The Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) was developed to measure and evaluate a candidate's potential to successfully complete the physical programs at the United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, and United States Military Academy. The CFA consists of six (6) physical and motor fitness events that are designed to measure muscular strength and endurance, cardio-respiratory endurance, power, balance, and agility. When administered together as a single battery, these six events will help the Admissions Board determine if a candidate possesses the stamina and movement skills required to successfully complete the physical program and perform the duties required of commissioned officers in the uniformed services.
The six test events of the CFA are administered consecutively in less than a 40-minute time period. Candidates should attempt to do their best on all six events, keeping in mind that the events are sequenced to produce a cumulative loading effect. In other words, after completing the first five events, it is doubtful that a candidate will score his/her best on the 1-mile run. This has been considered in the development of the criterion-referenced standards, which will be used to evaluate performance in each of the six events. Candidates' raw scores will be converted to scale scores (0-100 points) based upon their performance on each event. The 100-point maximum score, by event and gender, are listed in the table below. A candidate who achieves the 100-point level on any of the first five events should not attempt further repetitions, as this will not improve his/her score.
| B-Ball Throw | Pull-Ups | Shuttle Run | Crunches | Push-Ups | 1-Mile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 102 | 18 | 7.8 | 95 | 75 | 5:20 |
| Female | 66 | 7 | 8.6 | 95 | 50 | 6:00 |
ADMINISTRATOR NOTE: Exam date must be submitted in the format DD-MON-YYYY with the first three letters of the month being spelled out. The attached calendar tool will fill in the entry automatically when selected.
The CFA is an important component of the admissions process at each Service Academy and is used to determine if candidates can meet the physical rigors of military life. The test must be administered properly and standardized in order to accurately reflect a student's physical and motor fitness and to be fair to all candidates. The CFA MUST be administered by a high school/prep school physical education teacher, a coach, a current JROTC instructor, an active duty commissioned officer , or the candidate's Blue and Gold Officer. The test must also be administered according to the following directions in a single 40-minute time period. At the completion of testing, the administering official will submit the test scores via an emailed electronic module. Submission of this test to the Naval Academy signifies affirmation that the test was administered to standard and that the scores accurately reflect the candidate's physical performance. Diagnostic testing is encouraged to help familiarize the candidate with the pace and stamina required to complete the entire test battery. THE OFFICIALLY REPORTED SCORES MUST ALL COME FROM A SINGLE TEST ADMINISTRATION. The following form may be printed and used for aid in recording and submitting test results.
Printable Score Sheet (Not to be used as a substitute for electronic submission.)
On test day, the candidate should be encouraged to spend 20-30 minutes in active warm-up and stretching prior to beginning the test. The test battery must be completed according to the timeline below, and candidates are not permitted to warm up, rest, or practice other than during the time officially allotted. The administering official will read and be familiar with the enclosed test instructions prior to administration. The following statement must be read verbatim to the candidate prior to beginning the test:
"You are about to take the United States Service Academies' Candidate Fitness Assessment.
This test will measure your muscular strength and endurance, cardio-respiratory endurance, and motor fitness. The results of this test will be used in the admissions process at each service academy by demonstrating your level of physical and motor fitness. Listen closely to the test instructions. You may cease work when you have scored the maximum for any individual event. Otherwise, do your best on each event. You have 40 minutes to complete the entire test. After you complete each event, the scorer will record your raw score and the time the event was tested. If at any time you cannot continue to meet the timed requirements, the test will be terminated."
Additional personnel will be needed to facilitate the administration of certain events, in particular the basketball throw. It may also be prudent to have control and/or medical personnel on site during the test, although they are not required. At a minimum, the physical education teacher should have an emergency action plan for getting help if needed.
The administering official should prepare the test site and obtain any required equipment in advance of testing. The scorer and his/her assistants must be familiar with event instructions, and it is recommended that at least one copy of these instructions be printed for use during the test. The scorer should read aloud the instructions before each event. Scorers should have a clipboard and a writing instrument to record results and must maintain strict professional standards. Additional personnel may be used to assist with the administration of the events.
