ROTC Completes Physical Fitness Test
5:30 . . . AM?
For the average college student, getting up at 5:30 in the morning sounds impossible. But for the determined cadets involved in Maranatha’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, a 5:30 a.m. wakeup call is just a part of their routine. Three times a week the cadets gather for physical training before many of their fellow students have even started brewing their first cups of coffee.
On Sept. 6-7, however, their early activity differed slightly from the norm. In place of their usual physical training session, each of the cadets performed the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT).
Test Description
This test consists of three basic workouts: two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups, and a two-mile run. In order to pass, each cadet had to attain at least 60 points within each event for an overall minimum of 180 points. A maximum of 100 points can be earned per test, making 300 the perfect score.
Matt Wetzel, the Public Affairs Officer in the ROTC department, explains that among all the cadets at Maranatha, they try to average a score of 255. But within the goal of scoring a high number, there lies a greater purpose for this test.
Purpose of the APFT
According to Captain Jon DeGreeff, “Everything in the military revolves around this test.” On a general level, APFT results provide a summary of each cadet’s physical fitness. Last week’s test was the first of several just like it that will take place once a month throughout the semester. The cadets will track their progress, create new goals, and aim for higher averages.
When they retake it November, those test results will be written on each of their permanent records—records that decide the future of each cadet. All cadets who successfully complete the program will be commissioned as army officers, but their APFT scores are one of the factors that determines how likely they are to receive their desired positions.
Of this first APFT, freshman Korben Spurlock says, “It showed me I needed to get to work—and fast—if I wanted to be prepared for my future as a U.S. Army Officer.”
Test Results
In their first attempt at the APFT for this year, the majority of MBU’s cadets passed.
The top three scorers included Cadet Kile (300), Cadet Lewis (292), and Cadet Peach (291). Although the cadets as a whole were unable to reach their goal of a 255 average, they remain hopeful.
With several more tests to come, there is room for constant improvement as they work diligently to shape their future in the military. Serving their country with faithfulness and excellence will make all those early mornings worth it.