PST.... I'll tell you a secret...
Another top secret installation? Nope. This PST is the Navy Physical Standards Test, and depending on what job you son or daughter is interested in pursuing, this is a test they may have to pass before they are offered the opportunity to attend training, even before Boot Camp, and before they are ever offered a contract with the Navy.
If your son wants to become part of the SEAL Team, or if your son or daughter want to become a Rescue Swimmer or Navy Diver, then they will have to meet certain physical standards, and pass the PST minimum requirements for that particular rating.
And the PST is only "minimum" standards. Because these ratings are often over-manned and sought after, the entry process is competitive. Like the ASVAB scores, the PST scores are entered into a Nation-wide database, and only the top scores are considered for contracts, with a sort of draft process to determine who starts training.
How tough is it?
They will be tested doing push ups, pull ups, and sit ups, recording their maximum reps for each exercise in a two-minute timed interval. Then, they are required to swim 500 yards in a timed swim, followed by a timed 1.5 mile run.
Each rating has its own minimum standards for each of these events.
More to follow... My son is taking it for the first time tomorrow ( we hope ).
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A final update here. As I learn and interact with others, I'm discovering that the way my son went about this is perhaps not the usual way of doing things, and certainly not the only way. It is but one way, and it worked out well for him.
My son was offered an AIRR contract yesterday at MEPS and he swore in with a ship date of Oct 30, 2012. He will be in DEP meetings each week until then. Hooyah!
A few more "nice to know" items... Last week when my son went for his first PST he was a little surprised to discover how intense the testing was. I'm not talking about the physical nature of the test, that much was to be expected, but what surprised him was the disciplinary aspects required. Though none of the participants are yet (truly) "in" the military, they were treated to military expectations of them. Things like standing a certain way while receiving instructions, getting from one place to another quickly, getting to your feet fast, making eye contact, and so on.
Infractions of the rules, many of which they learned on the fly by breaking--- earned "slashes" on the Chief's clipboard and the punishment for slashes goes something like this. You take the date-- last week was the 23rd, so each slash got the whole group 23 extra push ups at the end of the testing before they were dismissed. And they must have had 20-some slashes, somtheyndid extra push ups until people were ralphing and rolling in it. Have to say here that my son came home with a grin on his face while telling the story. He got quite a kick out of it.
Yesterday was the 30th... Which translates of course to 30 push ups per slash and the group had earned themselves 8 slashes. My son didn't come home grinning this week. In addition to the slashes they'd earned for after the test, there were 5 or so that we're too slow getting their sign in paperwork completed for the day, so BEFORE the testing even began they all got "messed with" according to my son, which meant some 50 push ups and a couple minutes of planking (holding your body in the up position of the push up). He says they all had rubber arms before they even hit the pool.
Didn't see that one coming. My son was of course hoping to improve his scores this week over last-- that's the goal for every week, but it was not to be. He was slower in the pool, increased all his ups slightly, but then was slower on the run as well. He'd vomitted badly after his run (not usual for him as he was a high school x-country runner) and come home light-headed and exhausted. I guess the lesson is to expect the unexpected. And do your best.
A couple other housekeeping items...
He had to go take another psychological exam, not at MEPS, but for the Special Ops Commander. We've discovered it to have been what is called the C-SORT exam... Computerized Special Operations Readiness Test, which is used to determine the likelihood of someone having the right mental attitude to make it through training without quitting. This test is graded with a band score from 1-4 with 4 being the highest. This band score is then combined with your PST swim and run times and entered into the draft. The C-SORT can only be taken once so the only way to improve your overall score is to improve your PST results.
Lastly, you need the results of at least 3 PST's in order to enter the draft... Nobody gets in on the basis of only one or two tests.
My son was able to take the PST for the first time today, after several no-go days. He was nervous, but excited to finally get to participate. He's not home from it yet, so I haven't had my chance to put him under the spotlight and interrogate him sufficiently. What I did find out was that there was a lot more to it, than we anticipated.
Incredibly.... the Recruiter apologized yesterday, but had to inform my son that he is STILL not yet cleared to take the PST. He blames all the delay on inefficiencies at MEPS. There is still a chance that he could get signed off Monday morning and be permitted to test Monday afternoon, otherwise it will be ANOTHER week until he gets another chance. Last week the Recruiter took him down, so at least he got to watch, but he is anxious to get on with the show for himself.
In the meantime he swims..... Any good home remedies for water in the ear??? The one he had cleaned by the doc has been bugging him ever since.
Replies
A final update here. As I learn and interact with others, I'm discovering that the way my son went about this is perhaps not the usual way of doing things, and certainly not the only way. It is but one way, and it worked out well for him.
My son was offered an AIRR contract yesterday at MEPS and he swore in with a ship date of Oct 30, 2012. He will be in DEP meetings each week until then. Hooyah!
His last PST Results:
Swim 7:23
Push 107
Sit 100
Pull 17
Run 9:42
Infractions of the rules, many of which they learned on the fly by breaking--- earned "slashes" on the Chief's clipboard and the punishment for slashes goes something like this. You take the date-- last week was the 23rd, so each slash got the whole group 23 extra push ups at the end of the testing before they were dismissed. And they must have had 20-some slashes, somtheyndid extra push ups until people were ralphing and rolling in it. Have to say here that my son came home with a grin on his face while telling the story. He got quite a kick out of it.
Yesterday was the 30th... Which translates of course to 30 push ups per slash and the group had earned themselves 8 slashes. My son didn't come home grinning this week. In addition to the slashes they'd earned for after the test, there were 5 or so that we're too slow getting their sign in paperwork completed for the day, so BEFORE the testing even began they all got "messed with" according to my son, which meant some 50 push ups and a couple minutes of planking (holding your body in the up position of the push up). He says they all had rubber arms before they even hit the pool.
Didn't see that one coming. My son was of course hoping to improve his scores this week over last-- that's the goal for every week, but it was not to be. He was slower in the pool, increased all his ups slightly, but then was slower on the run as well. He'd vomitted badly after his run (not usual for him as he was a high school x-country runner) and come home light-headed and exhausted. I guess the lesson is to expect the unexpected. And do your best.
A couple other housekeeping items...
He had to go take another psychological exam, not at MEPS, but for the Special Ops Commander. We've discovered it to have been what is called the C-SORT exam... Computerized Special Operations Readiness Test, which is used to determine the likelihood of someone having the right mental attitude to make it through training without quitting. This test is graded with a band score from 1-4 with 4 being the highest. This band score is then combined with your PST swim and run times and entered into the draft. The C-SORT can only be taken once so the only way to improve your overall score is to improve your PST results.
Lastly, you need the results of at least 3 PST's in order to enter the draft... Nobody gets in on the basis of only one or two tests.
My son was able to take the PST for the first time today, after several no-go days. He was nervous, but excited to finally get to participate. He's not home from it yet, so I haven't had my chance to put him under the spotlight and interrogate him sufficiently. What I did find out was that there was a lot more to it, than we anticipated.
Details to follow.... after the water-boarding!
In the meantime he swims..... Any good home remedies for water in the ear??? The one he had cleaned by the doc has been bugging him ever since.
Update.... did not get to test today.. He was all set to go and then was told that he had not been cleared to test yet. Hoping for next Monday.
Who knew it would be so complicated???