NH Marine Patrol...
 

is looking for new members.

Last few days for application and testing are listed in the link.

http://www.eagletribune.com/newhamps...ks-new-members

http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/s...ymentinfo.html

Just a heads-up, the physical fitness requirement is very tough. As an applicant, passing the fitness test is at the top of the list before you move ahead through the application process. The fitness requirements include items like running a certain distance within a certain time period, swimming a set number of laps, doing so many push-ups, situps, pull-ups, etc and are adjusted depending on one's age and maybe one's sex.

Any chance someone can post the Marine Patrol's physical fitness requirements?

You can read the requirements here:
http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/s...testing_ss.pdf

Those look like pretty easy requirements.

Not so easy
 

First you take the written exam which takes two hours, then it is over to the gym.

First station is the weight room where you have to do a bench press with free weights at a weight of 65 % of your body weight. You have three presses to get to and complete that bench press, but you only get one shot at your target weight. Miss the lift, and you are done.

Then it is on to the sit-ups and pushups. The situps start on your back, with knees raised and feet flat on floor, hands behind your head. Sit-ups must be completed in one minute. The pushups must also be completed in one minute, with the back straight from the heels to the head, and you must lower the body in correct form to a 3 inch cube placed under your chest.

The final is the run, indoors, at a distance of 1.5 miles in the time limit prescribed.

I applied a couple of years ago, and scored over 100% with the veterens credit. I made a 3 inch block at home and was able to do the requisite situps and pushups. I was running the 1.5 miles in more than a minute under the requirement for my age.

I have a Crossbow, which is similar to a Bowflex, and was doing multiple reps at 185 lbs and even did one at 200lbs. I was feeling pretty confident, and when I got into the weight room, I saw the free weight machine. You take the weights off the safety, lower the bar down to your chest, and then press up to where both arms a locked straight at the elbows.Never having used one before, I did a warm up press at 100 lbs and then went for the gusto (145), but could not lock out the left arm.

I actually went back the next time they advertised, and did not have to retest on the written because my last test was within a year. So it was off to the weight room, and one more try. My thanks to the 6-8 officers who were in the room to spot me, and to cheer me on, and I only had to do 140. Again, I could not lock out the left arm, and I was done for the day, and forever.

My problem was overcoming the weight being at rest on my chest and the fact that the tricep in my left arm atrophied after blowing out a c6-c7 disk in the 90's. With my crossbow, the weight system is progressive with pulleys, cables, and rods, and thus you do not have to move 145 lbs right away. The weight increases as you get toward full extention, but then you have momentum on your side.

The training is the same as any police officer would go through. My hat is off to those who make it through the written and physical test. In my humble opinion, having been there and done that, it is not easy.;)