The United States Secret Service demands a high level of physical fitness from all its agents, and female recruits are held to equally rigorous, yet gender-normed, standards. This article details the fitness evaluations required for women aspiring to join the Secret Service, ensuring they are prepared for the challenges of protecting national leaders and upholding the integrity of our financial systems. Understanding these standards is the first step for any woman considering a career in this elite federal law enforcement agency.
Core Fitness Elements for Female Secret Service Agents
The Secret Service Physical Fitness Evaluation is designed to measure strength, endurance, and aerobic capacity through four core exercises. These exercises are crucial for agents to perform their duties effectively in demanding and often high-pressure situations. The evaluation is conducted at the beginning, during, and at the end of training at the James J. Rowley Training Center (JJRTC), and then quarterly for weapon-carrying employees. Here’s a breakdown of each element and the specific norms for females:
Push-Ups: Female Standards
Push-ups test upper body strength and endurance. The correct form is critical: starting in the ‘up’ position with a straight back and legs, lowering the body until the chest touches a fist or rolled towel, and then pushing back up until arms are fully extended. This exercise is performed for one minute, and the number of correctly executed push-ups determines the fitness category.
Here are the Secret Service push-up standards for females:
| Fitness Category | Point Value | Age Category |
|---|---|---|
| Level | 20-29 | |
| Excellent | 4 | 40 |
| Very Good | 3 | 30-39 |
| Good | 2 | 26-29 |
| Poor | 1 | 20-25 |
| Very Poor | 0 | 19 |
Sit-Ups: Female Standards
Sit-ups assess abdominal strength and endurance, essential for core stability and overall physical resilience. Starting by lying on the back with knees bent and feet anchored, hands across the chest, the exercise involves curling up until elbows touch the thighs and returning until the shoulder blades touch the floor. The maximum number of correct sit-ups in one minute is recorded.
The Secret Service sit-up standards for females are as follows:
| Fitness Category | Point Value | Age Category |
|---|---|---|
| Level | 20-29 | |
| Excellent | 4 | 44 |
| Very Good | 3 | 38-43 |
| Good | 2 | 32-37 |
| Poor | 1 | 27-31 |
| Very Poor | 0 | 26 |
Chin-Ups: Female Standards
Chin-ups, though often challenging for women, are a significant measure of upper body pulling strength. Using an underhand grip, shoulder-width apart, agents hang from a bar with arms fully extended and pull themselves up until their chin is above the bar. There’s no time limit, and the focus is on the maximum number of repetitions.
Here are the chin-up benchmarks for Female Secret Service candidates:
| Fitness Category | Point Value | Age Category |
|---|---|---|
| Level | 20-29 | |
| Excellent | 4 | 4 |
| Very Good | 3 | 3 |
| Good | 2 | 2 |
| Poor | 1 | 1 |
| Very Poor | 0 | 0 |
1.5 Mile Run: Female Standards
The 1.5-mile run is a test of aerobic capacity and cardiovascular endurance, vital for agents who need to be quick and agile in dynamic environments. This run should be performed at near-maximum effort on a track or varied terrain, avoiding treadmills to simulate real-world conditions.
The time standards for the 1.5-mile run for female Secret Service aspirants are:
| Fitness Category | Point Value | Age Category |
|---|---|---|
| Level | 20-29 | |
| Excellent | 4 | 12:50 |
| Very Good | 3 | 12:51-14:24 |
| Good | 2 | 14:25-15:26 |
| Poor | 1 | 15:27-16:33 |
| Very Poor | 0 | 16:34 |
Why These Standards Matter for Female Agents
These fitness standards are not arbitrary; they are carefully selected to ensure female Secret Service agents possess the physical capabilities necessary to perform their demanding roles. Whether it’s engaging in protective details, conducting criminal investigations, or responding to emergencies, agents must be in peak physical condition. Meeting these standards demonstrates a commitment to readiness and capability, essential traits for anyone in federal law enforcement, especially within an agency as prestigious and critical as the Secret Service.
Training and Assessment at FLETC
During training, female recruits will undergo fitness assessments to track their progress and ensure they meet the required standards. The Preliminary Fitness Assessment early in training establishes a baseline, and the Secret Service FLETC Fitness Assessment, about four weeks before graduation, is a critical evaluation point. To graduate, students must achieve a minimum of six points total and at least one point in three out of the four core elements. Failure to meet these standards may lead to review and further recommendations.
The Secret Service ensures that certified fitness coordinators at FLETC locations conduct these assessments, maintaining consistency and fairness. Aspiring female agents should view these fitness standards as a benchmark to strive for, beginning their preparation well before applying to ensure they are physically ready for the challenges and rewards of serving in the Secret Service.
