My CPAT (the Candidate Physical Ability Test for firefighter candidates) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

rsl12 · 11-20-2005, 08:18 PM

I passed the CPAT, which is a physical fitness test that's a prerequisite to taking the basic firefighting course at the academy. I was really nervous about this going in, and being the very first person (out of about 25 waiting) to take the test that day didn't help! My proctor must have seen I was nervous--he said, "the best thing you can do now is just stay calm." So I did. He quickly described how the course would work, then I got loaded up with the equipment (vest, gloves, hard hat) and got started!

The test consists of 8 events, and all must be completed in 10 minutes 20 seconds. The first event is a mandatory 3:20--after that, all other events can be performed as quickly as possible. Running is not allowed, though I was out of breath enough that running wasn't really a concern. The killer is that, throughout everything, you are wearing a weighted vest (50 lbs). I had done most of these events before in the practice sessions held a few weeks prior, but had never done things in sequence. For the last few weeks, I questioned whether I would have enough energy for the entire thing. I didn't stop questioning until the end of the test. Here are the 8 events:

1. With an extra 25 lbs on your shoulders (for a total of 75 lbs weight), go up a stairmaster machine at a speed of 1 step/second for 3:20. Although I've heard that lots of people have trouble with this, it was a breeze for me. My thighs are humongous! On the advice of a firefighter at my station, I spent most of this time saying the alphabet, one letter per step. I think that means I said the alphabet 7 times. I'm not sure saying the alphabet helped that much--try saying the alphabet 7 times, going one letter per second--it makes time feel like it goes forever!!. Anyways, my legs weren't at all wobbly at the end. They removed 25 lbs and I continued to the other events with the 50 lb vest.

2. Take an uncharged hose and run (running is allowed here) with the nozzle end over a little distance, then pull in a section of the hose with your arms from a kneeling position. In practice, we had been dragging a pretty heavy stretch of hose--in this real test, it was really light! I was glad, because my arms are pretty puny. I reminded myself not to drag it in too fast, and to pace myself, as this seemed to be my biggest problem in the practices.

3. Take 2 simulated pieces of equipment (2 saws, 30 lbs each) and walk them a little distance. Not much to say about this. Pretty easy. All this time, my legs are recovering from the stairs.

4. Take a ladder laying on the ground and lean it against the wall. Extend the ladder using the rope, and then bring it back down in a controlled fashion. Also not particularly difficult--some grip strength is necessary, though I used the advice of my training officer (given just 2 days before) to grab and twist the rope used for the extension, and that seemed to help. By the end of this, my legs were recovered from the stairs, and my arms were warming up.

5. Use a 10 lb sledgehammer to 'put in a nail into a wall', if you will. The nail, in this case, is a target maybe 6 inches in diameter. I've heard people can nail the thing in in 3 strokes. It took me 20!! In practice, I've done it in about 10. I guess I was more tired than I thought going into this, and still I had to tell myself, "don't bang it too hard--you have to save up for the rest." I also wonder if my aim wasn't very good--I might have missed the target for a number of those swings. It seemed to last forever--I was really wondering if the station was broken!! When I heard the alarm go off, signalling the end, I was realllly happy. Also, I was embarassed. And out of breath. And worried about time.

6. Go through a narrow dark tunnel. In the tunnel are some obstacles. I'd never done this event prior to test day. Being small was probably an advantage. Not once did I need to crawl on my belly, though I came close in some stretches. What surprised me more than anything was the claustrophobia that crept up on me--being out of breath in narrow confines, barely being able to see, and having to struggle to continue moving. I often have dreams about being in tight quarters--it was very much like this.

7. Take a 165-lb mannequin and drag him 100 feet or so. This event kicks my butt!! In practice, I figured the trick is to get as much of the mannequin off the ground so that he doesn't drag. This is hard to do if you're short--also, he's pretty wide around the chest, so you can't bear-hug him--you just have to pick him up by his handles (which are conveniently located at his shoulders! I'm guessing this simulates his shirt) and lift up as much as you can, and take short, staggering steps. It's a very awkward event. I barely got his hips off the ground. I think adrenaline was kicking in by this point--in practice, I had been quite exhausted 1/2 way though this event, even without all the other stuff beforehand--this time, I just kept saying "keep going ron" and I felt urgency much more than I felt exhaustion. The proctor looked a little concerned at the end of this event--he asked me, "are you alright?" I must have looked pretty bad. I was seriously out of breath.

