Training Academy

April 16, 2003

FITNESS CLASS UPDATE

Introduction:

We are starting to see women who had taken the winter off from the women’s fitness class, come back to the training academy to inquire again about the women’s fitness program. The women’s fitness program had been discontinued in February 2003 due a lack of attendance.

In replacement of the women’s fitness class discontinued in February, a regular fitness class was incorporated. In February, an analysis was performed on possible target groups where support was needed to insure future success of these possible target groups in the pre-employment screening process. Upon completion of the analysis, the following were concluded:

1. Continue to train the six women who had taken advantage of the women’s fitness program over the past year and had made employment as a firefighter trainee in the El Paso Fire Department their number one priority (even though there is still no date scheduled for a future training class).
2. Incorporate qualified personnel from the 911 Explorer program (Boy Scouts of America) into the fitness program. The personnel who would be invited into the program would be the Explorer personnel who had taken the El Paso Fire Department Entrance Exam, passed the exam, and are currently on the list to obtain a trainee status with the El Paso Fire Department.

The Fitness Program (Physical fitness and Academics):

The El Paso Fire Department Training Academy took an active role in June 2002 to help prepare women academically and physically for the pre-employment process (written test and CPAT). 151 women took advantage of the Women’s Fitness Program provided by the El Paso Fire Department from June 2002 to October 2002. Of the 151 women, 41 passed the written exam given in October 2002. The 41 women who had passed the written exam accounted for almost ten percent of all applicants who had passed that written exam given in October 2002; twice as many as any previously given exam. Of the 41 women who had passed the entrance exam, only six women continue to take advantage of the fitness program offered to them by the El Paso Fire Department. Of the six women who continue to take advantage of the fitness program, four of the six can pass the CPAT. That is almost a 70 percent success rate compared to a total success rate from women of 30 percent.

It has taken a period of time for the current four women of the six in the fitness program to become conditioned to a point to pass the CPAT. From the four women, two passed the CPAT after six months of conditioning, one passed after four months of conditioning, and one passed the CPAT in only one month of conditioning.

The two women who have not passed the CPAT are projected to be able to pass the CPAT in an additional four months if they continue to take advantage of the fitness program. Just as a note, all three Explorer personnel, who have qualified to attend the fitness program, have passed the CPAT.

With a possible recruit class getting closer (that is in accordance with the informal communication network), more women, who used to come to the fitness class over four months ago, are inquiring again into what is now just a fitness program.

The six women currently in the fitness program have become so intense in there training that they now train in quick hitch, Scott, and an additional 45 pounds whether it be a high-rise pack or sandbags. The training is not only preparing the six women for the CPAT, but also for what they will encounter as a trainee in the academy. The heavier, more intense type of training was allowed for these six women only after a period of five months of “foundation” training to prepare their bodies for the pressures of wearing bunker gear, SCOTT, and a high-rise pack. For many of these women, this gear almost doubles their current weight.

Conclusion:

I project that when the date of the CPAT is finally determined and the invitations are sent out to the applicants, an influx of men and women will inquire about the fire department’s fitness program. For many women, twelve weeks will not be enough time to condition them for the CPAT. The fitness class currently being conducted for the women was and is a program that identifies a person’s physical needs and addresses these needs in a manner that reduces personal injury during training.

Lieutenant Gillespie has shown interest in providing fitness classes geared toward the people who want to start training for the CPAT when the CPAT notices are eventually distributed. The added classes by Lieutenant Gillespie would be less intense than the current fitness class and would reduce the likelihood of injury to the non-conditioned applicant.

Firefighter

Kip Hall

EPFD Training Academy

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