Firefighting is a profession that has the potential to be extremely demanding, both physically and mentally. More specifically, these tactical personnel must be physically fit to perform their occupational requirements, all while they are exposed to daily stressors. This is likely to include everything from physical strain and shift work to interrupted sleep and witnessing potentially traumatizing events. Failure to prepare and mitigate these occupational demands can have long-lasting implications to overall performance as well as health and wellness. Unfortunately, many of these elements often go unaddressed. As such, considerations for collaborative and overarching cross-disciplinary allied health teams should be made. Human performance optimization (HPO) is a model that has been successfully adopted by the U.S. military to enhance the overarching health, wellness, and performance of soldiers. This article proposes the utilization of a similar HPO model by providing a rationale for how it can be used to reduce premature morbidity and mortality, as well as increasing overall readiness and resilience within the firefighting profession.

Explore why Dr. Jay Dawes has been selected as the 2026 NSCA Foundation Legacy Scholarship Honoree for his lasting impact on tactical strength and conditioning.

The NSCA certification exams are based on the analysis of tasks needed to be competent in a specified job or role. The exams measure a candidate’s knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) compared to a predetermined level of competence. It is not a test that recalls information from a textbook like a college course. Before you start preparing ensure you have chosen the right certification for you.

Find educational articles and videos, learn more about programs offered by the NSCA, find information on CEUs and continuing education, prepare for exams, online exam preparation and more.

Join the 2026 NSCA Personal Trainers Virtual Conference (PTCon) online October 27–30 for flexible continuing education, evidence-based strategies, and 2.0 CEUs.

Congratulations to the 2020 NSCA Award Winners!

Discovery Canyon High School’s Sam Melendrez explains how experts in his profession are having a profound impact on youth in sports.