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Indoor Obstacle Course Test

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The Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT) is a test of full-body functional physical fitness administered by the Department of Physical Education (DPE) at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York . DPE considers the IOCT to be one of the best evaluations of total body fitness given in the Army . Cadets who earn an A− (2:38 or less for men and 3:35 or less for women) are authorized to wear the IOCT Badge on their athletic shorts.

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30-620: DPE administers the test in historic Hayes Gymnasium , built in 1910. The IOCT is similar in concept to the obstacle course seen on the TV show American Gladiators , with the addition of a quarter mile sprint at the conclusion of the course. DPE administers the IOCT to all third, second, and first class cadets through the academic year. Large crowds of cadets, officers, and other onlookers gather to watch. Army Regulation 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development, [1] specifically supports functional fitness and

60-439: A 6 lb medicine ball for the first 120 m, a baton for the second 120 m, and empty-handed for the remaining 110 m). Because of the unique level of athletic skill needed to pass the test and the tremendous level of effort needed to excel at it, the IOCT holds a special place in the hearts of all West Point Cadets and graduates. A search of YouTube will return many videos about it, both serious and comical. The IOCT

90-403: A 9 lb medicine ball for the first 120m. Because of the unique level of athletic skill needed to pass the test and the tremendous level of effort needed to excel at it, the IOCT holds a special place in the hearts of all West Point Cadets and Graduates. A simple search of YouTube or Google video will return many videos about it, both serious and comical. The IOCT is both feared and revered by

120-452: A healthy lifestyle, physical fitness, movement behavior, and psychomotor performance. Instructors and professors in DPE have a wide range of duties and responsibilities. In addition to evaluating one of the core physical program courses, instructors teach an elective lifetime sport and/or a cognitive exercise science or applied fitness course. Instructors also serve on additional committees such as

150-592: A large fitness center in the first floor of the gym. When originally dedicated, the "'62 Room" comprised the south half of the first floor of Hayes. Originally the room was furnished with weight machines and cardio equipment. It is utilized as an expanded "cardio" room, with treadmills, stationary bicycles, stair climbers, and other cardio equipment. The north half of Hayes gym was formerly the boxing instruction room(s), but they have now been combined to form one large room that houses weight machines, exercise mats, and balance and stretching equipment. A wide hallway bisects

180-557: Is both feared and revered by the members of the Long Gray Line and is seen as a link between graduates of long ago and cadets of today. DPE began administering the IOCT in 1944 during the Second World War . After lessons learned from WWII, the IOCT was changed to obstacles that are similar to what we see today. The test has changed little since 1948. The difference in completion time grade scales between male and female cadets

210-561: Is taken into account during the order of merit listing that the United States Military Academy uses for branch and post selections for cadets. From the USMA White Book: "To further encourage cadets to engage the IOCT at the highest level of performance, anyone may retest the IOCT for grade replacement. Cadets are permitted to retake the IOCT (regardless of their current score) during designated spring term IOCT dates. Only

240-456: Is taught by professors from DPE's Human Performance Laboratory in conjunction with the Department of Chemistry and Life Sciences. The first cohort of USMA cadets to declare as Kinesiology majors was the class of 2010. Demand for the major is strong and applicants must pass a screening board to be admitted to the program. DPE offers a wide range of elective athletic instructional courses, known to

270-683: Is the academic department that oversees the physical development program at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York . DPE is headquartered in the Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center. DPE has 24 Military faculty and 25 civilian instructors and professors. The head of the department holds the ceremonial title of Master of the Sword , known within the department as the MOS. This title dates back to when

300-451: Is very much geared towards teaching an individual how to achieve personal lifelong fitness. All Firsties (Seniors) take PE450, Army Fitness Development, which is also 19 lessons. This course briefly reviews the physiology principles taught in PE215 and then applies them to training small units such as squads and platoons . The course is more focused on planning and assessing fitness goals at

330-513: Is what most cadets and USMA graduates think of as "Hayes Gym". It is a large open gym with a vaulted ceiling, hardwood floor, and elevated track (11.7 laps to a mile) that rings the room. The Department of Physical Education (DPE), USMA, teaches applied gymnastics (called "Military Movement") in Hayes, taking advantage of its historical and unusual support structures. The gym has eighteen 21' vertical ropes and two 60' horizontal ropes (suspended 12' from

