It must bet true if it’s on the internet….Recently there has been a story on Facebook about a female FDNY recruit who was allowed to graduate the adademy even though she hadn’t completed the FDNY Running Test. She had injured her foot or ankle or whatever and was given a “bye” and had to pass the test after graduating. Evidently this is not in keeping with past precedent. In the past, you would be rolled back into the next recruit academy if you couldn’t finish due to injury. The story goes on to say that this recruit has since failed to pass the exam 5 times. The test is simple enough in concept: 1.5 mile run in 12 minutes or under. That plays out to 12 minutes of an 8 minute mile pace or simply 7.5 mph or greater for a mile and a half. Try it. It’s neither easy nor fun. Here’s my take on it. Fire/Rescue, EMS, Law Enforcement and the Military are not typical, run of the mill occupations. People, governments, and society in general rely on you being able to perform your essential job tasks, period. In my mind, it doesn’t matter if you are male, female, 4’10” or 6’4″. The color of your skin doesn’t matter, and neither does your sexual preference. What does matter is when you are being relied on, lives can and will at times be on the line. If you can’t do the functions of your job, weather or not it is physically or emotionally, you can’t do the job. I know it’s harsh, but it’s the truth. We were all raised being told that in America, you can grow up and do anything you want. That’s a lie. In America, you have the opportunity to try and do anything you want; but not everybody is cut do do anything they want. This isn’t politically correct, and I’m aware of that. If you are over 6 feet tall, you’ll never be a championship level horse jockey. If you can’t run 1.5 miles in 12 minutes, maybe you shouldn’t be a FDNY recruit academy graduate. I don’t make the rules and standards, there are reasons why it’s important to meet them–doesn’t matter if it’s passing the bar exam or recruit acdemy.
Now, that being said, I attempted the Running test yesterday. First time I’ve run more than 800 meters in about 10 months. I’ve done 1/2 marathons (1:59:53 is my best), and that’s a totally different type of running. That’s like a diesel engine, get up to speed and just keep rumbling for a couple of hours. This was hard. Real hard. I ran along the street, and of course it was a slight uphill course. I can’t change the topography of my neighborhood. After finishing, I looked at my time.. 13:02. Crap. Let’s just add this to the other reasons why I’ll never be a FDNY firefighter (too old and don’t have the residency requirement).
What I can tell you, is that I have a new goal to meet. By Jan 1, 2014 I’ll pass that damn test. I know I can do it. There’s a little bit of training needed, and I’m sure a few months of Kettlebell work mixed in with a cleaner diet will help. I’ll meet this goal. Until then, I’ll have no further comment on someone else not passing the test.
medicman627 