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Tactical Strength and Conditioning

(52) EXPLORATION OF THE IMPACT OF FIREFIGHTER TRAINEE FITNESS TEST PERFORMANCE ON ACADEMY GRADUATION OR RELEASE

Thursday, July 13, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM East Coast USA Time
Location: Milano III-IV
Abstract Details: Firefighter trainees require numerous fitness capacities (e.g., muscular strength, power, and endurance, anaerobic and aerobic fitness) to be admitted to, and complete, a training academy and effectively perform their job. Performance in certain fitness tests could be used to predict trainee potential for academy success. This information could be used to design training programs for trainees that may have specific limitations.

Purpose: To investigate the impact of fitness test performance on trainee ability to graduate an academy using ordinal logistic generalized linear models.

Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on trainee data (N=686) from one fire department. Trainees completed a department-specific occupational physical ability test (OPAT) that included: Illinois agility test (IAT); push-ups; pull-ups; leg tucks; estimated maximal aerobic capacity (V̇O2max) derived from the 20-m multistage fitness test; backwards overhead 4.54-kg medicine ball throw (BOMBT); 10-repetition maximum deadlift; and 91.44-m farmer’s carry with 18-kg kettlebells. Data were recorded in raw scores, in addition to scaled scores based on internal department scoring. Tests were scored from 0-100, with a maximum total OPAT score of 800. Trainees were split into graduated (completed academy; n=576) or released (did not complete academy; n=110) groups. Data were analyzed via ordinal logistic generalized linear models, with significance set at p < 0.05. Raw and scaled scores were investigated separately, with odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) produced.

Results: For the raw scores, there was a significant difference in the odds of graduating relative to IAT performance (OR=1.357; CI=1.047-1.760; p=0.021), BOMBT distance (OR=0.744; CI=0.628-0.882; p< 0.001), and V̇O2max (OR=0.907; CI=0.862-0.954; p< 0.001) in firefighter trainees. A faster IAT, further BOMBT, and greater V̇O2max increased the likelihood of graduation. For the scaled scores, there was a significant difference in the odds of graduating relative to the points attained for the BOMBT (OR=0.985; CI=0.972-0.999; p=0.032), deadlift (OR=0.982; CI=0.968-0.995; p=0.008), and total OPAT (OR=0.994; CI=0.988-1.000; p=0.047). More points increased graduation likelihood.

Conclusions: The results reinforced the importance of overall fitness for firefighter trainees relative to academy graduation. Change-of-direction speed (IAT), total-body power (BOMBT), aerobic fitness (V̇O2max), lower-body strength (deadlift), and the combination of different facets of fitness (total OPAT points) significantly impacted the odds for a trainee to graduate from the fire academy. The largest impact seemed to be for the IAT; for every unit decrease in time (i.e., a faster IAT), there was a 36% better chance of a trainee graduating from the academy. However, different scoring systems may yield different results if used as cut-scores. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Logistic generalized linear models could use fitness test data to identify a trainee’s odds of graduating academy. Although it may be expected that a firefighter trainee requires multiple fitness components to be successful in their training, the current results highlight how specific tests could identify limitations in trainee fitness that could impact their ability to successfully graduate. Furthermore, the data suggested change-of-direction speed, total-body power, lower-body strength, and aerobic fitness could enhance a trainee’s likelihood of graduation.

Acknowledgements: None