Physical Training

The Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy, recognizing the importance of physical fitness for job performance, has established a minimum physical fitness standard for the Basic Law Enforcement School. The physical fitness standard requires each recruit to achieve a minimum of 420 points out of 600 points in a physical fitness assessment.

This assessment contains six components based on the five levels of fitness established by the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research, Dallas, Texas:

1. Sit & Reach (flexibility)
2. 1.5 Mile Run (aerobic capacity)
3. 1 Minute Maximum Sit Ups (muscular endurance)
4. 1 Repetition Maximum Bench Press (absolute strength)
5. 1 Repetition Maximum Leg Press (absolute strength)
6. Body Fat Percentage (body composition)

Each of these components is graded based on the recruit's age, sex, and performance from established norms provided by Cooper Institute. The highest attainable score for each area is 100 points. The physical fitness assessment is administered twice during an academy session. The first during the first week of the session and is intended to measure the recruit's current level of fitness. The final assessment is administered during the final week of the academy session. Recruits are expected to attain a minimum score of 420 points on the final assessment. Physical training occurs on a daily basis at the Academy. The program consists of stretching, calisthenics, circuit weight training, and running. Aerobics and circuit calisthenics is substituted for running in order to introduce the recruits to alternative aerobic activities.

Physical Fitness Excellence

Awarded by the Academy Director in recognition of outstanding physical fitness achievement. One recruit will receive this award based on the highest score out of a 600 point maximum. The score is derived from testing in six areas of endurance: 1.5 mile run, bench press, leg press, flexibility, body composition, and sit-ups.