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Stay Safe Fit to Survive Be All You Used to Be!
 

Be All You Used to Be!

Sergeant's Program“Be All You Used to Be!” is the motto made famous by Patrick Avon, former Navy fitness instructor and creator of “The Sergeant’s Program,” a physical fitness challenge for adults that brings military-style discipline to exercising.

Instructors – or “sergeants” – are trained to motivate and work with all levels of ability in each workout session, yet are tough on participants, holding each individual accountable. If you miss a class, expect a call from the instructor asking why you were not there!

The Sergeant’s Program includes workouts for beginners, a boot camp, a maintenance program and personal training. Sergeants gradually increase and vary each workout to increase strength and stamina.

Sergeant's ProgramBoot camp is designed for individuals who need motivation and discipline. This intensive one-hour session is held five days a week and includes jogging and calisthenics to strengthen all major muscle groups and increase cardiovascular capacity and endurance.

In the maintenance program, the instructor works with all different levels of ability, five days a week, gradually increasing intensity over time. Each participant is pushed to work to their maximum capacity.

The personal training program is a one-on-one approach in which the instructor works with an individual in the home, gym or office and provides a workout program customized to that individual’s needs.

Several employees from the IAFF headquarters in Washington, DC, participate in a customized Sergeant’s Program that combines an outdoor workout of running and calisthenics with strength training in the indoor gym.

Ahmad CostonA typical workout session planned by Sergeant’s instructor, Ahmad Coston, features a run to and around several Washington landmarks and monuments, including the White House and the Lincoln Memorial. Along the way, Ahmad uses park benches and steps to incorporate squats, lunges, push-ups, triceps dips and stairs. For a recent workout, the group ran up and down the stairs in nearby Georgetown that were featured in the movie, “The Exorcist.”

Once the outdoor portion of the workout is complete, the group returns to IAFF headquarters and runs up the 10 flights of stairs to the building gym where Ahmad leads participants through a series of dumbbell exercises, including bicep curls, shoulder presses, chest presses and lateral rows. He finishes the session with five to 10 minutes of core and abdominal exercises.

Below is a five-day workout plan designed by Ahmad and “The Sergeant’s Program.” Fire fighters looking for advice and ideas for workouts will find these effective, challenging and fun!

For more information about The Sergeant’s Program, visit www.sarge.com.

 

Sergeant’s 1 hour (no resting) Workout for Fire Fighters
If you slack on this, your punishment is you get to wax the ladder truck.


You will need one pair of dumbbells (not your buddies), workout clothes and the great outdoors. Good luck and have fun.

REPS
EXERCISE/DESCRIPTION


Jog a 10-minute warm-up lap


Core Training

8 Reps
Plank - On your forearms and toes, come up and hold for 20 seconds. Squeeze your abs and glutes. Drop your hips to the ground and repeat.
Progression 1. Lift one leg in the air
Progression 2. Lift one arm straight ahead and the opposite leg in the air. Do not rotate hips or back.
12 Reps
YTA - On your belly, lift legs for the entire exercise. Hold arms in a Y- position, legs up and hold 5 seconds, T position hold 5 seconds, A position hold 5 seconds (imagine putting shoulder blades in back pocket. If you hold your breath, you are WAXING THE TRUCK.


Jog 5 minutes


Abs Training
Hit the deck on your back

12 Reps
5-second sit-ups - In crunch position with arms at your side, slowly sit up into a full sit-up. If you came up faster than 5 seconds, move your feet closer to your butt; if you cannot get up, adjust your feet away from your butt.
40 Reps
Laces - In crunch position, bend to your right and touch your right middle finger to your right shoelace knot then switch to your left. That’s one. Repeat 40 times.


