Citation

Robinson J, Schram B, Canetti E, Orr R. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019; 16(18): e16183319.

Affiliation

Tactical Research Unit, Bond University, Robina 4226, Australia. rorr@bond.edu.au.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph16183319

PMID

31505855

Abstract

Entry to specialist police tactical teams is governed by performance on a physically intense and psychologically demanding selection course. The aim of this study was to determine the attributes associated with completion of a specialist police selection course. Data pertaining to 18 candidates was obtained including 1 min push-ups, loaded pull-ups, loaded 30 m crawl, agility run, 1.2 km run and multi-stage fitness assessment. Comparisons from those who did and did not complete the selection week were performed and a hierarchical multiple regression performed. Eleven candidates finished, with significant difference found in those who completed the course in push-ups (+9.1 reps), loaded pull-ups (+2.9 reps), 1.2 km run (-16 s), loaded crawl (-6.3 s), agility (-0.67 s) and VO_2max (+4.8 mL/kg/min). In combination, the fitness assessments pull-ups, 30 m loaded crawl and agility time were found to predict 70% of the variability in course completion (adjusted R² = 0.70, F (3,14) = 14.373, p = 0.001). When assessed independently, push-ups, 1.2 km run and VO_2max results only predicted a non-significant 0.02%, 0.29% and 0.12%, respectively, of course completion. Completion was influenced by aerobic fitness, upper limb strength and endurance and agility. These variables appear to be predictive of course success.

Language: en

Keywords

SWAT; aerobic capacity; agility; barrier testing; law enforcement; special forces; strength; tactical