new york fire department scraps physical fitness test for women
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http://nypost.com/2014/12/11/fdny-drops-physical-test-requirement-amid-low-female-hiring-rate/TRANSCRIPT
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December 11, 2014 | 12:25am
FDNY drops physicaltest requirementamid low femalehiring rate
The Fire Department has stopped requiring
probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-
skills test before getting hired — a move that critics
derided as a lowering of standards.
The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro,
which allows probies to fail components of the Functional
Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire
Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low
hiring rate of women.
“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said
one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.
“What needs to matter is how well you perform the
tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when
you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and
someone comes through that window — can they pick
you up and drag you out or not?”
The FST drills include advancing a heavy tire 6 to 8 feet,
raising a ladder up a wall and breaching holes in a ceiling
— while wearing an oxygen tank with a limited amount
of air.
Nigro revealed the adjustments to the exam at a City
Council hearing Wednesday where members questioned
whether the skills test was responsible for the 10,500-
member force including just 44 women.
Department officials insisted the two issues were
unrelated and that the changes hadn’t impacted anyone in the academy class that
graduated last month. While 95 percent of men pass the FDNY’s demanding physical
test, only 57 percent of women manage to get through.
After the hearing, Nigro said passing the skills tests had only been required of the two
most recent classes — and not for any of the 15 years before.
“We still grade the people. You can still fail it if you go beyond the time, but you’re not
automatically failed from the program,” he said.
Despite Nigro’s assurances, Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee Chair
Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) questioned the impact of inconsistencies in training in
recent years.
“There are still concerns that excessive testing methods within the Fire Academy are
being used to keep women probationary firefighters from graduating,” she said.
By Yoav Gonen and Aaron Short
Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro (left) testifies at a City Council hearing on recruitment and trainingof women in the department.
Photo: William Farrington
Celebrities Who Are AgingHorriblySlick Americans
Mother charged with murderafter she 'beheaded her…Daily Star
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Buildingexplodesin NYC’sEast Village
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FILED UNDER DANIEL NIGRO , FDNY , FIREFIGHTERS , LIZ CROWLEY ,
PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS
PROMOTED STORIES
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RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK
METRO
December 11, 2014 | 12:25am
FDNY drops physicaltest requirementamid low femalehiring rate
The Fire Department has stopped requiring
probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-
skills test before getting hired — a move that critics
derided as a lowering of standards.
The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro,
which allows probies to fail components of the Functional
Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire
Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low
hiring rate of women.
“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said
one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.
“What needs to matter is how well you perform the
tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when
you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and
someone comes through that window — can they pick
you up and drag you out or not?”
The FST drills include advancing a heavy tire 6 to 8 feet,
raising a ladder up a wall and breaching holes in a ceiling
— while wearing an oxygen tank with a limited amount
of air.
Nigro revealed the adjustments to the exam at a City
Council hearing Wednesday where members questioned
whether the skills test was responsible for the 10,500-
member force including just 44 women.
Department officials insisted the two issues were
unrelated and that the changes hadn’t impacted anyone in the academy class that
graduated last month. While 95 percent of men pass the FDNY’s demanding physical
test, only 57 percent of women manage to get through.
After the hearing, Nigro said passing the skills tests had only been required of the two
most recent classes — and not for any of the 15 years before.
“We still grade the people. You can still fail it if you go beyond the time, but you’re not
automatically failed from the program,” he said.
Despite Nigro’s assurances, Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee Chair
Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) questioned the impact of inconsistencies in training in
recent years.
“There are still concerns that excessive testing methods within the Fire Academy are
being used to keep women probationary firefighters from graduating,” she said.
By Yoav Gonen and Aaron Short
Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro (left) testifies at a City Council hearing on recruitment and trainingof women in the department.
Photo: William Farrington
Celebrities Who Are AgingHorriblySlick Americans
Mother charged with murderafter she 'beheaded her…Daily Star
Don't release equity beforereading these 12 factsReader's Digest
10 Disappointing andUnfortunate Facts AboutJohn LennonAnswers.com
What Is 4G?Vodafone
Truck Tries to Pull DownTree Stump: Watch WhatHappens Next…Mentertained
1 2
3 4
5 6
MORE ON:
FDNYContractorprobed inmassive NYC gasexplosion
Firefighters stilldumping wateron East Villageexplosion site,two missing
FDNY rapscouncilwoman forciting inaccurateresponse times
Dirty heating oilscam affectedNYPD, FDNYstations
Fredric U. Dicker
Michael Goodwin
Andrea Peyser
COLUMNISTS
Democrats favorMartin O’Malley forpresident if Hillarydoesn’t run
De Blasio allowingcity to trickle back tobad old ‘TaxiDriver’ days
I don’t regret myoffice romance —and neithershould you
SEE ALL COLUMNISTS
TRENDING NOW INMETRO
Heartless visitorsmug for selfies atEast Village blastsite
Two bodies foundin rubble of EastVillage buildingblast
Cuomo, de Blasiorush to aid of copthrown off horse
VIDEO
Make MarchMadness mouth-wateringlydelicious
The Internet HasGiven UsTeletubbies DancingTo Joy Division
Ted Cruz’s SuitMade A BoldStatement Of ItsOwn
The Lego Horror Movie IsTotally Plausible
SEE ALL
NOW ON
Matt Harvey datingPolish beauty
Club king throwswild barbecue atMiami Beach home
Family photoshows Jolie’sbattle with deadlycancer gene
SEE ALL
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What To WatchWhen You’re(Putting Off) SpringCleaning
Did ‘Sex and the City’ SpawnA Generation Of Women WhoAre DTF?
