What the CFA is

The Candidate Fitness Assessment is six events done in one session, in a fixed order, with set rest periods. West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy all use it. The Coast Guard Academy does not (see below).

The Naval Academy says the whole test runs in under 40 minutes. Every academy requires that the scores you report come from one complete, in-order session.

How the CFA is scored

Each event converts to a score from 0 to 100, but none of the academies publish the conversion table. What they do publish is how much it counts:

• West Point: the CFA is 15 percent of your application, and every candidate must pass it.
• Naval Academy: your CFA adjusts your Whole Person Multiple by up to 5 percent either way, up for a maximum score and down for a minimum passing score.
• Air Force Academy: each event and the overall score have passing guidelines that are not published, and a low overall score or a poor event score may be disqualifying.
• Merchant Marine Academy: the CFA is scored pass or fail.

Official maximum scores

Hitting these earns the full 100 points for that event, and you should stop once you reach them.

West Point's web page lists a 105-foot throw for men, but its January 2026 instructions and every other academy use 102 feet.

Published average scores

These are the real benchmarks for a competitive application. Men / women.

West Point does not publish averages. The Air Force Academy lists a women's average of 2 for "pull-ups/flexed-arm hang" without saying which, so we leave it out of the comparison.

Event standards that cost people points

• Basketball throw: from your knees behind the line, three throws in two minutes, measured to the nearest foot. West Point allows only one-handed throws.
• Pull-ups: palms facing away, on cadence, with your jaw line above the bar. A rep that misses the standard does not count.
• Shuttle run: four 30-foot legs (40 yards), touching the line with a hand and a foot at each turn. Best of two trials.
• Modified sit-ups: arms crossed, knees bent, feet held. The Naval Academy counts a rep when your shoulder blades touch the mat; West Point counts it when your elbows touch your thighs. Rest only in the up position.
• Push-ups: upper arms at least parallel to the ground each rep, rest only in the up position, and lifting a hand or foot ends the event.
• 1-mile run: walking is allowed but costs you, and no one may pace you.

Who can give the test, retakes and deadlines

A physical education teacher, a JROTC instructor, a commissioned officer or an academy liaison officer can usually administer it; the exact list varies by academy, family members never can, and West Point also excludes coaches. West Point and the Naval Academy let you retake the CFA to improve; the Air Force Academy allows a retest if you fail but stops accepting scores once you pass. Naval Academy applications are due January 31, 2027, West Point's candidate checklist is due January 31, and the Merchant Marine Academy needs passing results by its February 1 deadline.

Coast Guard Academy: a different test

The Coast Guard Academy does not accept the CFA. It requires its own Physical Fitness Examination: one-minute push-ups, a forearm plank and a 1.5-mile run, each worth up to 100 points, with at least 60 needed in every event. Selected rows from its 2026 table:

How to train for the CFA

Pull-ups and the mile carry the most room to improve for most candidates. Follow our free 4-week pull-up program, check where you are headed with the pull-up max calculator, and read how to increase pull-up reps. Practice the full six-event sequence at least once before test day so the rest periods and the order do not surprise you.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Candidate Fitness Assessment?

The Candidate Fitness Assessment (CFA) is the six-event fitness test that applicants to West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and the Merchant Marine Academy take: a kneeling basketball throw, pull-ups (or a flexed-arm hang for women), a shuttle run, modified sit-ups, push-ups and a 1-mile run, done in that order in one session.

What is a good CFA score?

No academy publishes its points table, so the honest benchmark is the published averages. The Naval Academy's Class of 2030 men averaged 13 pull-ups, 61 push-ups, 75 crunches and a 6:37 mile; the women averaged 4 pull-ups, 39 push-ups, 73 crunches and a 7:29 mile. Matching or beating those puts you in competitive range.

What are the maximum CFA scores?

The 100-point maximums are a 102-foot basketball throw for men (66 or 68 feet for women, depending on the academy), 18 pull-ups for men and 7 for women, a 7.8-second shuttle for men and 8.6 for women, 95 sit-ups, 75 push-ups for men and 50 for women, and a 5:20 mile for men and 6:00 for women.

Who can administer the CFA?

Usually a physical education teacher, a JROTC instructor, a commissioned officer or an academy liaison officer, with the exact list varying by academy. Family members cannot administer it, and West Point also excludes coaches.

Can you retake the CFA?

Yes, at most academies. West Point and the Naval Academy let you retake it to improve your score. The Air Force Academy allows a retest if you fail and does not accept more scores once you pass. Whatever you submit has to come from one complete, in-order session.

Does the Coast Guard Academy use the CFA?

No. The Coast Guard Academy requires its own Physical Fitness Examination: one-minute push-ups, a forearm plank and a 1.5-mile run, scored out of 300 points with at least 60 needed in each event. The CFA cannot be substituted.