8. Final event--take a pole and 'breach' a ceiling. Basically, this means placing a pole into a target (almost like a pole vault target in the 'ceiling') and pushing up three times the 60 lbs of weight that are attached to the target. Then you take the same pole and hook it into another target and pull down five times 80 lbs of weight attached to a lever. You do four sets of this push up/pull down. Not particularly hard, other than the fact that I was exhausted and wobbly, making it difficult to actually put the pole into the right place! Moreover, I was deathly scared of time running out during this event, which is almost certainly the longest event of the whole test, other than the stairs. So I wobbled frantically through it--I had to repeat a push or two because in my exhaustion I didn't push hard enough, and the targets were unpleasantly elusive in my nervous hands. I nearly dropped the pole twice. The fourth and last set was the hardest of course--I just kept telling myself, "Ron, 10 more seconds of pain is all you have to endure--if you don't do this, you have to wait until next year to try again!" So I finished, and I was in some pain. When I finished, the proctor said, "just put the pole down." I wondered if I had really made it in time--he had such a neutral tone. 30 seconds later, the proctor told me I had passed, and I was very happy! My time was 9:50--I had an extra 30 seconds, which at the time sounded like a very comfortable margin. Maybe it wasn't. It's pretty amazing that the entire test was only 10 minutes!

That was some test. 10 minutes decided whether I would be able to attend fire school this winter, or would have to wait until 2007 to try again. I'm glad I passed. I hadn't taken a physical fitness test since--middle school? Only a year ago, which is when I started volunteering at the fire station, I was in decidedly so-so shape. I'm glad to see I was able to get myself into some decent form. Hopefully I'll be able to keep improving!

Dragonknight · 11-20-2005, 11:53 PM

WOW congrats that's pretty cool. I've heard about this test, but never actually what it consisted of. I always thought about being a fireman (once I'm done with the military) now I know what I have to look foward to.

rsl12 · 11-21-2005, 05:24 AM

It's a pretty neat test dragonknight. Thinking back on it, it wasn't really as hard as I might be making it sound like--the key seems to be anaerobic endurance, and I hadn't realized that until two weeks or so before the test. I had been doing a lot of aerobic stuff (running, stairs) and a lot of anaerobic stuff (weight lifting) but not anaerobic activity for extended periods. What I should have been doing in practice is slightly lighter weights, but absolutely no rest between exercises. Also, I should have been improving my aim with the ceiling machine and the sledgehammer event! That definitely hurt my time.

Dragonknight · 11-21-2005, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsl12

It's a pretty neat test dragonknight. Thinking back on it, it wasn't really as hard as I might be making it sound like--the key seems to be anaerobic endurance, and I hadn't realized that until two weeks or so before the test. I had been doing a lot of aerobic stuff (running, stairs) and a lot of anaerobic stuff (weight lifting) but not anaerobic activity for extended periods. What I should have been doing in practice is slightly lighter weights, but absolutely no rest between exercises. Also, I should have been improving my aim with the ceiling machine and the sledgehammer event! That definitely hurt my time.

Got it get my endurance to high levels and work on smashing stuff. I LIKE that idea I can do that. Thx

stevie667 · 11-21-2005, 07:21 AM

Good job mate!

Doubt i could do all of that in 10 mins!

BigBen · 11-21-2005, 09:19 AM

I appreciate the Job-Related physical tests being introduced into several career paths.

It used to be "Do 100 push-ups/100 sit-ups/run a Mile" in a certain period of time. People complained that those tests were biased against small/large people, and hence the change.

That sounded like a BRUTAL test. 75 pounds on your back climbing stairs for 3:20? Fuck me, Batman.

The POPAT (for cops) is done in 4:45. I mean totally done. You are less than halfway through the CPAT. Sheesh.

Congratulations are in order. Please realize that you are in the top 5% of the population for physical fitness. You should do something to reward yourself. Go and buy something; Eat a whole cake to yourself; I don't know. Whatever floats your boat.

Don't just shrug this off and say "It was nothing". People never give themselves enough credit in situations like this.

75 pounds for 3:20? wow.

rsl12 · 11-21-2005, 11:08 AM

Hey BigBen, thanks for the props. It's nice to have someone think that this was a big deal, other than myself! That being said, I know that if I had practiced properly, it would have been a piece of (slightly tough) cake, instead of the torture that it was.

Are you a cop? What's the POPAT like?

Sultana · 11-21-2005, 02:14 PM

I think it's a big fricken deal, too! Sounds really really tough, kudos to you for being prepared, and for being able to handle the claustrophobia in that one part.

