14-18 – Cadet Fitness Assessment and Incentive Program
Cadet Administrative and Training Orders (CATOs)
General
1. This Cadet Administrative and Training Order (CATO) is issued to establish criteria for and direction on cadet fitness assessments and associated cadet fitness incentive programs.
2. The purpose of the Cadet Fitness Assessment and Incentive Program is:
- to provide accurate and reliable information about a cadet’s personal fitness;
- to promote regular, enjoyable physical activity for cadets so they can reach and maintain a level of personal fitness that will contribute to good health and well-being;
- to help leaders determine cadet needs and guide cadets in planning personalized physical activity programs; and
- to recognize cadets for establishing physical activity behaviours that will lead to fitness development.
Authority
3. The Director Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers (D Cdts & JCR) is responsible for establishing criteria for and direction on cadet fitness assessments and incentive programs.
4. The respective Senior Staff Officer (SSO) for each element is responsible for determining additional use of Cadet Fitness Assessment criteria as described in paras 14 and 15.
5. The Regional Cadet Support Unit (RCSU) Commanding Officers (COs) are responsible for the implementation of this policy within their respective units.
6. Corps / squadron and CSTC COs are responsible for following this policy and conducting the Cadet Fitness Assessment and Incentive Program within their respective units.
Participation–Corps / Squadrons
7. The Cadet Fitness Assessment is a mandatory activity within the corps / squadron program beginning in year two.
8. All cadets in Phase Two / Red Star / Proficiency Level Two are required to participate in the cardiovascular endurance component of the Cadet Fitness Assessment.
9. All cadets in Phase Three / Silver Star / Proficiency Level Three, Phase 4 / Gold Star / Proficiency Level Four, and Phase Five / Master Cadet / Proficiency Level Five are required to participate in all three fitness components of the Cadet Fitness Assessment.
10. All corps / squadrons are required to implement the Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Program.
11. Cadets who are not required to complete the Cadet Fitness Assessment as part of their mandatory activities may participate in the Cadet Fitness Assessment and Incentive Program at the CO’s discretion and as part of the corps / squadron optional program.
Participation–CSTCs
12. The Cadet Fitness Assessment has been included as mandatory training within the common Basic Fitness and Sports and Fitness and Sports Instructor qualifications.
13. Cadets not attending either of these CSTC courses may participate in the Cadet Fitness Assessment and Incentive Program at the CSTC CO’s discretion, either as part of the allocated CSTC CO’s discretionary periods or the extra-curricular activities CSTC program course component.
Additional Use of Cadet Fitness Assessment Criteria
14. Beyond the stated purpose of the Cadet Fitness Assessment, SSOs may authorize the use of the results of this fitness assessment as selection criteria for certain CSTC program opportunities and / or regionally directed activities / nationally directed activities.
15. Additionally, SSOs may authorize fitness standards for participation in certain cadet activities using the information contained within this CATO to effectively manage the associated risks with physically demanding training.
Cadet Fitness Assessment
16. The Cadet Fitness Assessment is designed to assess the following three areas of fitness:
- cardiovascular endurance;
- muscular strength; and
- muscular flexibility.
17. Details for administering the Cadet Fitness Assessment are located in Annex A.
18. Performance on each of the fitness-area tests is classified into two general areas:
- Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ); and
- Needs Improvement (eg, not in the HFZ).
19. The Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Program has been established as additional encouragement for cadets to achieve the HFZ. Details of this incentive program are located in Annex B.
Criterion-Referenced Standards
20. The Cadet Fitness Assessment uses health-related criteria called HFZ to determine cadets’ overall physical fitness and suggest areas for improvement when appropriate.
21. HFZ is not based on averages or any other peer comparisons; they are criterion-referenced standards that are based on how much fitness is needed for good health. The standards are set specifically for males and females of different ages using the best available research.
22. The beginning of the HFZ represents the minimum level of fitness necessary to have acceptable health.
Cadets Achieving The HFZ
23. The beginning of the HFZ represents the minimum level of fitness necessary to have acceptable health. The HFZ standards in the Cadet Fitness Assessment reflect reasonable levels of fitness that can be attained by most cadets who participate regularly in various types of physical activity. Because of this, all cadets should strive to achieve a score that places them inside the HFZ. It is possible for cadets to achieve the HFZ for some areas of fitness but not for others as most cadets have areas they excel in more than others.
Cadets Not Achieving the HFZ
24. There are no minimum standards for the Cadet Fitness Assessment. The category below the HFZ on the Cadet Fitness Assessment is referred to as “Needs Improvement,” to indicate dimensions of fitness that may require special attention.
25. While the effect of low fitness may not influence health until later in adulthood, it is important to identify potential risks early on so that adjustments can be made to improve those levels.
26. The “Needs Improvement” message should be used prescriptively to help cadets set goals to improve their fitness. The wording used for this category does not imply “bad fitness” or “poor fitness” but rather areas in which the cadet should seek improvement.
Cadets Exceeding the HFZ
27. It is possible for some cadets to score above the HFZ. The Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Program acknowledges performances above the HFZ but does not recommend this level of performance as an appropriate goal level for all cadets. However, cadets who desire to achieve a high level of athletic performance may need to consider setting goals beyond the HFZ.
Supervision of The Cadet Fitness Assessment Activity
28. In addition to the supervision requirements established in CATO 13-12, someone with a Standard First Aid qualification is required to be present during the conduct of this activity. Supervisors of this activity are to use cadets with Basic Fitness and Sports and/or Fitness and Sports Instructor qualifications to assist with the conduct of this activity, when available, as they have been trained to support the conduct of the Cadet Fitness Assessment. Supervisors are also reminded that Fitness and Sports Instructors are also qualified in Standard First Aid and, as long as their qualification is current, they can serve this supervisory requirement while assisting with the conduct of the activity.
Resource Requirements
29. The following are the main resources required to conduct the Cadet Fitness Assessment:
- Leger’s 20-m Shuttle Run Test CD;
- CD player;
- measuring tape;
- masking tape;
- 12-cm measuring strip;
- 2 pylons (or suitable replacement objects);
- gym mats;
- cardboard / wooden box approximately 30 cm high; and
- metre stick.
30. With the exception of an initial supply of item 29(a) by the CF, the procurement of these resources is the responsibility of the unit conducting this activity.
Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Program
31. The Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Program is designed to recognize cadets that achieve results within or beyond the HFZ. Details related to this incentive program are located in Annex B; however, the four incentive levels available to cadet participants are:
- Bronze;
- Silver;
- Gold; and
- Excellence.
Annexes
Annexe A
Annexe A - Appendix 1
Annexe A - Appendix 2
Annexe A - Appendix 3
Annexe A - Appendix 4
Annexe A - Appendix 5
Annexe B
Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Program
Annexe B - Appendix 1
Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Level Standards – Male
Annexe B - Appendix 2
Cadet Fitness Assessment Incentive Level Standards – Female
Annexe B - Appendix 3
Cadet Fitness Assessment and Incentive Level Results
Annexe B - Appendix 4
OPI: D Cdts & JCR 4
Date: May 13
Amendment: Ch 4/13
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