This article serves as a guide for current and future strength and conditioning professionals who oversee program design for fire academy recruits. This includes a summarized needs analysis and a sample training program that considers the unique challenges of the fire academy.
November 19, 2025by Lee Brown, PhD, CSCS, CSPS, TSAC-F, RSCC, Scott Caulfield, CSCS,*D, TSAC-F,*D, RSCC*E, Jim McDonald, CSCS, NSCA-CPT, TSAC-F, and Alexandra Cacioppo, MS, CSCS, TSAC-F, USAW-2
This article from TSAC Report shares a coaching philosophy than can bridge the communication gap between strength and conditioning professionals and firefighters Visit NSCA online to read more on tactical athletes and fitness news.
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Military and law enforcement needs analyses are not specifically matched to firefighting, but those training styles are better than basic fitness regimens or no regimen at all. For firefighters who are attracted to other styles of training not specific to firefighting, there are ways to train for all the demands of firefighting without making the firefighter use training modalities that they dislike or are not comfortable using.
The purpose of this article was to conduct a process evaluation of a six-week recruit strength and conditioning programming for rural structural firefighter recruits.
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The program described in this article is an example of how a department can attempt to address and potentially prevent musculoskeletal injuries in firefighters and similar tactical populations. This process includes the use of movement screens, active workshops, and various modes of feedback.
There is no argument that periodization is successful, and that different models can be applied with success in different fashions. The question of how shift work really affects a periodized program—more specifically firefighter shift work—is less clear.
This TSAC Report column summarizes physical training outcomes for firefighters and practical guidance on program design and results. Visit NSCA online to read more on firefighter fitness and tactical performance in the fire service.
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This article aims to provide information designed to assist firefighter recruits to achieve a successful Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) performance.
Through a well-designed resistance training program, firefighter recruits can gain the movement skills, confidence to exercise, and foundational strength/physiological adaptations that they need for a long and healthy career.