BigBen · 11-21-2005, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rsl12

Hey BigBen, thanks for the props...
Are you a cop? What's the POPAT like?

No, I am in the army.

I have done the POPAT, when the Army was looking into alternative PT testing measures.

There is an obstacle course consisting of a 6 foot mat, two sticks spaced apart and on chairs and a flight of stairs. You have to run around cones like a chicken with your head cut off and jump this mat and these sticks, and then run up and rown the flight of stairs.

Then you go over to a push-pull machine with 80 lbs. It is attached to a wall and you do 6 half circles of push and 6 of pull. Then you do this vault-thing where you jump a pole and land on your back and jump it again and land on your stomach (sit up and push up with a jump inbetween, basically) and then the timed portion is over. You have to carry an 80 pound sack 25(?) metres and not drop it. All said, you have to do the timed portion in 4:45 (this time differs, depending on how tough they want to be) and you have to start the sandbag carry after a 1 minute rest. Once you start, you can take all of the time you want, but you can't drop it.

You see, the obstacle course is simulating the chase of a suspect, the push-pull machine simulates the apprehension, the sandbag carry simulates carrying a victim to safety once the situation is resolved;

The army eventually went to a more soldier specific drill test, which includes hauling 40kg ammo crates, running with full fighting gear for 3.2 k, digging a trench, and fireman carry a casualty 100m. For fun, we always put this test on the hottest/coldest day of the year, after a rucksack march.

Thank god there is no stair machine involved. I would fucking quit.

rsl12 · 11-21-2005, 08:51 PM

BigBen: both those tests sound pretty tough! Maybe it's a matter of the grass being greener on the other side. I don't think I would do well carrying a casualty (with me and the casualty in full fighting gear?) for 100m!!

Sultana: the claustrophobia really surprised me--I never feel claustrophobic, except in my recurring dreams of going through narrow tunnels! I wonder if that dream means something. Being out of breath and in the dark also contributed to the feeling of being too confined. I'm curious to see if I would have the same reaction going through it again.

ps sultana: your sig scares me! I fear for your boyfriend.

dman2 · 11-26-2005, 09:48 AM

I took a similar test when I lived in Atlanta, Georgia. It was pretty much the same test, with the exception of the weight on my back. However, it did involve climbing a 75 ft ladder at a 70 degree angle. That was pretty tough.
Kudos to anyone who passed this test and did not pass out. Great work!!

cheese · 12-09-2005, 12:42 AM

yep im happy with my 55 push ups 55 sit ups and 13:15 1.5 mile run YAY navy PRT!

cheese · 12-09-2005, 12:43 AM

Grats tho.

rlynnm · 12-09-2005, 01:58 PM

Congratulations!

That was a very helpful post, I shall pass that on to my bestfriend who was considering going into the same field.

Zeraph · 12-09-2005, 04:08 PM

Congrats. Interesting read, thanks for posting.

