BRACE: Building resiliency in academy firefighter candidates through exercise

Background: The transition from military service to civilian careers in high-intensity professions, such as firefighting, may influence both physical and psychological outcomes. The present study examines the effects of prior military service on firefighter candidates’ (FCs) physical fitness and dispositional resilience during a 7-week State Fire Academy. Specifically, the study aimed to compare fitness levels and psychological resilience between FCs with prior military service (FF-PMS) and FCs without military experience (FF), as well as to explore the relationship between physical fitness and dispositional resilience. Methods: Firefighter candidates (N = 122; n = 17, prior military service; M = 117, F = 5; 25.7 ±4.5 yrs; 27.7±4.1 kg/m2) physical fitness and dispositional resilience was assessed at Week 1 and Week 7 during a firefighter training academy. Physical fitness was assessed via push-ups, sit ups, hand grip strength, sit-and-reach flexibility, and a 1.5-mile timed run. Resilience was assessed via the Dispositional Resilience Scale (DRS-15). Results: FF and FF-PMS improved in measures of fitness and body composition over the course of the Academy, with no significant difference between FF and FF-PMS. However, at baseline, FF-PMS outperformed FF in sit-up repetitions [t(121)= 2.655, p= .009] and 1.5-mile run times [t(118)= -1.980, p= .050]. Regarding dispositional resilience, no significant differences were observed between groups at baseline. However, at the final assessment, FF-PMS demonstrated a significantly higher composite resilience score compared to FF [t(41)= 2.274, p= .028]. Resilience in FF decreased significantly over the course of the Academy in Composite Resilience [t(33)= 5.055, p= <.001], and subscales Commitment [t(33)= 2.921, p= .006], Control [t(33)= 4.666, p< .001], and Challenge [t(33)= 2.266, p= .030], while FF-PMS showed no change, indicating that prior military service may buffer against declines in resilience. Finally, no significant correlations were found between physical fitness and resilience outcomes at either baseline or final assessments, although handgrip strength was weakly correlated with composite Resilience (r= -.383, p= .012), and the subscales Commitment (r= -.404, p= .008) and Control (r= -.503, p= <.001). Conclusion: The findings suggest that prior military service confers both physical and psychological advantages during high-stress training environments such as firefighter academies. This study contributes new insights into the intersection of military training and firefighting, highlighting the potential benefits of military experience in shaping resilience and fitness outcomes.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Kinesiology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Szamocki, Maddy R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Petruzzello, Steven J

• Firefighting
• Prior Military Service
• Resilience
• Fitness
• Training Academy

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Maddy Szamocki

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127270

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127270