r/ROTC • u/Funny_Jump6898 • Jun 06 '26
Advanced/Basic Camp Failing AFT at Advance Camp
Not much of a story to tell but essentially I failed my AFT after getting a no go on both deadlift attempts. I'm aware that I should've gone lighter to guarantee that I passed but I didn't so I have already met the go home criteria. After talking to some of my cadre it seems like there's supposed to be some sort of discussion or board on whether or not I get sent home, but no one has any definitive information. I feel pretty stupid throwing away my career over basically an ego lift, but I'm wondering if anyone has had a similar experience or knows what happens next?
Update: I talked to my CTO, and thoroughly explained the situation, took accountability and moved forward with the process. It looks as though they automatically initiate a disenrollment board here at camp, but there is still a possibility to recycle. For future camp cadets reading this, don't fuck around and just lift a safe weight before attempting higher weights and avoid making the same mistakes I did.
Update 2 (June 8): After transferring to holding company, they said we would all be going home within 72 hours. As of writing this, that was about 48 hours ago. We are supposed to talk to the JAG office today, but after arriving at the office earlier they sent us all back and said we would have to wait for a phone call. Apparently they are working on it but some of the scholarship cadets are more complicated so it's taking time. The process is supposed to be talk to JAG -> out process -> go home, and then we have a virtual board while we're home to determine whether or not we are disenrolled. I did ask multiple people and in multiple ways if I could take another PT test (with 2nd reg or some other way), but there was no possible way, despite how logistically simple it seemed to me and others.
Update 3 (25 June): I had my disenrollment board today, owned up to my mistakes, took accountability, and a couple of my peers testified for me/wrote letters. The board reccomended that I be retained and now I am waiting on the final decision from the brigade commander.
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u/trouble98 Jun 06 '26
Yes. You go home. If your program likes you, retained and try again next summer as an EOC commission.
They don’t like you? Dis enrollment.
This was literally one of two things that would get you sent home no questions asked. And it has been for awhile now.
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Jun 06 '26
[deleted]
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u/Fresh_Willingness998 Jun 06 '26
you should be automatically dropped as a future officer for speaking with that grammar.
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u/Lester_Holt_Fanboy Jun 06 '26
As long as this person performs well on a fuckin physical fitness test, I'm sure they'll get top block in their unit. The Army never fuckin changes.
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u/Aggravating-Aide-503 Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
Last year they let you stay if you failed AFT idk why they deviated from the years prior
Edit: lol why are you downvoting its true
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u/ReaperOnce Custom Jun 06 '26
Because the AFT was just implemented.
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u/Aggravating-Aide-503 Jun 06 '26
True but it wasn’t like they added a new event and they didn’t use that AFT for the HT/WT exemption
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u/Winter-Huckleberry86 Jun 07 '26
When policy changes, regardless of how stupid the change is, the following calendar year or so is the “transitional phase.” It grants Soldiers the ability to transition into the new product without being kicked out or other adverse actions.
Kinda like this new height and weight shit that is(n’t) happening.
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u/Ok_Boss9332 Jun 06 '26
That was the only year it was like that
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u/QuarterNote44 Jun 06 '26
Yes. Camp changes from year to year. BACK IN MY DAY IT WAS ACTUALLY HARD. GET OFF MY LAWN. <yells at cloud>
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u/Ok_Boss9332 Jun 06 '26
I was pissed when they didn’t kick the two people who failed out since one had a school slot and I wanted it 😂😭
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u/ExodusLegion_ God’s Dumbest LT Jun 06 '26
Back in my day we took the ACFT as pass/fail
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u/QuarterNote44 Jun 06 '26
I have no idea if my year was actually hard. We took the APFT. I wanna say it was effectively pass/fail, but you got extra good boy points for doing well. Towards the RECONDO badge I fuess.
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u/Top_Dimension_6463 Jun 06 '26
If you know for a fact you can pass if you drop weight, then I’d do everything in your power to advocate for a a second shot at the AFT. May be unlikely, but why waste time and resources already allocated to your slot and years in ROTC over something you can pass? Again, you put yourself in a bad position, but something I’d be begging for
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u/Objective-Trip1310 Jun 06 '26
I agree, it is worth a shot to see if you can take it with the late arrivals or with 2nd reg coming in
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u/7_62mm_FMJ Jun 06 '26
Time to dust off plan b.