SEE ALL
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Heartlessjerks snapselfies atEast Villa…
Killer co-pilot hadhiddenillness fr…
Obama’sraceto chaos
Israel:Bewareof Obama
Buildingexplodesin NYC’sEast Village
Cornelldean saysISISwelcome…
Ozzy’sunknowndaughteris about…
Tina Fey'shilarious'KimmySchmidt'…
Fatherwho lost 7kids inhouse fi…
FILED UNDER DANIEL NIGRO , FDNY , FIREFIGHTERS , LIZ CROWLEY ,
PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS
PROMOTED STORIES
Promoted Content by
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK
METRO
December 11, 2014 | 12:25am
FDNY drops physicaltest requirementamid low femalehiring rate
The Fire Department has stopped requiring
probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-
skills test before getting hired — a move that critics
derided as a lowering of standards.
The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro,
which allows probies to fail components of the Functional
Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire
Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low
hiring rate of women.
“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said
one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.
“What needs to matter is how well you perform the
tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when
you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and
someone comes through that window — can they pick
you up and drag you out or not?”
The FST drills include advancing a heavy tire 6 to 8 feet,
raising a ladder up a wall and breaching holes in a ceiling
— while wearing an oxygen tank with a limited amount
of air.
Nigro revealed the adjustments to the exam at a City
Council hearing Wednesday where members questioned
whether the skills test was responsible for the 10,500-
member force including just 44 women.
Department officials insisted the two issues were
unrelated and that the changes hadn’t impacted anyone in the academy class that
graduated last month. While 95 percent of men pass the FDNY’s demanding physical
test, only 57 percent of women manage to get through.
After the hearing, Nigro said passing the skills tests had only been required of the two
most recent classes — and not for any of the 15 years before.
“We still grade the people. You can still fail it if you go beyond the time, but you’re not
automatically failed from the program,” he said.
Despite Nigro’s assurances, Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee Chair
Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) questioned the impact of inconsistencies in training in
recent years.
“There are still concerns that excessive testing methods within the Fire Academy are
being used to keep women probationary firefighters from graduating,” she said.
By Yoav Gonen and Aaron Short
Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro (left) testifies at a City Council hearing on recruitment and trainingof women in the department.
Photo: William Farrington
Celebrities Who Are AgingHorriblySlick Americans
Mother charged with murderafter she 'beheaded her…Daily Star
Don't release equity beforereading these 12 factsReader's Digest
10 Disappointing andUnfortunate Facts AboutJohn LennonAnswers.com
What Is 4G?Vodafone
Truck Tries to Pull DownTree Stump: Watch WhatHappens Next…Mentertained
1 2
3 4
5 6
MORE ON:
FDNYContractorprobed inmassive NYC gasexplosion
Firefighters stilldumping wateron East Villageexplosion site,two missing
FDNY rapscouncilwoman forciting inaccurateresponse times
Dirty heating oilscam affectedNYPD, FDNYstations
Fredric U. Dicker
Michael Goodwin
Andrea Peyser
COLUMNISTS
Democrats favorMartin O’Malley forpresident if Hillarydoesn’t run
De Blasio allowingcity to trickle back tobad old ‘TaxiDriver’ days
I don’t regret myoffice romance —and neithershould you
SEE ALL COLUMNISTS
TRENDING NOW INMETRO
Heartless visitorsmug for selfies atEast Village blastsite
Two bodies foundin rubble of EastVillage buildingblast
Cuomo, de Blasiorush to aid of copthrown off horse
VIDEO
Make MarchMadness mouth-wateringlydelicious
The Internet HasGiven UsTeletubbies DancingTo Joy Division
Ted Cruz’s SuitMade A BoldStatement Of ItsOwn
The Lego Horror Movie IsTotally Plausible
SEE ALL
NOW ON
Matt Harvey datingPolish beauty
Club king throwswild barbecue atMiami Beach home
Family photoshows Jolie’sbattle with deadlycancer gene
SEE ALL
ScientologyScorecard: WhichCelebrities Are‘Going Clear’?
What To WatchWhen You’re(Putting Off) SpringCleaning
Did ‘Sex and the City’ SpawnA Generation Of Women WhoAre DTF?
