US Forest Service, Silver City Hotshots Training

Training

Silver City Hotshot's logo Physical Training

Physical conditioning is a vital part of both wildland firefighting and the Silver City IHC program. A high level of physical fitness is an absolute necessity in order to maintain both crew safety and efficiency. The Silver City IHC Physical Training Program is constructed around maintaining a high level of fitness through aerobic, strength, endurance, and stretching exercises.

As mandated by the Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide, each crew member will be required to participate in at least 1 hour of structured physical training per day, 5 days per week. The physical training facilities include a fitness course, an obstacle course, free weights, a weight machine, miles of roads on which to run, and of course, numerous steep hillsides for hiking.
Each member of the Silver City IHC should arrive on the first day of work in top physical condition. A physical evaluation will be conducted on the first day of work which consists of the pack test, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and bar dips. As a condition of continued hire, every member of the Silver City IHC will be required to hike 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in under 45 minutes. The first day of work is the easiest day of physical training and the real work begins thereafter.

Formal Training

The Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide mandates that all members of IHCs be required to participate in an annual training program before their first assignment each fire season. This training regimen includes both classroom and field exercises. Also identified in the IHC Operations Guide are those exercises deemed "critical" that must be presented in a minimum of 24 hours each season, as well as those courses that may be presented at the discretion of the IHC Superintendent.

In addition to annual fire training, the supervisors and crew of the Silver City IHC present additional training courses in the S-200 level and above to crew members in order to further the career development of each individual. Courses are presented weekly at the discretion of the Silver City IHC Superintendent and as time permits.



	Training Physical Training Physical conditioning is a vital part of both wildland firefighting and the Silver City IHC program. A high level of physical fitness is an absolute necessity in order to maintain both crew safety and efficiency. The Silver City IHC Physical Training Program is constructed around maintaining a high level of fitness through aerobic, strength, endurance, and stretching exercises. As mandated by the Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide, each crew member will be required to participate in at least 1 hour of structured physical training per day, 5 days per week. The physical training facilities include a fitness course, an obstacle course, free weights, a weight machine, miles of roads on which to run, and of course, numerous steep hillsides for hiking. Each member of the Silver City IHC should arrive on the first day of work in top physical condition. A physical evaluation will be conducted on the first day of work which consists of the pack test, sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, and bar dips. As a condition of continued hire, every member of the Silver City IHC will be required to hike 3 miles with a 45-pound pack in under 45 minutes. The first day of work is the easiest day of physical training and the real work begins thereafter. Formal Training The Interagency Hotshot Crew Operations Guide mandates that all members of IHCs be required to participate in an annual training program before their first assignment each fire season. This training regimen includes both classroom and field exercises. Also identified in the IHC Operations Guide are those exercises deemed "critical" that must be presented in a minimum of 24 hours each season, as well as those courses that may be presented at the discretion of the IHC Superintendent. In addition to annual fire training, the supervisors and crew of the Silver City IHC present additional training courses in the S-200 level and above to crew members in order to further the career development of each individual. Courses are presented weekly at the discretion of the Silver City IHC Superintendent and as time permits.