11-20-2005, 08:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	My CPAT (the Candidate Physical Ability Test for firefighter candidates) I passed the CPAT, which is a physical fitness test that's a prerequisite to taking the basic firefighting course at the academy. I was really nervous about this going in, and being the very first person (out of about 25 waiting) to take the test that day didn't help! My proctor must have seen I was nervous--he said, "the best thing you can do now is just stay calm." So I did. He quickly described how the course would work, then I got loaded up with the equipment (vest, gloves, hard hat) and got started! The test consists of 8 events, and all must be completed in 10 minutes 20 seconds. The first event is a mandatory 3:20--after that, all other events can be performed as quickly as possible. Running is not allowed, though I was out of breath enough that running wasn't really a concern. The killer is that, throughout everything, you are wearing a weighted vest (50 lbs). I had done most of these events before in the practice sessions held a few weeks prior, but had never done things in sequence. For the last few weeks, I questioned whether I would have enough energy for the entire thing. I didn't stop questioning until the end of the test. Here are the 8 events: 1. With an extra 25 lbs on your shoulders (for a total of 75 lbs weight), go up a stairmaster machine at a speed of 1 step/second for 3:20. Although I've heard that lots of people have trouble with this, it was a breeze for me. My thighs are humongous! On the advice of a firefighter at my station, I spent most of this time saying the alphabet, one letter per step. I think that means I said the alphabet 7 times. I'm not sure saying the alphabet helped that much--try saying the alphabet 7 times, going one letter per second--it makes time feel like it goes forever!!. Anyways, my legs weren't at all wobbly at the end. They removed 25 lbs and I continued to the other events with the 50 lb vest. 2. Take an uncharged hose and run (running is allowed here) with the nozzle end over a little distance, then pull in a section of the hose with your arms from a kneeling position. In practice, we had been dragging a pretty heavy stretch of hose--in this real test, it was really light! I was glad, because my arms are pretty puny. I reminded myself not to drag it in too fast, and to pace myself, as this seemed to be my biggest problem in the practices. 3. Take 2 simulated pieces of equipment (2 saws, 30 lbs each) and walk them a little distance. Not much to say about this. Pretty easy. All this time, my legs are recovering from the stairs. 4. Take a ladder laying on the ground and lean it against the wall. Extend the ladder using the rope, and then bring it back down in a controlled fashion. Also not particularly difficult--some grip strength is necessary, though I used the advice of my training officer (given just 2 days before) to grab and twist the rope used for the extension, and that seemed to help. By the end of this, my legs were recovered from the stairs, and my arms were warming up. 5. Use a 10 lb sledgehammer to 'put in a nail into a wall', if you will. The nail, in this case, is a target maybe 6 inches in diameter. I've heard people can nail the thing in in 3 strokes. It took me 20!! In practice, I've done it in about 10. I guess I was more tired than I thought going into this, and still I had to tell myself, "don't bang it too hard--you have to save up for the rest." I also wonder if my aim wasn't very good--I might have missed the target for a number of those swings. It seemed to last forever--I was really wondering if the station was broken!! When I heard the alarm go off, signalling the end, I was realllly happy. Also, I was embarassed. And out of breath. And worried about time. 6. Go through a narrow dark tunnel. In the tunnel are some obstacles. I'd never done this event prior to test day. Being small was probably an advantage. Not once did I need to crawl on my belly, though I came close in some stretches. What surprised me more than anything was the claustrophobia that crept up on me--being out of breath in narrow confines, barely being able to see, and having to struggle to continue moving. I often have dreams about being in tight quarters--it was very much like this. 7. Take a 165-lb mannequin and drag him 100 feet or so. This event kicks my butt!! In practice, I figured the trick is to get as much of the mannequin off the ground so that he doesn't drag. This is hard to do if you're short--also, he's pretty wide around the chest, so you can't bear-hug him--you just have to pick him up by his handles (which are conveniently located at his shoulders! I'm guessing this simulates his shirt) and lift up as much as you can, and take short, staggering steps. It's a very awkward event. I barely got his hips off the ground. I think adrenaline was kicking in by this point--in practice, I had been quite exhausted 1/2 way though this event, even without all the other stuff beforehand--this time, I just kept saying "keep going ron" and I felt urgency much more than I felt exhaustion. The proctor looked a little concerned at the end of this event--he asked me, "are you alright?" I must have looked pretty bad. I was seriously out of breath. 8. Final event--take a pole and 'breach' a ceiling. Basically, this means placing a pole into a target (almost like a pole vault target in the 'ceiling') and pushing up three times the 60 lbs of weight that are attached to the target. Then you take the same pole and hook it into another target and pull down five times 80 lbs of weight attached to a lever. You do four sets of this push up/pull down. Not particularly hard, other than the fact that I was exhausted and wobbly, making it difficult to actually put the pole into the right place! Moreover, I was deathly scared of time running out during this event, which is almost certainly the longest event of the whole test, other than the stairs. So I wobbled frantically through it--I had to repeat a push or two because in my exhaustion I didn't push hard enough, and the targets were unpleasantly elusive in my nervous hands. I nearly dropped the pole twice. The fourth and last set was the hardest of course--I just kept telling myself, "Ron, 10 more seconds of pain is all you have to endure--if you don't do this, you have to wait until next year to try again!" So I finished, and I was in some pain. When I finished, the proctor said, "just put the pole down." I wondered if I had really made it in time--he had such a neutral tone. 30 seconds later, the proctor told me I had passed, and I was very happy! My time was 9:50--I had an extra 30 seconds, which at the time sounded like a very comfortable margin. Maybe it wasn't. It's pretty amazing that the entire test was only 10 minutes! That was some test. 10 minutes decided whether I would be able to attend fire school this winter, or would have to wait until 2007 to try again. I'm glad I passed. I hadn't taken a physical fitness test since--middle school? Only a year ago, which is when I started volunteering at the fire station, I was in decidedly so-so shape. I'm glad to see I was able to get myself into some decent form. Hopefully I'll be able to keep improving! __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

11-20-2005, 11:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dragonknight Insane Location: Hawaii	WOW congrats that's pretty cool. I've heard about this test, but never actually what it consisted of. I always thought about being a fireman (once I'm done with the military) now I know what I have to look foward to. __________________ Freedom is NOT Free.