SEE ALL
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ROBERT DURST
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Ozzy’s unknowndaughter isabout to make…
Google controlswhat we buy, thenews…
Daily Blotter
WeatherUndergroundbomberunmasked…
Body foundin rubble ofEastVillage b…
Matt HarveydatingPolish beauty
Heartlessjerks snapselfies atEast Villa…
Killer co-pilot hadhiddenillness fr…
Obama’sraceto chaos
Israel:Bewareof Obama
Buildingexplodesin NYC’sEast Village
Cornelldean saysISISwelcome…
Ozzy’sunknowndaughteris about…
Tina Fey'shilarious'KimmySchmidt'…
Fatherwho lost 7kids inhouse fi…
FILED UNDER DANIEL NIGRO , FDNY , FIREFIGHTERS , LIZ CROWLEY ,
PROBATIONARY FIREFIGHTERS
PROMOTED STORIES
Promoted Content by
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
MOST POPULAR THIS WEEK
METRO
December 11, 2014 | 12:25am
FDNY drops physicaltest requirementamid low femalehiring rate
The Fire Department has stopped requiring
probationary firefighters to pass a job-related physical-
skills test before getting hired — a move that critics
derided as a lowering of standards.
The move by first-year Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro,
which allows probies to fail components of the Functional
Skills Training test but still graduate from the Fire
Academy, comes amid criticism of the department’s low
hiring rate of women.
“It’s a lowering of the standards across the board,” said
one former FDNY official familiar with training protocol.
“What needs to matter is how well you perform the
tasks of firefighting,” he added. “The question is when
you’re 270 pounds and you’re on the fourth floor and
someone comes through that window — can they pick
you up and drag you out or not?”
The FST drills include advancing a heavy tire 6 to 8 feet,
raising a ladder up a wall and breaching holes in a ceiling
— while wearing an oxygen tank with a limited amount
of air.
Nigro revealed the adjustments to the exam at a City
Council hearing Wednesday where members questioned
whether the skills test was responsible for the 10,500-
member force including just 44 women.
Department officials insisted the two issues were
unrelated and that the changes hadn’t impacted anyone in the academy class that
graduated last month. While 95 percent of men pass the FDNY’s demanding physical
test, only 57 percent of women manage to get through.
After the hearing, Nigro said passing the skills tests had only been required of the two
most recent classes — and not for any of the 15 years before.
“We still grade the people. You can still fail it if you go beyond the time, but you’re not
automatically failed from the program,” he said.
Despite Nigro’s assurances, Fire and Criminal Justice Services Committee Chair
Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) questioned the impact of inconsistencies in training in
recent years.
“There are still concerns that excessive testing methods within the Fire Academy are
being used to keep women probationary firefighters from graduating,” she said.
By Yoav Gonen and Aaron Short
Fire commissioner Daniel Nigro (left) testifies at a City Council hearing on recruitment and trainingof women in the department.
Photo: William Farrington
Celebrities Who Are AgingHorriblySlick Americans
Mother charged with murderafter she 'beheaded her…Daily Star
Don't release equity beforereading these 12 factsReader's Digest
10 Disappointing andUnfortunate Facts AboutJohn LennonAnswers.com
What Is 4G?Vodafone
Truck Tries to Pull DownTree Stump: Watch WhatHappens Next…Mentertained
1 2
3 4
5 6
MORE ON:
FDNYContractorprobed inmassive NYC gasexplosion
Firefighters stilldumping wateron East Villageexplosion site,two missing
FDNY rapscouncilwoman forciting inaccurateresponse times
Dirty heating oilscam affectedNYPD, FDNYstations
Fredric U. Dicker
Michael Goodwin
Andrea Peyser
COLUMNISTS
Democrats favorMartin O’Malley forpresident if Hillarydoesn’t run
De Blasio allowingcity to trickle back tobad old ‘TaxiDriver’ days
I don’t regret myoffice romance —and neithershould you
SEE ALL COLUMNISTS
TRENDING NOW INMETRO
Heartless visitorsmug for selfies atEast Village blastsite
Two bodies foundin rubble of EastVillage buildingblast
Cuomo, de Blasiorush to aid of copthrown off horse
VIDEO
Make MarchMadness mouth-wateringlydelicious
The Internet HasGiven UsTeletubbies DancingTo Joy Division
Ted Cruz’s SuitMade A BoldStatement Of ItsOwn
The Lego Horror Movie IsTotally Plausible
SEE ALL
NOW ON
Matt Harvey datingPolish beauty
Club king throwswild barbecue atMiami Beach home
Family photoshows Jolie’sbattle with deadlycancer gene
SEE ALL
ScientologyScorecard: WhichCelebrities Are‘Going Clear’?
What To WatchWhen You’re(Putting Off) SpringCleaning
Did ‘Sex and the City’ SpawnA Generation Of Women WhoAre DTF?
SEE ALL
33858
26826
3855
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