Boy oh boy......
1) The fact that someone has to do the step test instead of the shuttle run would be that he has a problem with the knees or one with the ole ticker.....
2) Durint the step test, the PSP type will take your blood pressure on an ongoing basis.... if you go over 141... they stop the test (note that on the shuttle run your BP can go to the moon and back as long as you're still standing)
AND (here's the kicker)
3) At the conclusion of the step test, they manually calculate your VO2 capacity. If you are over the weight the CF Med types say you should be at for your height, then you fail... even if you are all "torked up" with no fat ....
You're going to have to do better than that Brixxie
Just a comment number on 2 here, I just did my step test , they took B/P twice , before level 1 and after level 6 , never during the test itself.
IMHO standards need to be met if for no other reason than for the recruit to show that he or she is serious and committed about joining. I was a 400 lbs er when I started trying to meet the standards , and Ive got to say that they were a big help in motivating me when going out for a run at 5 am or walking by Dixie Lee ( Chicken Joint for you Westerners)for that matter . Looking back I say to myself ......Self , you never thought you would ever be able to make it this far , and you did , so if you try REALLY hard you might get an invite to join Paracowboy someday for some PT. Lofty goals I know but you do need something to shoot for ;D