O’Callaghan will be replaced by a bot ffs ahead of all those gardaí out there
“”I am advised by the Minister for Justice that as of early December, 55 candidates out of 315 had failed their Physical Competency Test (PCT),” he said.”
A 17% failure doesn’t sound like a reason to make the test easier – you can’t be unfit if you’re a Guard on the beat. Let’s not turn into the States.
Scroll down here and you’ll find it but for the lazy:
Part A
>Weave through cones
>Walk along a balance beam
>Lift a car wheel and carry it 3 metres
>Go underneath a barrier
>Jump over a mat (one metre wide)
>Drag a 45kg mannequin 2 metres
>Run up and down a stairs
>Climb over a gate
>Sprint 10 metres
>Complete circuit 3 times in fastest time possible Pass standard is 3 mins and 20 secs
Part B
>Push/Pull Machine Test
>The objective of the test taken is to measure the maximal force you are capable of exerting in pushing and pulling. This test is intended to relate to the physical strength requirements of a Garda in a range of typical situations
>Stand on platform
>Grip handlebars (simulates chest height of average height of a person)
>Feet apart one foot in front of the other
>Push and pull the handlebars through the required stroke continuously (indicated by bleeps at the start and end of each stroke) for 20 secs
>If three bleeps are missed the test is invalid and the candidate must repeat the 20 sec test again, immediately
>During the test the force you are exerting will be continually measured and recorded on the computer system
>In order to achieve your maximal force you will need to use your entire body and concentrate on pushing and pulling hard throughout the entire stroke
Part C is a press up test with no time limit
>18-25yrs
25 Males
20 Females
>26-35yrs
22 Males
18 Females
————————————————————-
Did this years ago with a friend in the 26-35 section and it was piss easy but there were some in my group on the heavier side and a good few of the women couldn’t drag the 45KG mannequin 2 meters quick enough and got caught on time.
It absolutely is not.
The Garda fitness test is not particularly difficult. If you train for a few months, even from a low level of fitness, you’ll manage it.
Frankly it’d be mad to take even that low level of fitness standard out of the system when we do very little to enforce it later.
How can a man be expected to touch his toes if he hasn’t seen them in years?
Too many fat guards around, embarrassing.
What’s the breakout by age and gender?
The test and standards are different depending on both criteria so the failure rate tells you almost nothing.
Just like the army they should be sent to fat camp and if they still cant pass it terminate their contracts fitness should be a basic requirement in a physically denanding job
Gardai are criticized for being overweight or unfit or old etc. Now this dope wants the test made easier? Some people, if given two brain cells would just become twice as stupid.
> “I am concerned that the fitness test is too demanding, out of step with other jurisdictions and is becoming a growing factor blocking recruitment,”
> The PSNI physical test is similar to the An Garda Síochána assessment but allows four minutes and 30 seconds for the obstacle course.
It’s only a problem for replacing them with PSNI members.
These are the fools who “lead” the country.
**TLDR: He’s talking bollocks (from someone who failed the first run through)**
The only thing about that test is the sex and age discrimination, if it’s still there. Having different criteria for different people is not great. They set a minimum standard to be a Garda. Can never understand why other categories then need to exceed this level to do the same job.
​
He specifically calls out the obstable course.
For reference, I gave my achillies a slight strain on the 2nd to last turn of the bleep test shuttles and stumbled. Failed it on the very final stretch because of that.
Was thinking “that’s it, may as well go home”
Nope!
Instructors told me that you only repeat sections so I could try the obstacle course and strength test to mark them as complete, as long as I thought that my leg would hold up to it.
Still had to do the sit ups and push ups, to be as “tired” as anyone else.
Push ups: No time restriction to do 20-odd, as long as your knees didn’t hit the ground
Sit ups: a full minute to do 30-odd, FFS
On to the obstable course:
I was carrying 2 stone, from a long surgery recovery but was getting back fit.
That course was fun, no lie. Great workout: leaping fences, lifting/shifting weight (tyre I think?), pulling body weight dummy etc. Was the best part of the whole experience.
The strength test was actually surprising, had never used that machine before, but needs you to have a bit of weight to anchor yourself
So: who failed that section? The man and woman who were exceptionally fit but were short and slight. Anyone over 180cm is leaping that gate with a single foot push or just using their arms to launch over the top, they were having to climb it and it killed momentum. The weighted lift and shift and dummy slowed them down too.
The push/pull failed the woman too. She said that she could not get enough foot purchase to put her full strength into it. She was super athletic and strong but that machine seems designed to test your ability to move a person as opposed to static weight
If male and female gardai are considered equal then how are they not doing the same test?
They’re learning the wrong lessons. That fitness test looks easy enough. If you can’t pass that, you’re not fit for the job. I would argue that there also needs to be a higher education standard.
My 11 year daughter got 8.8 recently on the bleep test. She is fit for her age but just saying that is the level.
We have the least intimidating police force in the world, this will just add to it.
