Ho, ho, ho! Gather around, my little elves, for a tale not of the North Pole, but of the brave souls training to become firefighters. In a study conducted by Lockie, RG, Orr, RM, Montes, F, and Dawes, JJ, set to be published in the “Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research” in 2024, researchers embarked on a sleigh ride through data to uncover what makes a firefighter trainee more likely to graduate from their academy.

In this festive investigation, 686 aspiring firefighters from one fire department were assessed using a series of physical tests, much like how I assess my reindeer’s ability to fly and pull the sleigh. These tests included the Illinois agility test (think of it as dodging rooftops), push-ups (for lifting heavy sacks of toys), pull-ups (for climbing down chimneys), leg tucks (for squeezing through tight spaces), maximal aerobic capacity (for those long night deliveries), a backward overhead medicine ball throw (for tossing presents under the tree), a deadlift (for when Rudolph needs a bit of help), and a farmer’s carry (akin to carrying a bag full of gifts).

The trainees were then divided into two groups: those who graduated (576 jolly souls) and those who were released (110 not-so-jolly souls). Using some Christmas magic, also known as ordinal logistic generalized linear models, the researchers found that certain tests were particularly telling of a trainee’s likelihood to graduate.

For instance, being quicker in the Illinois agility test, stronger in the backward overhead medicine ball throw, and having a higher aerobic capacity were all signs that a trainee might find themselves on the ‘nice’ list, graduating with flying colors. On the other hand, slower times and lower scores in these areas might land them on the ‘naughty’ list, being released from the academy.

In the scaled scores, which are like checking it twice to ensure accuracy, the ability to throw a medicine ball backward, deadlift strength, and overall fitness also played significant roles in determining who graduated. It turns out, the Illinois agility test was the most crucial, where a slower time significantly increased the odds of a trainee not making it through.

So, my dear elves, as we prepare for our annual flight, let’s remember the importance of agility, strength, and endurance. Not just for those aspiring to be firefighters, but for all of us here at the North Pole. Now, back to work, we have toys to make and reindeer to train! Ho, ho, ho!