Army

[beef_bourito]

So i just did my fitness self evaluation for the canadian military, i can do the 19 pushups and situps required (a joke if you ask me), i can run the 2.4km in under 12 minutes (again, not that tough) and i can do the recommended 8 chinups (i can do around 20 now, i've been doing them in my free time for a while now). it's really not that tough to make it into the military is it.

what are the physical requirements to make it into the american military? i think they're changing it here where instead of having to submit to a fitness evaluation before basic, they make you go to basic and they test you once you're done, i guess they're running low on applicants now that we're actually suffering a few casualties.

[skibum1111]

I believe its the same here, or very close to it. Run a mile in 12 minutes or less, and I think its still 20 pushups and 10 chinups. Pretty lame when you think about it, but if you talk to anyone who went through boot camp they place more emphasis on duration. Here they would take a person who could run a 4 minute mile but would love to have a marathon runner instead. The 4 minute miler would have a helluva time going 10 miles with a loaded field pack, but the marathon runner would have a much easier time of it.

[beef_bourito]

a mile is 1.6km, and the chinups here aren't a requirement but they suggest that you should be able to do 8 because you'll have to do them in basic.

also i don't think they actually make you run 2.4k, they do a 3min step test where you step up and down a 3 step thing and they check your heartbeat.

also i forgot the squeeze test, you have to do something where the total of your left arm and right arm is 70lbs or something, not sure what it is but i hear it's easy, plus a scrawny guy i know did it so i'm damned sure ill be able to do it.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by skibum1111

I believe its the same here, or very close to it. Run a mile in 12 minutes or less, and I think its still 20 pushups and 10 chinups. Pretty lame when you think about it, but if you talk to anyone who went through boot camp they place more emphasis on duration. Here they would take a person who could run a 4 minute mile but would love to have a marathon runner instead. The 4 minute miler would have a helluva time going 10 miles with a loaded field pack, but the marathon runner would have a much easier time of it.

If you are referring to current US Army standards that is incorrect or not even close. However, standards for physical fitness testing will vary among the US armed services.

The current US Army test is called the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). For active duty the test is required twice a year. It is based on a scoring system. The minimum score is 60 points per event. To pass Army basic training the minimum score is 50 per event. There are 3 events.....pushups, situps and a timed two mile run.

For an age 17-21 male here are the minimum standards for passing Army basic training which is 50 points per event for a total of 150 points:

Pushups = 35 repetitions
Situps = 47 repetitions
Two Mile Run = 16 minutes, 36 seconds

[beef_bourito]

well that's not bad, harder than the one here but still not bad. do you have to do it before basic or do they send you off to basic and you do it after?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by beef_bourito

well that's not bad, harder than the one here but still not bad. do you have to do it before basic or do they send you off to basic and you do it after?

Normally at Army basic training they will take you through a preliminary test a few weeks into basic training just to see where you stand and at the end of the cycle which may be around 7 - 8 weeks administer the final before graduation.

So it is done during basic not before. Only the US Service Academies and possibly College ROTC programs require a physical fitness test before you enroll.

[beef_bourito]

i'm applying to ROTP (regular officer training plan) so that's why i'm doing this. they pay for your university and you do time in the military as an officer afterwards, is tha at all what ROTC is?

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by beef_bourito

i'm applying to ROTP (regular officer training plan) so that's why i'm doing this. they pay for your university and you do time in the military as an officer afterwards, is tha at all what ROTC is?

Sounds very similar to me but we have two programs. One is the ROTC - Reserve Officers' Training Corps Program via civilian colleges. After you graduate you get commissioned as a Reserve Officer but with the option to go on active duty. There is Army, Air Force and Navy/Marine ROTC.

Service Academies such as West Point, Air Force Academy and Naval Academy are the regular Officers. Upon graduation you get commissioned as a Second Lieutenant or Ensign. You must serve a minimum of 5 years active duty and 3 years Individual Ready Reserve total 8 years through these programs.

My oldest son is in his third year at West Point (Army).

Sounds like you made a good decision and good luck in your endeavors.

[beef_bourito]

we've got rmc which is alot like westpoint, but you can also do the same thing at a civilian university, you do your basic training and officer trining and whatnot during the summer

you have to do 2 months of service for every month of subsidized pay, so since i've only got 3 years after this (which is when they'll start paying) that adds up to 24 months (8 months per year) and 4 years of sevice

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by beef_bourito

we've got rmc which is alot like westpoint, but you can also do the same thing at a civilian university, you do your basic training and officer trining and whatnot during the summer

you have to do 2 months of service for every month of subsidized pay, so since i've only got 3 years after this (which is when they'll start paying) that adds up to 24 months (8 months per year) and 4 years of sevice

Time wise that is not too bad compared to the US. The government does expect a return for their investment in you.

Personally I'd take college ROTC. It is easier here. The service academies are alot harder academically and regimentally. The core curriculum is engineering and then you can go onto your major. All degrees are a Bachelors of Science only. All Cadet basic and advanced training the first two years is done during two months of the summer and the rest of the school year, first and second semester is academics and putting up with the regimented military stuff. If my son were in College ROTC he could be staying home and going to classes every day and would only put on a uniform once a week. The difference is the total of scholarship equivalent available. Service academy is the equivalent of $350,000 over 4 years and ROTC is a maximum of $52,000 for 4 years. With either program you can't go wrong. It is a good deal until you get orders to go to Iraq after graduation.

Plus my son gets an $800 a month stipend all year around, free room and board to include all meals. He went to Airborne Jump School at Ft. Benning this past summer for his Junior year. His Army branch will be Infantry and later he plans on being a Ranger.

[beef_bourito]

with ours they'll cover all your necessary expenses, so tuition, books, other random fees, then they give you around $1200 canadian every month for room and board, either on campus or off campus. so for me that's the equivalent of about $90,000 over 4 years, which is alot because our universities are subsidised, i pay $6,600 per year in tuition plus some other fees and books, so in total it's about $8,000 every year.

you can also just do the reserves during the school year and the summer. if you do that you don't have any kind of service requirement but they'll pay $2,000 of your university or college tuition every year, so $8,000 plus whatever you're making at the job. not too shabby considering the tuition fees.