Why doesn’t he advocate for criminals being always given a head start?
Maybe they’re not attracting the right candidates?
There was a Garda who was so fat in Ballinasloe that he had to drive the large Garda van around because he couldn’t fit behind the steering wheel of a car.
They should have to do an annual fitness test by right!!
My brother passed the fitness test, and then got called up to be a guard last week. Thing is, he passed the fitness test *5 years ago*.
Blame covid or whatever for the delay, but he had passed everything needed to be accepted and it still took them 5 years to actually accept him. There’s many other parts of the Gardai enrollment process that need to be improved before focusing on a fairly simple fitness test.
I’m always astonished by the look of police abroad. I was in Germany and Poland recently and both of their police forces look the part – tall muscular men, the uniform plays a part too, it’s intimidating. For God’s sake, the bouncers on the doors of our pubs are in better shape than a lot of our Gardai. The test isn’t that difficult, we will regret it if we make it easier. I suspect it isn’t that the test is too difficult, it’s that you treat and pay these men and women like shit and you can’t hold onto them.
The Guards are not asking for the test to be made easier neither is the GRA, the government want it made easier to allow people already interested in the job to be able to join, because the alternative is making the job more attractive to better candidates I.e salary, pensions etc.
They need more numbers in the job but instead of incentivising people they want to lower the bar so people already longing to join can pass the test.
Reality will not meet that well, the test is already piss easy, we need physically prepared Garda.
I only went as far as the interview stage before I bailed for a another job but most of the people I seen at the tests were young enough with a lot sporting local gaa wear and looked fit enough.
I was 27 and I and wouldve struggled at the fitness part or so but some older there hadn’t a hope.
Yep, should totaly make physical tests easier for garda, gently ask criminals if they could just not run that fast or be so strong please.
Should do the same for firefighters, lower their physical requirements because to high a % is failing and we need them, ah sure, we couldnt save the 2 guys upstairs because he was to heavy and unconcious, itl be grand.
This is actually ridiculous. Assaults on Gardai have been going up steadily over the years. It’s unfair to bring in people who aren’t physically able to do the job they will only get assaulted on the street trying to preform a basic arrest.
Where do they find these bean gardai anyway, under a bridge? They’re always four feet tall with an arse as wide.
Can’t believe people even fail it. Would have assumed it was just tons of lads in GAA shorts bursting around the place 🤷♂️
29 comments
O’Callaghan will be replaced by a bot ffs ahead of all those gardaí out there
“”I am advised by the Minister for Justice that as of early December, 55 candidates out of 315 had failed their Physical Competency Test (PCT),” he said.”
A 17% failure doesn’t sound like a reason to make the test easier – you can’t be unfit if you’re a Guard on the beat. Let’s not turn into the States.
[Garda fitness test]
(https://youtu.be/uXo3roYoCUw)
https://www.garda.ie/garda/en/faqs/?id=4851
Scroll down here and you’ll find it but for the lazy:
Part A
>Weave through cones
>Walk along a balance beam
>Lift a car wheel and carry it 3 metres
>Go underneath a barrier
>Jump over a mat (one metre wide)
>Drag a 45kg mannequin 2 metres
>Run up and down a stairs
>Climb over a gate
>Sprint 10 metres
>Complete circuit 3 times in fastest time possible Pass standard is 3 mins and 20 secs
Part B
>Push/Pull Machine Test
>The objective of the test taken is to measure the maximal force you are capable of exerting in pushing and pulling. This test is intended to relate to the physical strength requirements of a Garda in a range of typical situations
>Stand on platform
>Grip handlebars (simulates chest height of average height of a person)
>Feet apart one foot in front of the other
>Push and pull the handlebars through the required stroke continuously (indicated by bleeps at the start and end of each stroke) for 20 secs
>If three bleeps are missed the test is invalid and the candidate must repeat the 20 sec test again, immediately
>During the test the force you are exerting will be continually measured and recorded on the computer system
>In order to achieve your maximal force you will need to use your entire body and concentrate on pushing and pulling hard throughout the entire stroke
Part C is a press up test with no time limit
>18-25yrs
25 Males
20 Females
>26-35yrs
22 Males
18 Females
————————————————————-
Did this years ago with a friend in the 26-35 section and it was piss easy but there were some in my group on the heavier side and a good few of the women couldn’t drag the 45KG mannequin 2 meters quick enough and got caught on time.
It absolutely is not.
The Garda fitness test is not particularly difficult. If you train for a few months, even from a low level of fitness, you’ll manage it.
Frankly it’d be mad to take even that low level of fitness standard out of the system when we do very little to enforce it later.
How can a man be expected to touch his toes if he hasn’t seen them in years?
Too many fat guards around, embarrassing.
What’s the breakout by age and gender?
The test and standards are different depending on both criteria so the failure rate tells you almost nothing.
