Heresy! You Say?
Think about it; why do we have P.T. in Basic Training? Why is it
management’s responsibility to rehabilitate you for the job you‘re seeking?
Where’s the personal responsibility? Where’s the lifetime commitment?
Think about the hours! In a six-month academy, that’s over 100 hours
of training time that could be used more productively on an assemblage of
courses focused on personal survival.
Too often, recruits are of the belief that they’ll suddenly get the fitness religion once they’re in a controlled environment. Regrettably, not
long after graduation they revert to their former slovenly selves.
I much rather hire the guy who’s demonstrated his self discipline by
showing up ready- exceeding by a wide margin the minimal standards on entry.
A number of years ago, we tested applicants for the fire and police
academies in a large metropolitan department. We looked at improvements from
entry to graduation and one year later.
Not surprising, major improvements were made, mostly in the women,
by the time of graduation. But one year later, a majority of the employees were
in worse shape than when they were hired.
If we’re going to allow people to regress to their former selves,
why waste the time? Why not bet on the person who has already demonstrated that
they “get it”: fitness, as a personal responsibility.
Right now, I’m working with a large federal law enforcement
organization. In speaking with incumbent officers they were telling me that
they wouldn’t workout because “What happens if I get hurt?”
Can you imagine this logic: “I rather stay sedentary and assume
those risk factors for heart disease than assume the (very minor) risk for a
musculoskeletal injury.”
Think of physical fitness as an I.Q. test; if you’re not doing it,
you’re too stupid to work here.
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