11-21-2005, 05:24 AM	#3 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	It's a pretty neat test dragonknight. Thinking back on it, it wasn't really as hard as I might be making it sound like--the key seems to be anaerobic endurance, and I hadn't realized that until two weeks or so before the test. I had been doing a lot of aerobic stuff (running, stairs) and a lot of anaerobic stuff (weight lifting) but not anaerobic activity for extended periods. What I should have been doing in practice is slightly lighter weights, but absolutely no rest between exercises. Also, I should have been improving my aim with the ceiling machine and the sledgehammer event! That definitely hurt my time. __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

11-21-2005, 07:21 AM	#5 (permalink)
stevie667 Too Awesome for Aardvarks Location: Angloland	Good job mate! Doubt i could do all of that in 10 mins! __________________ Office hours have changed. Please call during office hours for more information.

11-21-2005, 09:19 AM	#6 (permalink)
BigBen Comedian Location: Use the search button	I appreciate the Job-Related physical tests being introduced into several career paths. It used to be "Do 100 push-ups/100 sit-ups/run a Mile" in a certain period of time. People complained that those tests were biased against small/large people, and hence the change. That sounded like a BRUTAL test. 75 pounds on your back climbing stairs for 3:20? Fuck me, Batman. The POPAT (for cops) is done in 4:45. I mean totally done. You are less than halfway through the CPAT. Sheesh. Congratulations are in order. Please realize that you are in the top 5% of the population for physical fitness. You should do something to reward yourself. Go and buy something; Eat a whole cake to yourself; I don't know. Whatever floats your boat. Don't just shrug this off and say "It was nothing". People never give themselves enough credit in situations like this. 75 pounds for 3:20? wow. __________________ 3.141592654 Hey, if you are impressed with my memorizing pi to 10 digits, you should see the size of my penis.

11-21-2005, 11:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	Hey BigBen, thanks for the props. It's nice to have someone think that this was a big deal, other than myself! That being said, I know that if I had practiced properly, it would have been a piece of (slightly tough) cake, instead of the torture that it was. Are you a cop? What's the POPAT like? __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

11-21-2005, 02:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Sultana Falling Angel Location: L.A. L.A. land	I think it's a big fricken deal, too! Sounds really really tough, kudos to you for being prepared, and for being able to handle the claustrophobia in that one part. __________________ "Love is a snowmobile racing across the tundra and then suddenly it flips over, pinning you underneath. At night, the ice weasels come." - Matt Groening My goal? To fulfill my potential.

11-21-2005, 08:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
rsl12 On the lam Location: northern va	BigBen: both those tests sound pretty tough! Maybe it's a matter of the grass being greener on the other side. I don't think I would do well carrying a casualty (with me and the casualty in full fighting gear?) for 100m!! Sultana: the claustrophobia really surprised me--I never feel claustrophobic, except in my recurring dreams of going through narrow tunnels! I wonder if that dream means something. Being out of breath and in the dark also contributed to the feeling of being too confined. I'm curious to see if I would have the same reaction going through it again. ps sultana: your sig scares me! I fear for your boyfriend. __________________ oh baby oh baby, i like gravy.

11-26-2005, 09:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
dman2 Insane Location: Georgia	I took a similar test when I lived in Atlanta, Georgia. It was pretty much the same test, with the exception of the weight on my back. However, it did involve climbing a 75 ft ladder at a 70 degree angle. That was pretty tough. Kudos to anyone who passed this test and did not pass out. Great work!! __________________ I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I'm doing. ~Marsha Doble

12-09-2005, 12:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
cheese Psycho Location: In your bath tub with all your other rubber toys	yep im happy with my 55 push ups 55 sit ups and 13:15 1.5 mile run YAY navy PRT!

12-09-2005, 12:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
cheese Psycho Location: In your bath tub with all your other rubber toys	Grats tho.

12-09-2005, 01:58 PM	#14 (permalink)
rlynnm Psycho Location: so cal	Congratulations! That was a very helpful post, I shall pass that on to my bestfriend who was considering going into the same field. __________________ The hardest thing is to be honest with yourself, especially if that means completely redefining the world you've come to know. Don't look too hard, I'm right in front of you.

12-09-2005, 04:08 PM	#15 (permalink)
Zeraph Banned Location: The Cosmos	Congrats. Interesting read, thanks for posting.