For the Tactical officer or those wanting to become one, there are many things to consider. First our jobs are unlike most. I mean when I was a cop I could on some days take four lunch breaks and others, I was lucky to have a power bar or protein shake while driving to the next call. So nutrition is a BIG part of the package. For this, I recommend meal prepping. Now in fire houses and the military food is generally prepared for you, but not so in police work. For the police officer you either brought your lunch or went for fast food. I do NOT recommend the latter. Now our station did have a full kitchen, but if you got a call while you were cooking, you had to turn it off and finish later. So having the basics already prepared was the key to staying nutritionally on track.
Additionally, whether you are in the Military, Fire/Rescue or a Police Officer we have a job that can go from sedentary to action in a split second. Not true for the average worker. Therefore, you must be prepared to physically overcome the challenges you face if faced with combat or a fire/rescue.
To do this, you must be physically a “jack of all trades.” Perhaps not the strongest person around, but STRONG. Perhaps not the fastest person around, but FAST enough to get to cover under fire, or to escape a burning building that is collapsing around you. You may not be the best at endurance training, but once again you must be FIT enough to meet the cardio needs of your occupation. So you cannot simply train with weights and fail to do cardio. You MUST train for ANY event you may encounter under times of duress. You must be ready for EVERYTHING!
And finally, I want to talk about mental fitness. All of the career choices in the Tactical arena can tax your mental fitness. Let’s face it, in all of these career paths we will most likely see dead bodies and people maimed and injured. It can be on the battlefield, in a bad car accident, or some random act of violence. I myself have PTSD from all the “fun” I had at work.
Take the time to practice your faith, share your pain with your family or someone else that “get’s” what you are going through and don’t be ashamed to seek professional help if needed. I see too many stories of suicides by veterans of the Militar, Police and Fire/Rescue.
Being a Tactical Officer, no matter which branch, is a rewarding career. I loved helping others. Still, the job does come with a high cost. Eating healthy, taking care of your physical fitness as well as your mental fitness are the keys to longevity in challenging fields.
If you want to know more, go to garanfitnessconsulting.com, or FB at Garan Fitness Consulting or Garan Fitness Tactical Training. Additionally, you can find video guides on Youtube at Garan Fitness Consulting. If you wish to contact me, go to www.garanfitnessconsulting.com or Garan Fitness Consulting at 330-554-1345. I also do one on one and online training, so reach out to me if you are interested in learning more.
Scott