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.
This article is part of a continuing series of tactical strength and conditioning (TSAC) research reviews. It is designed to bring awareness to new research findings of relevance to tactical strength and conditioning communities.
Fitness testing uses a battery of protocols recognized by the scientific community as both reliable and valid, and it measures important fitness constructs such as aerobic endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, power, agility, flexibility, and balance.
CoachesExercise Sciencekinetic selectfitness testingfitness assessmentstactical strength and conditioning
This TSAC Report article highlights ruck performance for tactical athletes with key insights on load carriage biomechanics, gait changes, and training strategies to reduce injury. Visit NSCA online to learn more about military strength training.
TSAC FacilitatorsExercise ScienceExercise TechniqueProgram designOrganization and AdministrationTesting and EvaluationSafetyBasic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or DiseaseProfessional DevelopmentInjury PreventionExercise ResearchAerobic ConditioningCombat ReadinessGround Reaction Force (GRF)Endurance TrainingLower-body WorkoutBiomechanics
TSAC Report 75, shares content on injury prevention exercises for first responders. Visit NSCA online to read articles on health science, tactical athlete and more.
TSAC FacilitatorsExercise ScienceProgram designOrganization and AdministrationTesting and EvaluationSafetyEmergency ProceduresPhysical AssessmentBaseline FitnessLEO’sOccupational InjuriesAerobic FitnessPhysical FitnessFirefighters
Knowledge of metabolic rate can help athletes as well as health-conscious people improve their exercise performance or obtain the fat-to-lean-mass ratio optimal for their personal situations. Two examples of how this works follow.
CoachesExercise ScienceNutritionmetabolic ratefitness teststrength and conditioningweight loss
Unite with our strength and conditioning community at the 2026 NSCA National Conference in New Orleans. Learn hands-on, apply new science, + earn up to 3.0 CEUs
Collecting data can be trial and error, but by building a solid foundation prior to data collection and putting the appropriate people and procedures in place, the tactical facilitator can minimize errors while optimizing effort, money, and time.
This article seeks to explain the differences between males and females in training and adaptations, as well as provide actionable guidelines to improve performance.