June 2013 - Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency

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OUTCAN FORCE Program Implementation Report The new CAF fitness evaluation, FORCE (Fitness for the Occupational Requirements of CAF Employment), has been in full swing at all CAF bases/wings/ships since the 1 April, 2013 date of implementation. Select OUTCAN testing sites in the USA have received their testing kit comprised of 7 sand bags, 6 carabiners, pull strap, and ties. The rest of the locations should be receiving their kits by the end of June. The kits may be used for FORCE training including familiarization sessions and pt classes. All testing sites will be ready to implement the evaluation throughout the year providing OUTCAN personnel the opportunity to fully experience all test components. Since all personnel must attempt the FORCE Evaluation prior to 1 April, 2014 it is important that the local CAF EXPRES Coordinators communicate effectively with those in their regional areas of responsibility regarding FORCE familiarization sessions and FORCE Evaluation dates. All evaluation dates can be found online at the VCDS Health and Fitness website http://www. vcds.forces.gc.ca/sites/healthandfitness . The OUTCAN FORCE Implementation strategy will be similar to that for those in Canada. Regularly scheduled EXPRES testing will also include at least one day of FORCE evaluation. The main difference for OUTCAN relates to the order of testing. CAF members in Canada will attempt the FORCE Evaluation throughout the year. Should they not meet the minimal standard they would default to the EXPRES Evaluation. This approach OPS Fit Newsletter • Volume 2 • Issue 2 • JUNE 2013 14
poses a problem to OUTCAN testing outside Canada due to the limited number of scheduled evaluation sessions at the select testing sites. If a member fails to meet the FORCE minimal standard they may not have the opportunity to attempt the EXPRES test prior to their fitness result expiring. Therefore, during most USA testing Day 1 will consist of EXPRES testing for those who require a fitness test. Day 2 will consist of FORCE familiarization/evaluation. Should the process be reversed, the member again risks not having a valid fitness test result should they injure themself on the FORCE or are too fatigued to attempt the EXPRES on Day 2. For locations where multiple testing sessions are held throughout the year, the FORCE Evaluation may be conducted first. In addition to FORCE Evaluations, the implementation strategy also includes a FORCE briefing by PSP staff. This briefing provides some background information regarding the FORCE Program as well as details concerning the actual evaluation components. The final component to the OUTCAN FORCE Implementation strategy involves a practical session to instruct proper lifting technique and to provide training exercises specific to the FORCE Evaluation. The main impact this evaluation will have on the OUTCAN community include lack of gym facility access, increased number of annual fitness evaluations, and FORCE-specific training programs. The evaluation will pose some challenges to OUTCAN testing sites. Most host nation fitness facilities do not want the test to be administered inside their facility. The potential for damage to hardwood gym floor surfaces during the sand bag drag, sand bag lift, and intermittent shuttles forces the test to be conducted in whole or in part on either an outdoor track or a tennis court. Given the possibility of adverse weather, these are less than ideal conditions. The first OUTCAN FORCE Evaluation took place at the NATO Staff College at Norfolk, VA on 19 April. The sand bag lift, drag, and intermittent shuttles were conducted on an outdoor tennis court while the 20m rushes were done in the gym. In order to ensure standardization, the friction co-efficient for the drag on the rough tennis court surface must be the same as a gym, drill hall or other “approved” surface. Bags and/or weight plates are added or taken off according to the floor surface to maintain test integrity. All 11 participants were successful at the evaluation and most liked the format compared to the EXPRES Evaluation noting it was closer to the physical demands one would be expected to perform while on a mission. With the elimination of the Incentive Exemption Standard, an additional ~ 500 annual fitness evaluations will need to be conducted in Europe, USA and Canada for OUTCAN personnel. However, until VCDS Gp Order 5023-3 and CANFORGEN 168/10 are revised, personnel located outside the USA and Europe will continue to follow these directives including the location excusal for those posted to designated remote locations. OPS Fit Newsletter • Volume 2 • Issue 2 • JUNE 2013 15
Page 1 and 2: OPS Fit OUTCAN Personnel Staying Fi
Page 3 and 4: Logan was running a minimum of 5 km
Page 5 and 6: Cardiorespiratory fitness (aerobic
Page 7 and 8: A race up New York’s most iconic
Page 9 and 10: Featured Exercise THRUSTERS: o o o
Page 11 and 12: Excercise Technique Pull up: Begin
Page 13: Calendar of events - June-Aug 2013
Page 17: CANFORGEN 038/13 CDS 015/13 041728Z

June 2013 - Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency

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