-We have discontinued the Combat Challenge and replaced it with the CPAT for approximately five years now. In my opinion the CPAT seems to be a much better gauge of the overall fitness level required for professional firefighters than the Combat Challenge.  

-I am a firm believer that firefighters must regard themselves as akin to a professional athlete and maintain the fitness levels necessary for this very special work. Cardio and weight training are a must; there is no excuse for being overweight and out of shape in this business. I still get a good chuckle out of the "biggie" sized fireman who thinks his "size" directly translates to strength... not even close to understanding just how diluted they are. 

-I also believe, having witnessed some of the new training regimes being administered around the country, that there are far to many "Training Academies" out there who's young instructors have begun taking things way to far with new recruits. These new "self appointed bad a**" instructors have forgotten (or don't care) that we are training professional firefighters not commandos or Seals; and our training must be reflective of the nature of these job requirements in order for our people to perform to the expectations of firefighting.

I believe that intense events that involve short periods of recovery are good measures.  We are placed into intense physical exertion and then must recover quickly before the next task is done.  I believe the CPAT is a good measure in some ways, but I also believe the FFCC has some redeeming qualities as well.  The muscular endurance and strength must be maintained in addition to the cardiovascular in order for one to be sucessful in our trade.  Strength is great but you have to maintain it over a period during a fire incident.