Jog 5 minutes


Upper Body

12 Reps
The Perfect Push-Up - On your belly, place your hands on the deck as if you were pulling suspenders away from your chest. Tighten your thighs, then your glutes, followed by your abs and press up into a perfect push-up. Pause for 2 seconds, then lower yourself for 5 total seconds. Your chest must hit the same time as your NaNa. If your NaNa hits before, you did it wrong and you are waxing.
30 Reps
Off Balance Flys - On your back, press your legs and dumbbells to the sky. Tighten your abs and keep them that way. Keep your right dumbbell up over your chest and take the left one out to butterfly position. Lower it for 3 seconds while keeping the right up in the air. Pause with the left at the bottom (not touching the deck) and as you raise the left, lower the right. Repeat until you have done 15 each side. You will become slightly off balance, tighten your abs. This will keep you centered. Can you say ouch? SIR YES SIR! Thank you sir, may I have another?


Take a lap

20 Reps
Push-up Rotations - On your belly in push-up position. Go all the way down to a perfect push. As you come up, take your right arm up in the air, rotate with it and watch your hand as it goes straight up in the air. As your hand comes back down and hits, immediately go down into the next push-up and repeat to the other side.
1 minute
Farmer’s Walk - Grab both dumb-dumbs and press them to the sky to the point where your biceps are almost touching your ears. Tighten your abs and take a 1-minute walk.
8 Reps
Bicep-Curl Shoulder-Press One-Legged - Feet hip-width apart, abs tight, starting with dumbbells at your side, VERY slowly count to 10. AS you count it should take you 5 seconds to curl and 5 seconds to shoulder press. At the end of 10 seconds, both dumbbells should be straight up in the air. Pause for 2 seconds, then lower for 10 seconds in the same manner. Did I mention you were supposed to do this on one leg? You are. Again, tighten your abs and balance should not be an issue. And yes, you will feel this all over. Therefore you will be working more muscles. Therefore burning more calories!!!


Take a lap—and make it quick

 
24 Reps
Renegade Rows - Take your dums and get in push-up position. Pucker those butts and tighten those guts and press up. In push-up position take your right dumbbell and pull it to your right side (almost your armpit). Lower (not drop) the dumbbell and repeat to the other side. PUCKER the entire time and your back will thank you.


Legs
If any of these bug your knees or lower back, take 5 laps instead

30 Reps
Basic Lunges - Make sure you drop your tailbone straight to the ground and look for a 90-degree angle in each leg.
20 Reps
Overhead Lunges - Same thing except take both dumbbells up overhead. Abs super tight—DO NOT LET DUMBBELLS SWING LEFT OR RIGHT. Take your time with these. Too hard, use one dumbbell.
20 Reps
Transverse Lunges - Make sure your abs are tight. As you lunge forward, touch the little toe of the forward foot using the opposite hand. I want a 90-degree bend in both legs.

Take 2 laps
You need to know how to run on tired legs


Low Back
Basic to Better Backs

20 Reps
Jimmy Olsen’s - On your belly with arms stretched in front of you, raise your right arm and left leg at the same time. Pause and lower. Switch.
10 Reps
Superman - Same thing but with both arms and legs.
10 Reps
Lois Lanes - (toughest exercise is named after her because after 40 years, she never got her man) - Same thing except hands crossed behind your back.
10 Reps
Spiderman - Spread your legs and arms out to the side. Same thing. Raise them slowly and hold for 1 second. Lower slowly.


Take a lap


Stretches

 
Age of Aquarius - Standing feet apart, glutes very tight, arms to the side, reach way back and let your arms fall back. Push your belly forward (super squeeze those butt cheeks to keep your back from spasms). Hold for 10 seconds. Repeat.
POW Stretch - Hands locked behind your head. Squeeze your shoulder blades together and try to bring your elbows back behind you.
Basic Toe-Touch Stretch – Put both legs in front of you as you sit, except push your belly button towards your toes, and keep your back from slouching. Then tighten your thighs. You will feel your hamstrings stretch as you do this. – Put both legs in front of you as you sit, except push your belly button towards your toes, and keep your back from slouching. Then tighten your thighs. You will feel your hamstrings stretch as you do this.
Thigh stretch – Stand, holding something to keep your balance, grab one foot and try to get the foot to your butt. As your foot comes close, tighten your abs and let go of what you are holding to use your own balance. Hold for 15 seconds and switch to the other side.



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