We lose the right to be out of shape the day we take the oath. It’s not personal; it’s professional.

The foundation of a prepared firefighter is fitness. Firefighting is a physically demanding job that requires us to show up fit. That leads to the question: why are there so many out-of-shape firefighters?

It has been reported that more than 70 percent of U.S. firefighters are overweight or obese, exceeding the national average for adults and presenting a major threat to their health, wellness, and credibility. It ultimately raises concerns about their survival and that of the people they serve.

In a job built on the qualities of honor, integrity, and discipline, how have so many allowed their fitness to slip? Before I answer the question, let’s define fitness and what that looks like for a firefighter.

Our job is time-dependent. There is a clock ticking on the lives of the people trapped inside, so our work capacity is the most critical aspect of our fitness because work capacity is how much work we can get done in a given period of time. Thus, firefighter fitness comes down to work capacity, which is determined by our skill set, mindset, strength, speed, endurance, power, and ability to recover and do it again.

Our physical performance will make the difference between life and death for others, so our ability to do the most effective work in the least amount of time is at the heart of firefighter fitness and gives our citizens the greatest chance of survival. Notice I didn’t say anything about physical appearance because training for physical appearance will not guarantee physical performance. Still, I assure you if we train for performance, the appearance will follow, meaning your body composition will be able to meet the job’s demands.

John Spera, Fire Engineering Magazine