Did my pack test today. Just keep a nice pace,don't go to slow,push yourself,breathe,keep hydrated,wear comfortable clothing and comfortable shoes. You'll do fine
This is a "standardized entrance test", not a "fitness test". This merely establishes an absolute minimum level of aerobic performance and endurance. If you get into smoke-jumping, it will be a 110-pound pack for three miles in 90 minutes, or you won't be certified. Also, 7 chins, 45 situps, 25 pushups and a run of 1.5 miles in 11 minutes, with 5 minutes between each of these last 4 tests. When I started with USFS in 1975 we did the "step test", no pack test.
I didn't take the test too seriously the first time, I barely passed (almost quit) . Like 44min plus change. Second time was around 38min. I know what was expected, I didn't exactly train for the pack test, but just exercised regularly for myself in general. Before the test, I went to the local track walked a couple laps to warm up/wake up my legs for game time, and stretched a lot, and also still stretched a lot while the others before me were taking their test. There was 4 of us, 2 new, 2 from last year, the new ones didn't make it, I stayed my paced, while the other from last year kept up with me.
I’ll be trying out Ontario MNR this year 20 years doing type 2 mop up love this job takes me places camping out there is nice I have lot’s of pictures of places I’ve been
Did this the other day. Focus on training your endurance; the average person can keep the pace if you just walk faster than you normally do, holding it is the hard part. Significantly harder than it looks.
yeahh one of my main problems lately is shin splints! i'm going to have to work through it but I think I can do it. it's just so annoying having a summer birthday because I don't turn 18 until July! so I can't go out this summer >.< I'm going to try to keep healthy and in shape and get cleared next season
@Outcastwolf17 What position were you applying for? Did you have prior fire fighting experience? I am in college right now and want to do this as a seasonal job over the summer. Any advise helps really.
I did vigorous PFT training in prison to fight fires with cal-fire. That training in the video is nothing compared to the training they put the inmate firefighters thru. Awesome experience
Practiced for the first time got a time of 43:30, im 5'2 with short legs so i was pretty happy with that as a starting time, wanna try to get faster though
@swatphil1 I'm in college too. I was taking a wildlife management class and part of the course had us get certified for type 2. As of right now I'm just a type two basic FF. It would be fun to get some more certifications, but as of right now I'm just too busy with school. The best advice I can give you is get involved with a park service and ask them about getting hired for a crew. Then if you like it, get more certifications so you can get into the better job crews.
Good video for me as I've never been through one, but I must say - it looks easier than what I thought. Still need to be prepared for work on the line though, because this test is nothing compared to the actual work that you will do. Get good upper, core, and lower body strength - and endurance.
This may sound like a dumb question. Im applying for a handcrew position in California and i need my pack test certification but ive looked all over the internet and cant find info anywhere on how to obtain this certification. Is there a testing place like the CPAT ( I do have a current CPAT ). Any help would be awesome thanks
Aj s go to victor valley college or craftsman college they have the wildland class. I'd go with victor valley college they have one of the best programs
Im a wildland fire fighter in montana and they make you walk the pack test with the 45 pound pack test. and if you do good on your pack test they will pick people that will be the best for it and then they will send you to school for a week in the forest service. then they will sometime go practise for a day on diging line and then they will do your traning on the pumps. then the next year you can try out for a hot shot crew. i passed my pack test in 32 mintues.
I'm gonna take S-130 and S-190 training online before I do the pack test in May. I'm only a volunteer firefighter and I can tell everyone from experience. Hiking up, down or even ground to attack a wildland fire is not easy. Wish me luck so I pass the test get my certification.
@swatphil1 like what he was saying go to the forest service in your area and ask them how to get on a crew you can get on a FF type 2 crew and then after the first year you can try out for a hot shot crew better money and you go on way more calls.
i did a 38:40. i was second with my friend. idk if thats a "good time" or "average time". But the people said its not a race. and pace your self. started feeling "shin splints" about the 3-4 lap but you just power though it. :P gl
Although probably good test. If you can barely do it your not going to enjoy your hikes lol. I never had to do this type of test. But a full body pt test. Which I think better grades where everyone is at. Good luck all.
I passed in 36:00 for the academy I take my first one for a job saturday wish me luck plumas national forest I took a practice test to 39:00 a little rusty need my form back to work these legs saturday haha
+Lee Davis S-130 and S-190 is blended with online and classroom training. I think the United States Fire Administration provides the online courses for S-130 and S-190.
+Lee Davis I did my at Rio Hindo College In Whittier California Los Angeles County you just need to look for a Academy near you a Wildland Fire Academy
First time I did it, I was worried because it was a new test and a lot of people were failing. Others told me, "Pour it on! Don't Stop! Start fast and keep going fast!" That's what I did and finished in 37 minutes. Never did that again. 45 minutes is perfectly fine. I'm 60 now and probably won't do it anymore.
There are no "good times" it's a pass or fail test. Your not there to prove your better than anyone your there to prove that you can handle carrying 45lbs without breaking down.