Thank you for your interest in the Military Standards Cadre for Commissioned Corps Officers. We salute your commitment to become an elite member of this organization. Now, please take time to review the instructions below to insure that your exam is a successful one. It is probably a good idea to print out these instructions for future reference. Please note that timed video exams may take a while to evaluate. However, if you intend to become a Military Standards Cadre Examiner, a rush priority will be made to evaluate your exam. Video tapes will NOT be returned. They will be kept as a record to compare with subsequent video exams.
Make sure you have received the confirmation Email about your registration. You must register via our web interface in order for you to become part of the Military Standards Members national database.
You must use a VCR camcorder to tape your exam that has a date and time stamp (stopwatch) option. All video tapes must be in standard VCR format. If you tape with an 8mm camcorder, copy the tape to a VCR formatted tape. You will most likely need a second person to tape your exam. Please label the tape with your last name, date and name of the PT test that you are taking (Army, Navy, etc.). Please use good lighting, outside when possible. Any home camcorder is of sufficient quality to produce your video exam. You don't need to hire a videographer, but you will need someone that can tape you for the most part in full view during your PT test (does not have to be perfect, just so that an Examiner will never lose full sight of you).
The time of your exam will databased according to the postmark of your package and not when it is evaluated. This is important to keep in mind, as you will want to perform your PT testduring optimal whether conditions. Remember, you cannot take the exam sooner than 4 months and no longer than 8 months after your last exam in order to maintain your Military Membership Status. Please plan carefully!
At the beginning of you tape, state your name, and what PT test you will be taking.
You should be in your service dress blue uniform (covered) standing at attention (front only). We must be able to view the top, middle and lower (including shoes) parts of your body for 10 seconds each. Your image should be framed so that the top of your cap to below your top pockets appears for 10 seconds first, then move the camera so that the middle portion of your uniform can be seen (from below the pockets to the knees) and hold for 10 seconds, and then from the knees to include the shoes. The idea is to frame as much of you in the picture as possible. Your name tag should be legible, in the first third of this video section.
You will be evaluated for fit and appearance of uniform, presence of lint, faded shoulder boards or stripes, polished shoes, correct placement of name tags, insignias, badges, hair length, hair style and general grooming appearance. The inspection is pass/fail. Please refer to your uniform service manuals for regulations regarding proper uniform wear, appearance, and grooming standards.
All uniformed service personnel are expected to honor the United States Flag. In this ceremony, you are also publicly acknowledging your devotion and commitment through service to our country when you present yourself in your uniform using the proper etiquette expected of uniformed service personnel.
If you are near a military base, please attend the lowering of the flag and playing retreat at 17:00 (or raising the flag in the morning). Have someone tape you from behind so that the lowering of the flag and your head can be viewed simultaneously at some portion of the tape. Make sure you are in your service dress blue (covered), facing the flag, at attention, and saluting during the lowering of the flag.
If you are not near a military base, you must be taped coming to attention, holding a salute for 15 seconds, and ending the salute, in front of a flag with both yourself and the flag in view. This should be done outside while you are dressed in your service dress blue uniform and covered. It is preferable that you go to any public place where a flag is displayed and lowered to perform this. Otherwise, feel free to improvise your own ceremony, as long as you salute the flag outside, in public view.
Please wear any workout attire that is comfortable. In this section you must use the time and date stamp option of your camcorder. If your camcorder does not have a date stamp, we will still accept your video. Examiners must see a contiguous taping during all events. Any breaks or pauses that occur in the tape constitute a failure. The tape should show the push ups (or pull-ups) first with a stopwatch of 2 minutes, followed by the sit-ups or curl-ups with a stopwatch of 2 minutes. Then the timed run showing a stopwatch time until completed. Most PT tests in the Armed Forces begin with push-ups, sit-ups followed by the endurance run or swim. However, if you reversed the order for some logistical reason, your test is still acceptable.
Height and Weight Standards
Provide us with a signed statment of your current height and weight. Be sure to include the date.
Overview
Seated Toe Touch
If you are taking the Navy PRT, examinees should first be taped demonstrating the seated toe touch. They must be able to touch their toes while seated on the ground. Examinees must be taped from the side at the same level they are performing the toe touch so that their entire body is in full view.
Push-ups
The PT test begins with push-ups or pull-ups if you are taking the Marine PFT. You are to perform as many push-ups or pull-ups as you can in 2 minutes.
For push-ups, your upper arm must parallel the ground and you must not touch the ground at any time. You may take a break in an up position, but once you leave the push-up position, this part of the test is over. You will be scored for good push-ups only. Position the camera so that your body is in full view (as much as possible) at the same level you are performing the push-ups from any side view. The camera is not allowed to move while you are testing.
Pull-ups
If you are taking the Marine's PRT, and are a male, you must perform as many pull-ups as you can in two minutes. Females must perform a timed hold on a chin-up bar in chin-up position. For your pull-ups to count you must be seen bringing your chin over the bar, and return to a fully extended position. You must use a forward arm grip. Both males and females must be taped so that the entire body and ground can be seen at all times including the top of the frame, which extends to the top of your head when your chin is over the bar. You must be filmed from the front so that your face can be viewed. During testing, the camera is not allowed to move.
Sit-ups or Curl-ups
After a 5-10 minute rest period, begin taping your sit-ups or curl-ups. You must perform as many sit-ups (curl-ups for Navy PRT) as you can in two minutes. For sit-ups and curl-ups, the lower back must touch the ground to count. At inclination the elbows must touch the knees (knees bent at 90 degrees), or the forearms must touch the thighs in the case of curl-ups. You must be taped so that your body is in full view (as much as possible) at the same level you are performing the sit-ups or curl-ups from the side view. The camera is not allowed to move. Your feet can be held by a second person or an object during this test.
Timed Run
The timed run test is the last event which entails a 1.5 mile run for the Navy PRT, a 2 mile run for the Army PFT, or a 3 mile run for the Marine's PFT. This event must be performed on a quarter mile track (or 400 meter) with compensation of extra footage noted. Tracks longer or shorter than a quarter mile (eg., 400 meter) can be marked with a start and finish as long as you clarify this (audio) before your timed run. You should be filmed from the center of the track, so that the camera can follow you at all times during the run. A lapse from view of an examinee at any time during the run constitutes a failure for this event (full body view is preferred, but does not have to be perfect). Make sure that the stopwatch action is in sync with you when you start the run. A hankerchief on a stick, or a marker cone or some other visible object should be placed near the starting/finishing line so that examiner's will have a reference.
Timed Swim
The timed swim test can be the last event that tests endurance for the Navy PRT. You will need to make a statement to clarify the number of laps you will need to make to complete your 450 meter or 500 yard swim. If the length of the pool is such that an uneven lap will be performed at the finish, please state this before the swim and use some type of visual marker to reference the finish line. You should be filmed from the center of the pool as close to your lane as possible, so that the camera can follow you at all times during the swim. A lapse from view of an examinee at any time during the swim constitutes a failure for this event (full body view is preferred, but does not have to be perfect). Make sure that the stopwatch action is in sync with you when you start the swim.
We recognize the effort that you have put into your qualification exam. For a limited time, we will be advancing many of you to the status of Examiner, so that you may conduct, supervise and evaluate Military Standards Members qualification exams in your area. We encourage you to become an Examiner for this organization. This will obviate your having to re-take the timed video option in the future if two officers in your area can become examiners. If you submit a copy of your CPR certification, this will greatly speed up your processing as an Examiner.