The following list of equipment is needed to administer the CFA:
Candidates should wear clothing and shoes that are appropriate for physical training such as shorts, T-shirts, socks, and running shoes (tennis/basketball shoes are not recommended). Any item that gives a candidate an unfair advantage is not permitted during the CFA. Wearing devices such as weight belts or elastic bandages may or may not provide an advantage. Such additional equipment is not authorized unless prescribed by medical personnel. The only exceptions are appropriate cold weather apparel while running outdoors.
From a conceptual standpoint, the CFA was designed to be administered in two adjacent venues; an indoor gymnasium and an outdoor track. The gymnasium should be of sufficient size to permit testing the basketball throw. The space needed is approximately 100 linear feet (slightly longer than a standard basketball court). The pull-up bar should be of sufficient height (approximately 8 feet) that the candidate's feet will not touch the floor at full extension. The bar diameter should be no greater than 2 inches. The administering official should prearrange the first five events prior to the start of the testing.
The 1-mile run is the last event administered in the CFA. Although it may be administered in an indoor gymnasium or stadium, time has been allotted for transit to an outdoor track. Regardless of the 1-mile run course, the running surface should be flat and free of debris. In either the indoor or outdoor facility, it is imperative that the 1-mile distance be measured accurately. In submitting the time for the run, the candidate and scorer are affirming that the 1-mile distance has been measured and is accurate.
The test sequence will follow the order listed below. This order cannot be modified. There are no exceptions to this sequence or timing.
| Events | Test Start Time | Testing Time | Rest | Total Elapsed Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basketball Throw | 0:00 | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 5:00 |
| Pull-Ups | 5:00 | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 10:00 |
| Shuttle Run | 10:00 | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 15:00 |
| Crunches | 15:00 | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 20:00 |
| Push-Ups | 20:00 | 2 minutes | 3 minutes | 25:00 |
| 1-Mile Run | 30:00 | 10 minutes | 5 minutes* | 40:00 |
* The 5-minute rest includes the transition time to the outdoor track. If the 1-mile run cannot be started by minute 30, an alternative arrangement for a running surface must be found.
The following paragraphs describe the equipment, facilities, personnel, instructions, administration, timing techniques, and scorers' duties for each event.
This measures ability to generate shoulder girdle power and total coordination/ balance in a stationary position.
The candidate must:
The scorer will:
(Female candidates should take this exam unless unable to execute 1 cadence pull-up)
This measures muscular strength and endurance of the shoulder, back, and arms and is an indicator of the ability to lift one's body weight in a pulling motion.
The candidate must:
The scorer will:
Correct execution- chin is over but not touching the bar. Assistant may steady swing.
(Required for female candidates who are unable to execute 1 pull-up)
This is an alternative measure of muscular strength and endurance. If a woman can successfully perform 1 correct cadence pull-up, it is to her advantage on the scoring scale to use the pull-up result instead of a flexed-arm hang. The scale score (0-100) for 1 cadence pull-up is higher than the highest scale score for a maximum score on the flexed-arm hang.
The candidate must:
The scorer will:
Stopwatch is started when arms are fully flexed and chin is leveled above bar. "GO" command is given.
This measures the ability to move rapidly while changing directions. Indicator of anaerobic power, agility, and quickness.
The candidate must:
The test is begun with the candidate's body behind the start/finish line.
This measures abdominal/core body muscular endurance.
The candidate must:
The scorer will:
This measures upper body muscular endurance.
The candidate must:
The scorer will:
Starting Position
Down Position
This measures aerobic capacity and endurance.
The candidate must:
The scorer will:
This is the end of the Candidate Fitness Assessment. If problems are encountered during the administration of the test or in the electronic submission of scores, please contact the Office of Admissions via email or at (410) 293-1858.
