Think you have what it takes to join the Navy? Think again.
Bodybuilder and personal health vlogger Steve Cook recently took to YouTube to record an interesting new fitness challenge. Six weeks after contracting COVID-19, Cook wanted to test himself and see if he was really fully recovered. He challenged himself to take the US Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT) to see if he was really back at full health — and he failed! The PRT is a test any potential Navy recruit must pass in order to officially enlist, and although it is difficult, its definitely not impossible. You can check out the video in full below and see where things went wrong with Cook.
“[This is] my first challenge workout since I got COVID,” Cook explains in the video. “I got COVID, like, six weeks ago…had to basically take a week and a half off from work, it was pretty crappy, and I felt pretty sick for the first three days. I was going crazy, couldn’t taste, couldn’t eat, I still really can’t taste or smell very well, I would say 50%, but we’re back in the gym.”
It’s an interesting challenge to take on in a post-COVID situation because, while most people report mild symptoms and a full recovery from the disease, some complain that their symptoms last for months after the fact and cause serious health problems, including with their fitness.
The Navy PRT test is graded across four categories: a 1.5 mile run (or walk), curl-ups, and sit-ups. Points are assigned based on how quickly you complete the run and how many sit-ups/curl-ups you can do correctly in two minutes. The scores are then averaged out and the minimum standard to pass is 50 points overall.
In the push-up category, Cook was able to do 73 push-ups in 2 minutes. By Navy PRT standards, that puts him in the Good score category — for context, 86 or above is considered Outstanding, 76 or above is considered Excellent, 51 or above is considered Good, 46 or above is considered Satisfactory, and anything below that is Probationary. So, at least for this segment, Cook got a passable score but nothing amazing by Navy standards, since most recruits aim to get somewhere in the 90 range.
Cook was also able to do 61 sit-ups in 2 minutes, which actually puts him the Good score category for sit-ups, but only barely. Navy recruits are expected to be able to do between 90 and 100 sit-ups in 2 minutes. 90 or above is considered Outstanding, 75 or above is Excellent, 60 or above is Good, 50 or above is Satisfactory, and anything below that is Probationary.
Cook broke down briefly during the running portion of the test, complaining that COVID had ruined his lungs and saying “that was definitely the least amount of push-ups and sit-ups I’ve ever been able to do in 2 minutes, and I refuse to accept that.” He was able to run a mile and a half in 11 minutes and 29 seconds, which put him in the Satisfactory category. Navy recruits are expected to be able to run a mile and a half in 9 minutes or less, a score which is considered Outstanding. A mile and a half run in 9:45 or less is Excellent and 11 minutes or less is Good. 12:15 or less is considered Satisfactory and anything below that is Probationary.
Based off Cook’s scores, he wouldn’t qualify for service in the US Navy. However, this close to when he had COVID, it’s tough to say if that’s a real measurement of his fitness potential. Hopefully he will make a full recovery and be able to complete the challenge later on!
*All images and media courtesy of YouTube.
