PT and Fitness

PT Standards

Without fail, these questions are always asked:

"What are the minimums? What do I have to do to be considered for entry into the program?"

At Challis Helitack we are held to the Forest Service minimum physical requirement standards, just like every other program in the agency. This means that in order to meet "conditions of hire", you have to complete the arduous pack test; carrying a 45 pound pack over 3 miles in less than 45 minutes. The curriculum then moves toward more difficult physical testing, which includes the mile and a half run, pull ups, pushups, and sit ups tests and finally the pack out.

The minimum requirements for these tests are:

1.5 mile run in 11:00 min or less (AVG: 9:40min)

40 Sit ups in 3 min (AVG: 75)

25 push up in 3 min (AVG:50)

7 pullups (AVG: 10.4)

3 mile PACK OUT 75 pounds (AVG: 55:45min)

These physical standards will be attempted by all members of the program on day one of the season. Permanent staff and rookies alike. We believe that ANY operational firefighter should be able to excel at these tests. Although these are the minimums, you will find that management and veteran crew members will expect you to exceed these standards and will assist you in achieving higher goals. You can find info on the Standards at FIREFIT

Get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Meeting The Standards

Train:

Work with someone to develop a program and stick to it. Start early and PT often, building up over the winter until your hiring date. Make the minimums your baseline, but understand that the entire training curriculum will far exceed the demands of the fitness assessment tests. When to "peak" in your training is up for debate, but you should be able to maintain a level of physical fitness throughout the season, so your training should be strenuous near the time you arrive. It's also a good idea to give yourself the week before work starts to take it easy, water up and rest your body. You may choose to work out during this period but only to maintain your physical fitness levels and stay loose.

Be prepared for exposure to a wide range of physical challenges.

Just remember; no matter how you build your training program, pullups and running are the two elements of physical fitness that most often catch rookie candidates unprepared, so remember to regularly incorporate both into your training regimen. For those who struggle with pullups, the Armstrong Pullup Program linked below has helped many rookies meet and exceed the standards.

Below are some documents and links to websites that may be beneficial to your success.

Parting words of advice: Be honest with yourself and give it all that you've got.