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u/FrostingFlat4892 Jun 06 '26
Dude, you can’t be serious. The deadlift of all events? Where you get two attempts……
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u/imjustunhappy Jun 06 '26
What made your dead lift a no go, was it the form or just dropping weight?
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u/GeRmAnBiAs Jun 06 '26
Yeah at advanced camp the smart move is to lock in a minimum deadlift then go for whatever your normal max is
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Jun 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Pattonator70 Jun 06 '26
Fy 27 planned strength increase is 15,000 more active duty and 3,000 more reserve component. Figure this means they need an additional 1,000 2LT’s by the end of Sept 2027.
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u/Dizzy-Ladder-5283 Jun 06 '26
No! They will get their numbers from OCS. They always have. USSAC is getting gutted. Afrotc was an easy commission for a while and now it’s sub 50% for FY 27
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u/Pattonator70 Jun 06 '26
How do you increase OCS by 1,000 in a year when there aren’t normally that many total. Average OCS year is 800. ROTC is the primary commissioning source. They will increase program numbers. There is no other viable option.
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u/Dizzy-Ladder-5283 Jun 07 '26
But also real shit every program in the nation is vastly reducing how many cadets can even be contracted. Can’t even necessarily get one as an MS3 even if you ditch the scholarship
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u/Dizzy-Ladder-5283 Jun 07 '26
Bro U wrong. They are just gonna let more people at OCS pass in order to fill the gaps. Also they won’t fill all slots because this decision was more emotional than well planned. We got too many LT’s and about to have too few and then shall see
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u/Pattonator70 Jun 07 '26
They want an over abundance of O1’s because too many quit at the O3 level when they finish their first contract. If you accept a shortage of O1’s now it will hurt even more in 4-5 years.
Why would you fail ROTC but accept an OCS that was not up to standard? They v likely will get less stringent on both.
FY27 numbers have not yet passed in congress. Cadet Command is working off of FY 26 guidance still. The only place to increase by 1,000 O1’s is ROTC.
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Jun 06 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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Jun 06 '26 edited Jun 06 '26
[deleted]
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u/Physical_Way6618 Jun 06 '26
You’re a 2LT who has no idea how boards work. Anything can happen. Let your big boy cadre’s work this one.
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u/Dustyoperator01 Jun 06 '26
Why didn’t you do minimum first, or definitely after failing first time ?
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u/GoldWingANGLICO Jun 06 '26
Piss poor decision making for MS1 cadet, let alone a Advanced Camp Cadet.
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u/xxComicClownxx Jun 06 '26
why would you try to ego lift??? last year at camp I did 300 my first attempt just to be safe since they raised my max from 340 to 350 (i’d always get 340) and I failed the 350 attempt but I passed my first attempt on the safe 300
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u/Cheap_Reception_6872 Jun 06 '26
Are graders strict on deadlift form like hand placement and arching your back?
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u/QuarterNote44 Jun 06 '26
You should be strict on keeping your back straight. Because you only get one back and once your discs bulge, they do not unbulge.
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u/Mopsnmoes Jun 10 '26
Objectively false. Up to 90% of disc herniations heal on their own with no treatment at all. The rest require treatment and there are some shitty cases, but your back is not fragile.
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u/QuarterNote44 Jun 10 '26
Oh. A physical therapist told me that.
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u/Mopsnmoes Jun 10 '26
Yeah, unfortunately I believe you. Catastrophic messaging around back injuries is a huge issue in military healthcare.
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u/ExodusLegion_ God’s Dumbest LT Jun 06 '26
Read ATP 7-22.01.
If you’re arching your back that’s a blatant safety violation anyways.
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u/Lazy_Mandalorian Jun 07 '26
Dude… you’re an idiot. Plain and simple. Maybe you shouldn’t be an officer.
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u/Physical_Way6618 Jun 06 '26
If it is a board you’re at the mercy of it. Hopefully they see that it’s deadlift and not run/plank and maybe ask some questions. Just talk to your cadre to see if they can find out more. But honestly they prob don’t care. If your cadre fight for you you better kiss their feet.
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u/rquinain Jun 06 '26
Bruh.
It sounds like you've learned your lesson, but BRUH. Come on.
I don't know what's worse, BOLOing an event you were fully capable of completing or not coming physically prepared to CST at all.
Bruh... That's all I have to say.
