APFT in 3 days. It will be to "determine if I have the physical ability to participate in ROTC" but there is apparently no "minimum" score. Ive been working to meet the standards (about 7 short for pushups and a minute too slow for the 2 mile) but theres a pretty good chance I wont meet the minimum requirements. How bad is this?

[DyePaintballer2k11]

I can't answer how bad it is, but on the running part:

Don't think. Breathe. That's all you need to do. Get a steady breath and you an run forever. Then push yourself just a little bit harder. Keep your pace and keep your breathing in tune. One minute will go down to maybe seconds off.

[SniperForce-Duffek]

Considering they are kicking everyone out of the army if they are PT failures, it isn't looking good. Army is down sizing whether people want to believe it or not.

[generalee72]

Originally Posted by DyePaintballer2k11

......Don't think. Breathe. That's all you need to do. Get a steady breath and you an run forever. Then push yourself just a little bit harder. Keep your pace and keep your breathing in tune. One minute will go down to maybe seconds off.

This.

It's kind of a "too little too late" situation, if you have 3 days there is little to be done at this point.

I was never a strong PFT runner, well any running really, I did good with ruck runs but that just because 50lbs to me wasn't as big of a deal as 50lbs to someone skinny.

But anyways I had a CWO that used to enjoy speeding up during the last mile or so of our runs until he lost everyone, then circle back up collect the group and repeat. One day I ended up behind him, cleared my mind, focused on a mole in the back of his head, steady breathing and kept pace for so long that once he finally realized it was only me keeping up he just stopped running and stared at me trying to figure out what was going on. I almost passed out once my brain/body figured out what had just happened. Point is, don't think about running, just get a pace, force a breathing rhythm and send your brain on a little vacation. It can be a little tough to do at first, but you have to find something that works for you and use it.

[Animalm0ther3]

Thanks for the tips on running, its looking to be like a mental game I have to conquer. But I cannot for the life of me do 42 pushups, is there a certain form or hand width that is easiest? And should I be trying to do them quick before my muscles get tired or slow to pace myself?

[SniperForce-Duffek]

Start off normal then when you get tired slide them out further and do wide arm. There is no specification on how close/far your arms have to be. long as you straighten them out when your up and break the plain when your down.

Edit: Forgot to mention you can also have your feet up to 12 inches apart. Sometimes that helps as well.

[DyePaintballer2k11]

Originally Posted by Animalm0ther3

Thanks for the tips on running, its looking to be like a mental game I have to conquer. But I cannot for the life of me do 42 pushups, is there a certain form or hand width that is easiest? And should I be trying to do them quick before my muscles get tired or slow to pace myself?

I don't have the best advice there, and I can't do 42 for the life of me either. But if this test is important then don't think about a number. Don't count. If someone is counting out loud, don't listen. Just keep thinking one more, and don't think about your arms getting tired.

Basically any endurance test is a mind game. The human body is capable of amazing things. Mothers lifting cars off of their children and ****.


edit-I did read that stretching the opposite muscles of what you will work with will help a ton. Like if you are working your chest, stretch your back or something like that.

[babsa_90]

For some reason that little "don't think" trick doesn't help me very much. When i stop thinking about what i am doing i end up slowing down.

[generalee72]

The "don't think" trick does require a balance between getting sidetracked and too much focus.

The key there is to not think about success, failure, or the specifics of whats happening. Just think about each push itself, but don't think about how many were done, or how many are left.

Also the switching of position can help, but it's good to know what works for you beforehand. Go to close, or to wide and you an mess the whole thing up quicker.

[KingTomis]

also remember not to fatigue your muscles when lowering your upperbody.

You should explode up, pretty much let your body drop with no resistance from your arms then explode back up, repeat many times moar. Lot's of people doing pushups for the first time waste half their energy slowly lowering themselves and wasting a good amount of their muscle fatigue.

[xFortune (Banned)]

Originally Posted by KingTomis

also remember not to fatigue your muscles when lowering your upperbody.

You should explode up, pretty much let your body drop with no resistance from your arms then explode back up, repeat many times moar. Lot's of people doing pushups for the first time waste half their energy slowly lowering themselves and wasting a good amount of their muscle fatigue.

Dot. Helps you get an extra 10+ at least.

Also do the heel, toe technique on sit ups. Alternating between using your quads and abs helps. And don't count in your head how many you are doing on either event, it'll totally **** up your breathing. Breathe in going down, explode up.

[NorKaLKiLLa]

smoke pcp

[e6mafia]

well it all depends i am going to assume you havent passed one yet so you are not contracted. so you wont lose any money or be put on probation. they should still let you do labs and activities as long as you can pass your physical. also another trick i do before all my apft is to put iceyhot on my shoulders and arms you wont notice the burn as much

[Animalm0ther3]

Thanks for the advice, I ended up with 40 pushups, 35 situps and an 18:28 2 mile (**** cramps). I have work to do this summer.

[SniperForce-Duffek]

do 100 push ups a day and start running 3 times a week at least 4+ miles. Only way to get better at doing push ups and sit ups is by doing push ups and sit ups. To work on your run time you need to work on your cardio but also keep in mind you need to strengthen your legs, squats, lunges...etc. Try hitting up a crossfit gym. When I was doing crossfit I was in the best shape of my life.

[kida2]

Originally Posted by SniperForce-Duffek

Considering they are kicking everyone out of the army if they are PT failures, it isn't looking good. Army is down sizing whether people want to believe it or not.

Um.... there are tons of fat kids in the Army. Guys that have been fat kids for years.

[SniperForce-Duffek]

Originally Posted by kida2

Um.... there are tons of fat kids in the Army. Guys that have been fat kids for years.

I know but now they're getting around to kicking the fatties and PT failures out. There is about 6 in my platoon that will be gone soon. You know how many fat people there are in 1st Cav? We'll be down to about 12 guys for the whole division soon enough.

[xFortune (Banned)]

Around 12k a year get kicked out for PT failures in the military.

[Animalm0ther3]

Wow, that sounds like a good way to retire earlier than the army would like.

[kida2]

Originally Posted by SniperForce-Duffek

I know but now they're getting around to kicking the fatties and PT failures out. There is about 6 in my platoon that will be gone soon. You know how many fat people there are in 1st Cav? We'll be down to about 12 guys for the whole division soon enough.

What unit are you in down here? I'm in HHC 1-12 Cav 3rd Bde.

[Big Johnny D (Banned)]

Pacing like half of 1/3 ACR's 17-21 APFT Failures tomorrow at 0600 haha, drunk now. lol.