Differences in Fitness Between Cadet and General Population Firefighter Academy Recruits

This longitudinal study explored entry route- and age-related fitness differences between cadet (CR) and general population (GR) firefighter recruits. Fitness data were collected from eight separate firefighter recruit academy cohorts (N = 317; 122 CR, 195 GR; 27.17 ± 7.58 yrs, 177.30 ± 8.72 cm, 88.65 ± 17.78 kg). In the first week of the academy, recruits completed an assessment battery including: body composition via skinfold measures to estimate body fat (BF, %) and fat-free mass (FFM, kg); aerobic fitness (VO_2peak, mL· kg^-1· min^-1) and heart rate recovery (HRR_1min, %) estimated from the five-minute Forestry Step Test; movement quality via a squat-based movement screen (MES, 0-100); muscular strength via the sum of right and left handgrip (SHG, kg); and muscular endurance via a two-minute push-up test. Due to non-normally distributed data, non-parametric statistical tests were used. Wilcoxon rank-sum tests (α < 0.05) evaluated fitness differences between entry routes. Kruskal-Wallis tests evaluated differences between four age groups: A1 (19-21 yrs), A2 (22-29 yrs), A3 (30-39 yrs), and A4 (40+ yrs). CR had significantly (p < 0.05) lower age, BM, BF, and FFM, but greater MES, VO_2peak, HRR_1min, and PU. A1 had lower BM, BF, and FFM; and greater VO_2peak, HRR_1min, and PU (p < 0.01) than all other ages. The range of fitness in recruits upon academy entry necessitates careful programming to support optimization of fitness in all recruits, regardless of age. The fitness elements of an academy may present opportunities to build health and fitness literacy, necessary for career longevity.