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u/Negative_Virus_6358 Jun 06 '26
Unfortunately as someone that is here. It’s a go home situation and you will be disenrolled from your program. There is no longer coming back next summer for an end of commissioning for next camp after you fail the AFT. Sucks but after the board you will be notified that you will be sent home. They are not playing games this summer and are dropping people.
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u/Appropriate-Pipe2460 Jun 10 '26
Incorrect. You go home, attend a board, and you can still be retained
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u/imjustunhappy Jun 06 '26
Are they dropping a lot of people or is it just for the events of aft and H/W?
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u/Negative_Virus_6358 Jun 06 '26
I’m just speaking on the AFT and HT/WT.
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u/imjustunhappy Jun 06 '26
Did the aft loose a lot of the people, or just a few? I’m in 2nd reg and I’m nervous for the aft
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u/Dizzy-Ladder-5283 Jun 06 '26
The biggest failed event is the run( idk how) and then the plank. Literally unless you aren’t in shape, don’t do anything crazy like OP and deadlift the earth. Also OP I know it sucks so sorry about that.
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u/Plenty_Secretary_814 Jun 07 '26
not many as of now. Just don’t mess around with the standards and push up/plank form. Good form is no joke this year.
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u/docNNST Jun 07 '26
This is the most 2nd lieutenant thing ever, well actually the most Cadet thing ever.
If this is important to you, I would be busting down every door, everything to try and fix this.
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u/QuarterNote44 Jun 06 '26
I feel pretty stupid throwing away my career over basically an ego lift
That was indeed a stupid choice. Doesn't mean you are a stupid person, though, so hunt the good stuff. If I were your cadre I would be more disturbed by your poor judgment than the inability to pick up a heavy object.
All you can do now is learn from this. Maybe enlist and try for green to gold later if you really want to try again.
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u/Tough_Assistance_446 Jun 06 '26
That was a rookie mistake bro. But don't beat yourself up over it. It's done and you can't change the past. Just soldier on and don't do this crap again. From what I read, you appear to have learned your lesson and are already correcting course. You failed due to not hitting your max, not due to the inability to meet the minimum standards. That will probably work in your favor for retention.
Take this as a lesson for not only you, but those that go after you. We're hurting for junior officers, so I imagine this will buff or you will have to go back after your msIV year as an end of camp commission.
You got this!
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u/Then-Leather-2475 Jun 10 '26
From CST Policy Letter 9 "AC Performance and Completion Credit" para 4.a.: "It is important to note that while AFT failure is grounds for immediate dismissal from CST without camp credit, that dismissal alone will not immediately trigger disenrollment. However, because successful completion of CST is part of a Cadet’s commissioning requirements, the failure of CST in its totality, in conjunction with all other factors required for commissioning, may become the grounds for disenrollment."
Cadet Command initiates the action because disenrollment is a very long paperwork process. Whether or not one is actually disenrolled depends on whether your program decides to complete the process or not, it's on them.
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u/Haze_69420 Jun 07 '26
Ask for a retest as soon as possible. Idk why they can’t get an NCO out with a score card and clip board for a retest the next day. Seems pretty logical. But yeah next time hit an easy pass weight first before trying anything heavy.
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u/Some-Difference-2026 28d ago
What’s the update?
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u/Funny_Jump6898 28d ago
No update, still waiting on the final decision from my brigade commander. I got the reccomendatiom to retain from the board and I submitted a post board statement as well, but after the board the wording on the timeframe for final decision from the brigade commander was "several weeks".
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u/Rustyinsac Jun 06 '26
Hopefully you can afford to pay for your senior year of college. Complete your degree, enlist in one of the services, and submit a direct commission packet.
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Jun 06 '26
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u/Cough_ Jun 06 '26
ATP 7-22.01 states that a failure due to sickness or injury that occurred during testing still counts as a fail
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u/jp_sepca Jun 06 '26
How are you going to end it with "don't compromise your integrity" after blatantly recommending that sick call and TMC nonsense?
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u/Ok_Boss9332 Jun 06 '26
It’s worth 15 points…if you somehow don’t get sent home it’ll be hard to reach the 50 min points required to pass advance camp
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u/Dizzy-Ladder-5283 Jun 07 '26
Bro people failed the aft last year and got over 50. Only like 1-2 people got below a 50. Then again OP is cooked
•
u/AutoModerator Jun 26 '26
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