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360-984: The 15 Most Influential Sports Education Teams in the country by the Institute for International Sport. Dr. Pim's Committee oversees the Club and Company Athletic programs, while the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) oversees the NCAA sports program. West Point currently fields 24 club teams in the following sports: boxing , crew , cycling , equestrian , fencing , in-line hockey , judo , lacrosse (W), marathon , martial arts , mixed martial arts (MMA), mountaineering , orienteering , rifle & pistol , rugby (M&W), sailing , skiing ( alpine & Nordic ), team handball (M&W), triathlon , volleyball (M), and water polo . Since 2000, academy club teams have won 22 national championships, making West Point's club program one of

390-450: The Cadets at West Point were taught swordsmanship as part of their military and physical training. The current Master of the Sword is COL Nicholas Gist, who has held the position since 2015. The department's stated mission is: The Department of Physical Education develops warrior leaders of character who are physically and mentally tough by engaging cadets in activities that promote and enhance

420-622: The Competitive Sports, Testing, & Assessment committees, or may work with the department's operations & plans, or personnel sections. DPE is responsible for teaching several core courses. To meet this requirement, the department is organized into four "committees". All 49 instructors are a member of one of the four committees. The current DPE committees are: In 2006, the USMA Academic Board approved DPE to begin offering an academic major for USMA Cadets. The Kinesiology major

450-477: The IOCT by specifically naming numerous skill related components of fitness, like balance, agility, and coordination by stating "Preparation for the APFT is of secondary importance. Maintenance of the military skills listed below will also be emphasized." The IOCT is often cited or studied in articles concerning high intensity human performance and obstacle courses. This is due to the large amount of available data due to

480-511: The IOCT to be one of the best evaluations of total body fitness given in the Army . Cadets who earn an A− (2:38 or less for Males and 3:11 or less for Females) are authorized to wear the IOCT Badge on their athletic shorts. The IOCT is similar to the obstacle course seen on the TV show American Gladiators , with a quarter-mile sprint at the conclusion of the course. The IOCT is administered throughout

510-766: The Members of the Long Gray Line and is seen as a link between Graduates of long ago and Cadets of today as the test has not changed much since 1948. DPE is also responsible for the administration of a robust competitive sports program at the academy. All Cadets must participate in one of three athletic categories: an NCAA Intercollegiate Sports Team (called "Corps Squad"), an authorized Club Sport Team (called "Club Squad"), or an intramural sport team – known at West Point as "Company Athletics". About 20% of all Cadets are Corps Squad, about 15% are Club Squad, and about 65% are Company Athletes. DPE's Competitive Sports Committee, headed by Dr. Ralph Pim, has been national recognized as one of

540-408: The academic year based on dates published by DPE. There are primary testing dates in both Fall and Spring semesters; generally, the dates are dependent upon class year and regiment. Cadets take the IOCT at different time throughout the year because of participation in semester abroad, in-season Club or Corps Squad teams, or injury. Large crowds of cadets, tactical officers, and other onlookers gather for

570-526: The course formerly called Master Fitness Trainer by the Army, DPE now teaches two separate lifetime fitness courses to Cadets. The Yearlings (Sophomores) receive PE215, The Fundamentals of Physical Fitness. This course is a 19 lesson course in the basics of health and wellness. Cadets learn basic exercise physiology such as the differences in skeletal muscle fiber types, the effects of low and high-intensity training, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle choices. The course

600-892: The department as "lifetime physical activities" (LPA), that are taken as electives by the upper class cadets, primarily 3rd (Yearling) and 1st Class (Firstie) Cadets. Because of the strong seasonal changes at West Point, many courses are only offered at certain times of the year. Additionally, team sports that are strongly associated with a certain time of the year (i.e.: Basketball in the winter/spring) are taught at those corresponding times. Current DPE elective courses include: advanced close quarters combat (with striking weapons), advanced grappling (with ground striking), aerobic fitness, basketball, cycling (road & mountain), lifeguard training , golf, ice skating , judo, badminton, racquetball , rock climbing , scuba diving , skiing (x-country & downhill), snowboarding , soccer, strength development , tennis, & volleyball. In lieu of teaching

