Fitness Standards
Fitness Standards
U.S. Coast Guard Physical Fitness Evaluation (PFE) Standards for 2025
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Physical Fitness Evaluation (PFE) Manual for 2025 ~ Click Here
Standards were updated for 2025
Athletes with PFE Honors receive a Star for their Uniforms
U.S. Coast Guard Physical Fitness Evaluation (PFE) Standards for 2023
U.S. Coast Guard Academy Physical Fitness Evaluation (PFE) Manual for 2023 ~ Click Here
USCGA perfect score requires the following in accordance with the manual in order:
Push-ups on cadence starting in the down position followed by the up position and down again all in a 2-second period with the goal of accumulating 60 push-ups in two minutes
Sit-ups "same as Curl-ups" in accordance with the form described in the manual for as many that can be accumulated in a 2-minute period which apparently shows 100 gets the maximum score
1.5-mile run is timed by stop-watch (note that many high school tracks are 400 meters once around the track so care is required in order to measure the start and finish lines carefully)
Example score would be 60 for the push-ups, 60 for the sit-ups, and 60 for the run, for a grand total of 160
The standard for graduation/commissioning is 200 points (at the end of the 4-year program). Cadets need to score above 180 points.
Athletes with PFE Honors receive a Star for their Uniforms
Score and grade for PFE measures in 2023:
285-300 ~PFE Honors
270-284 ~A
240-269 ~B
210-239 ~C
180-209 ~D
0-179 ~F
Presidential Fitness Tests Seen Below
Charts Available Online ~ CLICK HERE
Curl-ups testing:
Have student lie on cushioned, clean surface with knees flexed and feet about 12 inches from buttocks. Partner holds feet. Arms are crossed with hands placed on opposite shoulders and elbows held close to chest. Keeping this arm position, student raises the trunk curling up to touch elbows to thighs and then lowers the back to the floor so that the scapulas (shoulder blades) touch the floor, for one curl-up. To start, a timer calls out the signal "Ready? Go!" and begins timing student for one minute. The student stops on the word "stop."
Pull-ups testing:
Student hangs from a horizontal bar at a height the student can hang from with arms fully extended and feet free from floor, using either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing toward body). Small students may be lifted to starting position. Student raises body until chin clears the bar and then lowers body to full-hang starting position. Student performs as many correct pull-ups as possible. Jerking motions are not permitted.
Right-angle push-ups testing:
The student lies face down on the mat in push-up position with hands under shoulders, fingers straight, and legs straight, parallel, and slightly apart, with the toes supporting the feet. The student 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 her / his hand at the point of the 90-degree angle so that the student being tested goes downonly until her / his 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 student can do no more in rhythm (has not done the last three in rhythm) or has reached the target number for the PPFA.
Flexed-arm hang testing:
Chest should be held close to bar with legs hanging straight. Timing is stopped when student's chin touches or falls below the bar. Using either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing toward body), student assumes flexed-arm hang position with chin clearing the bar. Students may be lifted to this position. Student holds this position as long as possible.
Shuttle run testing:
Mark twoparallel lines 30 feet apart and place two blocks of wood or similar object behind one of the lines. Students start behind opposite line. On the signal "Ready? Go!" the student runs to the blocks, picks one up, runs back to the starting line, places block behind the line, runs back and picks up the second block and runs back across starting line.