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How about emergency services workers?

SpaceYam

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Just like the Defence Force thread, anyone here involved in public safety?

I'm employed by NSW Fire and Rescue as a retained fire fighter, and I'm currently going through the recruitment process to become an Aviation Rescue Fire Fighter with Airservices Australia at Sydney Airport.

My training is based roughly on the programming from the Crossfit BodyM gym (which I plan to join when I earn more money), and I've been throwing in the beep test a couple of times a week in preparation for the physical aptitude test with Airservices. I also started swimming once a week and I'm loving it, which is great considering I was never ever a competitive swimmer in school.

Any Police, Ambulance, Fire officers on here? Volunteer agencies such as the SES, CFA and RFS? What sort of training regimes do you guys follow? I have always had a bit of a strength bias, personally, I guess because I feel it's what I enjoy the most, was never really into long distance or endurance races so doing a lot of cardio and extended Crossfit workouts are the bits of my training I hate the most. Plus, Jason at BodyM seems to really love his burpees and plate burpees XD
 

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I work for the Federal Police, 12 hours shifts, mix of day and night in the one block. IE, 3 days 2 nights, 2 days 2 nights, 2 days 3 nights, with anywhere from 4-5 days off between each block.

I work out every day i'm off as well as the day of my first night shift and my rest days are my days where i'm at work. IE I worked out yesterday, will workout today and tomorrow, working Wednesday(rest) and Thursday(rest), workout Friday morning, night shift Friday night, sat(rest) n sun(rest) night, then workout Monday.

I do split workouts, back and biceps, chest and triceps, shoulders calves and abs, legs. Cardio warm up before each workout of 5 mins jog, with further cardio after workout.

I hate cross-fit, not that i've ever done it, nor do i plan too, just that to me its a joke. I prefer old school pumping iron and jogging/running.
 

commodore665

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Same deal here , I'm in the NZ police. I go running everyday , and a mix of weights IE upper and lower on alternate days , boxing , and calisthenics , on a daily basis . Plus lots of stretching and yoga , as I find , in this line of work the fitter you are physically and mentally the better .
 
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Woody_SS

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Hey Troy,
Happy to be corrected but I don't believe RFS have a fitness requirement unless you want to specialise (dropped by helicopter into places man has never been). We have a few at work I will ask tomorrow


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I'm both ADF and RFS. Have been ADF for 13 years, and RFS for 14.
Training isn't anything special, paid work has a requirement to maintain a standard and thats what I maintain carido wise.
I do a 5x5 weights program to keep overall body strength and conditioning up, especially for the BA side of the RFS.

No RFS does not have a fitness requirement to be a typical Fire Fighter. If you wish to specialise in Aviation (actual airborne stuff, not ground support) or RAFT (Remote Area Fire Team) then there are fitness and health standards that have to be met.
 

SpaceYam

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On the Crossfit thing, while I don't do it anymore I definitely wouldn't say that when done properly that it is a joke, because that's absolutely not true. It simply depends on what your goals are and whether or not your coach knows what he's doing. There is a reason why good Crossfit gyms incorporate things other than just pure Crossfit, and why the founder isn't even involved with it anymore.

At the moment I'm going through the process of applying for an Aviation Rescue Fire Fighter with Airservices Australia, and I have the physical coming up. My normal routine these days is following the 5-3-1 Wendler program with back squats, shoulder press, deadlifts, front squats, and alternating power cleans/clean and jerk/snatch. I run 5km on Saturdays and do the beep test once a week, but in preparation for the physical I'm going to be going through similar patterns to simulate the requirements to pass.

I'm still a retained fire fighter at the moment, and while there are no ongoing physical assessments, it's obviously a good idea to remain fit. I've seen some huge blokes in the RFS, and if I'm honest they look like they'd only be good for standing there holding a hose and not much else. In FRNSW everyone is qualified to operate breathing apparatus, and I've found that that tends to be the most physically demanding part of the job as while you're not always on air, you might have the set on your back for a considerable length of time so having a good strong hips, back and shoulders certainly makes a difference.
 

Troy711

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Hey Troy,
Happy to be corrected but I don't believe RFS have a fitness requirement unless you want to specialise (dropped by helicopter into places man has never been). We have a few at work I will ask tomorrow


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They probably don't have a fitness test but it's a personal preference. I hate heat as it is so I'd rather be as fit as possible and suffer less rather than lug around extra weight that I don't need to.
 
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They probably don't have a fitness test but it's a personal preference. I hate heat as it is so I'd rather be as fit as possible and suffer less rather than lug around extra weight that I don't need to.

They do. Well they did when I was in. It was very basic, like walking a certain distance in a certain time. 45min or something. It's pretty much just a 45min powerwalk.
 

SpaceYam

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They do. Well they did when I was in. It was very basic, like walking a certain distance in a certain time. 45min or something. It's pretty much just a 45min powerwalk.

So, not dragging 5 lengths of a charged hose for the duration of the walk, or anything like that?

Doesn't sound particularly challenging, to be honest. I wouldn't call that a fitness test at all, more like a "Can you walk?" test.
 
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