630-517: The floor). There are also 10 pull-up bars that are re 5' wide each and are suspended from the ceiling from vertical supports in such a manner that they can be "run across" (with proper technique), as is done during the IOCT . The gym's floor space is filled with gymnastic's apparatus and pads, such as vaults, bars, and rings as well as 1" and 4" tumbling mats. Prior to the reconstruction of the new Arvin CPDC, Hayes

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660-622: The highest grade earned during each academic year will be used to compute the Physical Program Score Cumulative (PPSC) ." Hayes Gymnasium Hayes Gymnasium , completed in 1910, is the oldest section of the current Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center at the United States Military Academy . Originally built as an independent structure to replace the academy's previous Richard Morris Hunt -built gymnasium which had served between 1891 and 1910, it

690-407: The lengthy history of the course. It has been administered with few changes since 1944. The test consists of 11 events performed sequentially: low crawl under barrier, tire footwork, two-handed vault , 8 ft horizontal shelf, horizontal bar navigation, hanging tire, balance beam, 8 ft vertical wall, 20 ft horizontal ladder, 16 ft vertical rope, and 350 m sprint (carrying

720-514: The overall Arvin gym complex, while the "main room" of the gym received new ventilation and roofing. The first floor the houses two large rooms that are currently utilized as the "Class of 1962 Fitness Center", which is bisected by the "Class of 1957 Hallway". The west wall of Hayes gym was torn down and reconstructed to mesh with the new Arvin gym renovation, which opened in August 2004. The Class of 1962 donated an endowment which furnishes and maintains

750-554: The premier competitive club programs in the nation. In 2008, West Point had four national championship teams: cycling, orienteering, men's team handball, and boxing. A list of recent Club Team National Championships: Every cadet who does not compete on a Varsity or Club sport must participate in a Company-level athletic sport. About 65% of all cadets compete in Company Athletics. The Department of Physical Education's (DPE) Competitive Sports Committee, headed by Dr. Ralph Pim, runs

780-588: The running of the IOCT. The IOCT is often referenced in articles concerning high intensity human performance, especially involving obstacle courses. This is due to the large amount of available data due to the lengthy history of the course. It has been administered, almost without changes, since 1944. The Test consists of 11 events performed sequentially: low crawl under barrier, tire footwork, two-handed vault , 8' horizontal shelf, horizontal bar navigation, hanging tire, balance beam, 8' horizontal wall, 20' horizontal ladder, 16' vertical rope, and 350m sprint carrying

810-559: The small unit level. DPE is responsible for administering the Indoor Obstacle Course Test (IOCT). This fitness test is mandatory for all Cadets and must be passed in order to graduate from the academy. The IOCT is a test of all-around functional physical fitness administered by DPE in the historic Hayes Gymnasium . Hayes Gym, built in 1910, is the oldest part of the newly renovated Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center. Many current and past graduates and faculty consider

840-544: The two main rooms on the first floor, running east–west. The academy has maintained the gothic interior architecture of this hallway during the many different renovations of Hayes. Maintained by a gift from the class of 1957, this un-renovated section of the building is a link to the gym's past when it was not only a place of exercise, but also housed the cadet restaurant and was a place for social gatherings. Formal ceremonies are occasionally held in this large hallway because of its "old-fashioned" look. The second level of Hayes

870-549: Was also used for its basketball court, as three undersized courts fit side by side with the backboards suspended from the track structure. With the completion of the new gym and the six dedicated basketball courts in other parts of Arvin, DPE has removed the rims from the Hayes backboards and no longer uses it as a basketball or team handball facility, allowing the military movement equipment to remain in place year-round. Department of Physical Education The Department of Physical Education (also known by its initials DPE )

900-661: Was part of a large contract bid awarded to the Boston architectural firm of Cram, Goodhue, & Ferguson in 1903. Formerly the East Gym, it was renamed in 1989 for 1st Lt. (posthumously promoted Captain) Thomas Jay Hayes IV, Class of 1966, killed in action in Vietnam on 17 April 1968. Hayes gym is a two-level gymnasium first built in 1910. It is now incorporated into the larger Arvin Cadet Physical Development Center. The gym's first floor underwent extensive renovation during recent rebuild of

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