Physical Training is a major part of the NJROTC Program at Gloucester High School and constitutes 15% of each students grade

Starting with the 2014/2015 School Year: First year students in our program will be awarded two credits: 1 Credit for NJROTC AND 1 Credit for 9th grade health & Physical Education. 

Starting with the 2020/2021 School Year: Second year students in our program will be awarded two credits: 1 Credit for NJROTC AND 1 Credit for 10th grade Health & Physical Education. 

One of the major goals of the NJROTC Program is to instill within cadets an appreciation for the benefits of physical exercise and a desire to develop a personal physical fitness program to remain fit for life.   Toward that end cadets participate in physical fitness training each Thursday and Friday weather permitting. These activities include: stretching, calisthenics, running, and various sporting activities.  Once per quarter cadets will be provided an opportunity to participate in the Physical Fitness Test and earn awards for specific levels of achievement.

Cadet Challenge

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