A Canadian Forces firefighter measures his maximum aerobic capacity during the recent Firefighter Combat Challenge Selection Camp held at CFB Edmonton in June.

Endless marches carrying a pack full of equipment and supplies, maneuvering through dense brush and evacuating injured personnel from dangerous situations are just a few of the many grueling tasks soldiers could face in combat. Under CFPSA's newly created Directorate of Human Performance and Health Promotion (DHPHP) researchers are in the process of upgrading a number of standards and programs to prepare soldiers for these extreme situations and to better reflect the ever-changing environment soldiers must face in the 21st century.

"Science in the area of human conditioning has advanced dramatically over the past 20 years," says Daryl Allard, acting research and development manager, "We're capitalizing on these advancements by incorporating them into the training programs and standards CF personnel rely on."

DHPHP's work will have a profound impact on current training programs and standards and recent accomplishments include overhauling the Land Forces Command (LFC) Army Fitness Manual and the Minimum Physical Fitness Standard.

Considered the bible for CF military fitness and training, the new LFC manual includes information on nutrition and injury prevention, a self-assessment fitness test and individualized training programs. The manual is now in the hands of the Directorate of Army Training (DAT), for approval and translation. There is no word on when the manual will be distributed but according to Allard, when the manual does come out, CFPSA sports and fitness staff could play a role in introducing it to Army personnel.

DHPHP's recommendations for the new MPFS are equally significant. According to Allard, "MPFS 2000 is the culmination of three years of hard work and is among the biggest and most important projects we've ever worked on."

Allard couldn't mention specifics, but he did say, "The new standards are based on a model that permits members who are strong in some categories to compensate for weaknesses in others." He also added that the report called for the vertical jump and the leg dynamometer test to be added to the testing. It is now with the Armed Forces Council for review.

Assessing the equipment CF fire fighters rely on is another one of DHPHP's accomplishments. The project - completed in conjunction with the University of Alberta on behalf of the CF Fire Marshal - explored the effect of varying the levels of oxygen within a firefighter's self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

There are also a whole host of DHPHP projects currently underway. They include:

• Developing physical fitness maintenance and selection standards for divers, parachutists and firefighters.
• Administering the physical fitness testing program for CF applicants.
• Developing physical education packages for basic military leadership qualification courses. Packages will include 12 - 45 minute modules that cover basic fitness theory topics, class instruction and safety techniques.

A Canadian Forces firefighter measures his maximum aerobic capacity during the recent Firefighter Combat Challenge Selection Camp held at CFB Edmonton in June.