Just like the army they should be sent to fat camp and if they still cant pass it terminate their contracts fitness should be a basic requirement in a physically denanding job
Gardai are criticized for being overweight or unfit or old etc. Now this dope wants the test made easier? Some people, if given two brain cells would just become twice as stupid.
> “I am concerned that the fitness test is too demanding, out of step with other jurisdictions and is becoming a growing factor blocking recruitment,”
> The PSNI physical test is similar to the An Garda Síochána assessment but allows four minutes and 30 seconds for the obstacle course.
It’s only a problem for replacing them with PSNI members.
These are the fools who “lead” the country.
**TLDR: He’s talking bollocks (from someone who failed the first run through)**
The only thing about that test is the sex and age discrimination, if it’s still there. Having different criteria for different people is not great. They set a minimum standard to be a Garda. Can never understand why other categories then need to exceed this level to do the same job.
​
He specifically calls out the obstable course.
For reference, I gave my achillies a slight strain on the 2nd to last turn of the bleep test shuttles and stumbled. Failed it on the very final stretch because of that.
Was thinking “that’s it, may as well go home”
Nope!
Instructors told me that you only repeat sections so I could try the obstacle course and strength test to mark them as complete, as long as I thought that my leg would hold up to it.
Still had to do the sit ups and push ups, to be as “tired” as anyone else.
Push ups: No time restriction to do 20-odd, as long as your knees didn’t hit the ground
Sit ups: a full minute to do 30-odd, FFS
On to the obstable course:
I was carrying 2 stone, from a long surgery recovery but was getting back fit.
That course was fun, no lie. Great workout: leaping fences, lifting/shifting weight (tyre I think?), pulling body weight dummy etc. Was the best part of the whole experience.
The strength test was actually surprising, had never used that machine before, but needs you to have a bit of weight to anchor yourself
So: who failed that section? The man and woman who were exceptionally fit but were short and slight. Anyone over 180cm is leaping that gate with a single foot push or just using their arms to launch over the top, they were having to climb it and it killed momentum. The weighted lift and shift and dummy slowed them down too.
The push/pull failed the woman too. She said that she could not get enough foot purchase to put her full strength into it. She was super athletic and strong but that machine seems designed to test your ability to move a person as opposed to static weight
If male and female gardai are considered equal then how are they not doing the same test?
They’re learning the wrong lessons. That fitness test looks easy enough. If you can’t pass that, you’re not fit for the job. I would argue that there also needs to be a higher education standard.
My 11 year daughter got 8.8 recently on the bleep test. She is fit for her age but just saying that is the level.
We have the least intimidating police force in the world, this will just add to it.
Why doesn’t he advocate for criminals being always given a head start?
Maybe they’re not attracting the right candidates?
There was a Garda who was so fat in Ballinasloe that he had to drive the large Garda van around because he couldn’t fit behind the steering wheel of a car.
They should have to do an annual fitness test by right!!
My brother passed the fitness test, and then got called up to be a guard last week. Thing is, he passed the fitness test *5 years ago*.
Blame covid or whatever for the delay, but he had passed everything needed to be accepted and it still took them 5 years to actually accept him. There’s many other parts of the Gardai enrollment process that need to be improved before focusing on a fairly simple fitness test.
I’m always astonished by the look of police abroad. I was in Germany and Poland recently and both of their police forces look the part – tall muscular men, the uniform plays a part too, it’s intimidating. For God’s sake, the bouncers on the doors of our pubs are in better shape than a lot of our Gardai. The test isn’t that difficult, we will regret it if we make it easier. I suspect it isn’t that the test is too difficult, it’s that you treat and pay these men and women like shit and you can’t hold onto them.
The Guards are not asking for the test to be made easier neither is the GRA, the government want it made easier to allow people already interested in the job to be able to join, because the alternative is making the job more attractive to better candidates I.e salary, pensions etc.
They need more numbers in the job but instead of incentivising people they want to lower the bar so people already longing to join can pass the test.
Reality will not meet that well, the test is already piss easy, we need physically prepared Garda.
I only went as far as the interview stage before I bailed for a another job but most of the people I seen at the tests were young enough with a lot sporting local gaa wear and looked fit enough.
I was 27 and I and wouldve struggled at the fitness part or so but some older there hadn’t a hope.
Yep, should totaly make physical tests easier for garda, gently ask criminals if they could just not run that fast or be so strong please.
Should do the same for firefighters, lower their physical requirements because to high a % is failing and we need them, ah sure, we couldnt save the 2 guys upstairs because he was to heavy and unconcious, itl be grand.
This is actually ridiculous. Assaults on Gardai have been going up steadily over the years. It’s unfair to bring in people who aren’t physically able to do the job they will only get assaulted on the street trying to preform a basic arrest.
Where do they find these bean gardai anyway, under a bridge? They’re always four feet tall with an arse as wide.
Can’t believe people even fail it. Would have assumed it was just tons of lads in GAA shorts bursting around the place 🤷♂️