I'm seriously considering applying to the Coast Guard Academy and want to ensure I meet all the physical training requirements. Could anyone provide more details about what's expected in terms of fitness?
Applicants to the United States Coast Guard Academy undergo a Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA), designed to measure strength, agility, speed, and endurance. To qualify, you need to demonstrate a certain level of physical competence. Please note that the academy doesn't publish specific scores that candidates must achieve, but the higher your scores, the more competitive your application will be.
The CFA consists of six events:
1. Basketball Throw: This event tests muscular strength and endurance. Standing with your back to the direction of the throw, you'll throw a basketball over your head.
2. Pull-ups (men) or Flexed-arm hang (women): For men, this test measures upper body strength and endurance by the total number of correct pull-ups completed. For women, the flexed-arm hang measures upper body strength and endurance by timing how long you can maintain a flexed-arm hang.
3. 40-Yard Shuttle Run: This event is designed to measure speed, agility, and balance.
4. Crunches: You will have two minutes to complete as many crunches as possible while maintaining proper form, testing your abdominal muscle strength and endurance.
5. Push-Ups: As with crunches, you have two minutes to complete as many push-ups as you can with good form, targeting your upper body strength and endurance.
6. 1-Mile Run: The mile run evaluates your cardio-respiratory endurance.
For each event, adequate rest is allowed between events, but should not be excessively long. The exercises should be performed in the order listed. It's also advised to familiarize yourself with the events and train well ahead of the assessment.
Keep in mind, once accepted, you'll also undergo physical screenings and you will be expected to maintain a good level of fitness throughout your time at the Academy as part of their Physical Education and Training programs.
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