PHYSICAL TRAINING (PT) DAY.  All NJROTC cadets are required to PT with their platoon (class) routinely on either Thursday or Friday each week. The PT uniform (shirt and shorts) issued by NJROTC must be worn on that day. Failure to wear it will result in a PT grade will receive a grade of zero. PT varies from week to week and is typically delegated by the Physical Training Commander. To be excused from PT a parent or doctor note is required. Even if excused from PT, the PT uniform must still be worn that day to maintain the team spirit and continuity for the platoon.  Cadets must have a completed physical form signed by a doctor that has been turned in to the instructors in order to participate in PT.

The Cadet Challenge is a physical fitness test that each NJROTC Cadet at Lyndon B. Johnson High School takes each quarter. It is comprised of curl-ups for 1-minute, push-ups to cadence, and timed 1-mile run. 

Curl-ups: Conduct this event on a flat, clean surface, preferably with a mat. Start in a lying position on their backs with their knees up so their feet are flat on the floor and about 12 inches from their buttocks. Cadets should have their arms crossed with their hands placed on opposite shoulders and their elbows held close to the chest throughout the exercise. The feet are to be held by a partner at the instep. At the command “ready, go,” cadets raise the trunks of their bodies, curling up to touch the elbows to the thighs. They must then lower their backs so that their shoulder blades touch the floor/mat. This constitutes one repetition of a curl-up. During each repetition, bouncing off the floor/mat is not allowed and the fingers must touch the shoulders at all times. Cadets must try to complete as many curl-ups as possible in 60 seconds.

Push-Ups: The cadet lies face down on the mat in push-up position with hands under shoulders, finger straight, and legs straight, parallel, and slightly apart, with the toes supporting the feet. The cadet straightens the arms, keeping the back and knees straight, then lowers the body until there is a 90-degree angle at the elbows, with the upper arms parallel to the floor. A partner holds his/her hand at the point of 90-degree angle so that the cadet being tested goes down only until his/her shoulder touches the partner’s hand, then back up. The push-ups are done to a metronome (or audio tape, clapping, drums) with one complete push-up every three seconds, and are continued until the cadet can do no more in rhythm (has not done the last three in rhythm) or has reached the target number for the PPFA.

One-Mile Run: Conduct this event on a flat area that has a known measured distance of one mile with a designated start and finish line. Give cadets a lightweight numbered device to carry or wear in any manner that will not slow them down while running. (Note: Use of the numbered device makes it possible to have many cadets run at one time by having them pair off before the start of the event, then having one cadet from each pair run while the other cadets keep track of the number of laps their partners complete as well as listening for their times as they cross the finish line.) Start cadets at the standing position. At the command “ready, go,” start the cadets running the one-mile distance. Although walking is permitted, encourage cadets to cover the distance in the shortest time possible. Scoring should be to the nearest second.

Awards for Completing the Cadet Challenge

a. Cadets that successfully complete all events will receive a participation certificate signed by the unit Naval Science instructor.

b. The President’s Physical Fitness Award recognizes students who achieve an outstanding level of physical fitness. Students who score at or above the 85th percentile on all events are eligible for this award. Awards may be requested by accessing the President’s Challenge web site at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/program_details.aspx.

c. The NJROTC Physical Fitness Ribbon will be presented to cadets who attain satisfactory rating or better in each of the three events of the Cadet Challenge program. Overall scoring is determined by JUMS entries.

d. The National Physical Fitness Award recognizes students who demonstrate a basic, yet challenging level of physical fitness. Students who score above 50% percentile on all five events of the President’s Challenge are eligible for this award