Junior ROTC
Cadet Challenge
The shuttle run is conducted on an area that has two parallel lines 30 feet apart. The width of a regulation volleyball court can serve as a suitable area. Start from the standing position. At the command “ready, go,” run to the opposite line, pick up one block, run back to the starting line, and place the block behind the line. Run back, and pick up the second block, and carry it across the line. Two runs are allowed for this event, with the better of the runs recorded. Scores are recorded to the nearest tenth of a second.
Conduct curl-ups on a flat, clean surface, preferably with a mat. Start in a lying position on your back with your knees bent so your feet are flat on the floor about 12 inches from your buttocks. You should have your arms crossed with your hands placed on opposite shoulders, and your elbows held close to the chest throughout the exercise. Have a partner hold your feet at the instep. At the command, “ready, go,” raise the trunk of your body, curling up to touch the elbows to the thighs, and then lower your back so your 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. Complete as many curl-ups as possible in 60 seconds.
Pull-ups are conducted using a horizontal bar approximately 1.5 inches in diameter. A doorway bar or a piece of pipe can serve the purpose. The bar should be high enough so you can hang with your arms fully extended and your feet free of the floor/ ground. Assume the hanging position on the bar using either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing toward body). Begin the exercise by first raising your body until your chin is over the bar without touching it. To complete one repetition, the body must be lowered to the full-hang starting position. During each repetition, the body must not swing, legs must not kick or bend, and the pull must not be jerky. Scoring is done on the number of pull-ups you can correctly execute. There is no time limit on this event.
The flexed-arm hang should be used when a Cadet cannot execute one pull-up. Using a horizontal bar as in the pull-ups, climb a ladder until your chin is above the bar. Begin the exercise by grasping the bar with your hands, shoulder width apart, using either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing toward body). At the command “ready, go,” step off the ladder. Simultaneously, an assistant instructor will remove the ladder and prevent any forward swinging of the legs. The Cadet’s chin should be level above the bar. Kicking and other body movements are not permitted while you are on the bar. The stopwatch starts on the command “go” and stops when your chin rests on the bar, the chin tilts backward to keep it above the bar, or the chin falls below the level of the bar. Scores are recorded to the nearest second.
The V-sit reach is conducted on a flat, clean floor. Use a yardstick and adhesive tape to make a baseline that is two feet long. Make a measuring line perpendicular to the midpoint of the baseline extending two feet out from either side of the baseline. Place one-inch and half-inch marks along the measuring line with “0” where the baseline and measuring line intersect. Remove your shoes and sit on the floor with the soles of your feet placed immediately behind the baseline. The measuring line should be between your heels, which are 8 to 12 inches apart. Clasp your thumbs so that your hands are together, palms down, and place them on the floor between your legs. While your legs are held flat on the floor by a partner (or partners), perform the exercise while keeping the soles of your feet perpendicular to the floor (feet flexed). Slowly reach forward along the measuring line as far as possible, keeping the fingers in contact with the floor. You receive three practice tries for the V-sit reach. On the fourth extension, hold your farthest reach for three seconds. Scores are recorded where fingertips touch the floor to the nearest half-inch. Scores beyond the baseline are recorded as plus scores, whereas those behind the baseline are recorded as minus scores.
This event is conducted on a flat area that has a known measured distance of one mile with a designated start and finish line. You will be given a lightweight numbered device to carry or wear in any manner that will not slow you down while running.