The term ‘tactical athlete’ is often used to describe individuals working in high-stakes, physically demanding professions such as the military, police and fire service.
Whilst these roles all require a high level of General Physical Preparation, the operational demands and professional challenges of each differ significantly.
Understanding these differences is essential when designing effective training programmes.
The Tactical Athlete Misconception
Whilst many training programmes distinguish between military and emergency service roles, police officers and firefighters are often still treated as if they require identical physical preparation.
In practice, the movement patterns, energy system requirements, and operational demands of these roles are distinct.
Training that works well for one profession may leave critical gaps in another.
The Physical Demands of Policing
Policing generally requires more locomotion and speed, whilst carrying comparatively lighter loads (typically around 5–10kg for response officers).
Operational tasks frequently include:
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Short sprint pursuits
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Rapid accelerations and decelerations
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Changes of direction
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Grappling and physical restraint
Research into police occupational tasks consistently identifies running ability and repeated sprint capacity as key physical determinants of performance (Dawes et al., 2017).
In addition, confrontation and restraint are regular operational demands, representing unpredictable and physically intensive tasks that require strength, control, and the ability to apply force repeatedly under fatigue.
The dominant energy system demand is therefore repeated high-intensity efforts of shorter duration.
The Physical Demands of Firefighting
Firefighting presents a very different physical challenge.
Rather than short bursts of speed, firefighters often perform prolonged work under heavier loads and heat stress.
At a working incident, firefighters will often carry 30kg or more for sustained periods whilst performing tasks such as:
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Stair climbing
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Equipment carries
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Forcible entry
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Crawling, climbing and confined movement
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Casualty evacuation
These tasks frequently occur in sequence, often with minimal recovery, requiring firefighters to repeatedly transition between energy systems.
In addition, wildfire operations can require sustained physical output over extended periods, often across several hours, placing a significant demand on aerobic capacity, durability, and the ability to manage fatigue over time.
Research shows that aerobic fitness and muscular endurance are key determinants of firefighting performance (Smith, 2011).
Training Implications
Understanding these demands helps guide how training should be structured.
The cornerstone of preparation for both roles is strength development. This isn’t about mirror muscles or ego lifting. Strength is fundamentally about force production, underpinning all physical tasks within both roles.
Developing strength enables the tendons, muscles and skeletal system to generate, absorb and transfer force efficiently, whilst improving resilience to injury.
Aerobic capacity is another key foundation. A strong aerobic base supports recovery, increases work capacity, and contributes significantly to long-term health.
Power, speed, work capacity and role-specific skill can then be layered onto this foundation and refined according to the unique requirements of each role.
Police Training Priorities:
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Sprint mechanics and acceleration
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Agility and change of direction
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Speed repeatability
Firefighter Training Priorities:
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Work capacity with and without load
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Strength endurance
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Repeatable power
Programme Design Challenges
The biggest challenge for both professions is balancing training stress with shift work and life stressors.
Whilst the opportunity, and desire, to train will vary between individuals and stations, firefighters often have access to dedicated gym facilities and training time on station. However, many firefighters also have second employment and family commitments, which can limit consistent training off-shift.
Police officers typically have far fewer opportunities to train whilst on duty, combined with more disruptive shift patterns. As a result, police training often needs to be structured primarily around rest days.
Final Thoughts
Police officers and firefighters are often grouped together under the umbrella of tactical athletes.
However, effective programming recognises that each role requires a different emphasis in physical preparation.
By understanding the demands of each profession, training can be structured in a way that better supports operational performance, reduces injury risk, and improves long-term resilience.
References
Dawes, J.J. et al., 2017. Physical fitness characteristics of high-performing law enforcement officers. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(6), pp.1666–1672.
Smith, D.L., 2011. Firefighter fitness: improving performance and preventing injuries. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 10(3), pp.167–172.