SWAT physical

Well, the date is here. April 4th or 8th. I will be attempting to pass my department's SWAT physical test.

To state the obvious, this is the set of physical exercises one must pass to be on the SWAT team . I have been a Police Officer for 16 years, but when I was in the proper rank to be eligible to join the SWAT team, I was too out of shape. I am now too high of a rank to be eligible to join, but I have challenged myself to be in good enough shape to pass the tests -- kind of a fitness "bucket list" if you will. I have just been told the test will be set up on one of those two dates and I can go jump in.

Now, to be perfectly upfront and truthful, when the officers are really trying out for SWAT, they will not get very far just meeting the minimums; it is after all, a competition. There are minimum and maximum numbers for each of the exercises.

The testing consists of two parts:
Part 1 - is a timed obstacle course that simulates chasing a suspect for several minutes. Up and down stairs, climbing over fences, pushing and pulling weights etc. Enough to take the wind out of anyone. This is a timed test, and must be completed in 3:45. (To get on the department, the pass is 4:45, and while in recruit training, the pass is 4:15).

Part 2 consists of a series of exercises done immediately after the simulated chase. They are chin ups, dips, push ups, and sit ups. Each is judged extremely critically, one on one, as you are performing them. For example, the push ups must be a full drop (chest to floor) and full extension to elbow lockout at the top or the rep does not count. Same with the other ones. Full drop + full extension or it doesn't count. There are time limits for each exercise, and only a few seconds in between each. Each exercise is doable on their own, but it's the lack of recovery in between, and doing all only after you're already gassed from the simulated chase that makes it hard.

Wish me luck my fellow MFPers!

Hopefully, I can later post this in "Success Stories".