Handbook 9.2
Skills and Training of CI Personnel
Chapter 2
Physical Fitness Program
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Contents
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Effective March 31, 1993, participation in a CI physical fitness program
became mandatory for all G/S 1811 special agent personnel. All G/S 1811 law
enforcement personnel must undergo medical screening and, after receiving
a medical clearance, must also participate in fitness assessments. Additionally,
while not mandatory, all G/S 1811 personnel are strongly encouraged to engage
in an approved health and fitness improvement program. Physical Fitness Program
Guidelines are found in the Physical Fitness for Special Agents Handbook.
The following topics are covered in this chapter:
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Authorization
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Guidelines for Official Time
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Authorized Program Activities
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Responsibilities
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Criminal Investigation Directives Nos. 3 and 5, provide for participation
in the Physical Fitness Program and the use of a government vehicle during
official duty hours to travel to a physical fitness facility.
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[9.2]
2.2.1 (08-14-2000)
Criminal Investigation Directive No. 5--Physical Fitness Program
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All G/S 1811 personnel in CI must participate in a CI physical fitness program.
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The physical fitness program aim is to maintain and improve the fitness level
of G/S 1811 personnel. It encourages life-style changes that increase
productivity and decrease disability within the workforce. Proper fitness
conditioning is essential for special agents to be able to meet the physical
demands of their law enforcement duties.
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Each head of office will establish and support a physical fitness program
for all 1811 personnel in his or her office. Each Special Agent in Charge
(SAC), each Director of Field Operations, and the Chief, Criminal Investigation
are responsible for executing a three-part physical fitness program.
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Part I mandates yearly health and medical screening consisting of a health
and fitness questionnaire, bloodwork, and, when needed, physicals.
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Part II requires participation in periodic fitness assessments of flexibility,
strength, and aerobic capabilities.
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Part III, while not mandatory, strongly encourages G/S 1811s to engage in
an approved health and fitness improvement or maintenance program.
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Employees who participate in an approved health and fitness improvement or
maintenance program will be allowed up to 3 hours of official on-duty time
(non-Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) hours) per week for approved
fitness activities. Designated fitness coordinators will maintain and local
management will review records of official time charged to fitness activities.
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[9.2]
2.2.2 (08-14-2000)
Use of Government-Owned Vehicles--Physical Fitness Program
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Special agents are authorized to drive a government vehicle during official
duty hours to a fitness facility to participate in the Physical Fitness Program.
(Criminal Investigation Directive No. 3)
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Special agents are allowed to use a government-owned vehicle to drive to
a workout facility before or after the core-hour day as an extension of the
core-hour day. This is allowed provided the agents go directly from their
residence to the workout facility/area and then to the work station (mornings)
or directly from the workstation to the workout facility/area and then to
their residence or back to the work station.
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CI employees in the G/S 1811 series are authorized up to 3 hours per week
of official time to engage in approved fitness activities. The following
guidelines apply:
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There is no accumulation of unused clock-time hours.
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Hours cannot be carried over from week to week.
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Official time for fitness activities cannot be taken on full days of leave.
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LEAP, Compensatory Time, or Overtime will not be utilized for physical fitness
activities.
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Each participant who charges official time to fitness activities will maintain
a fitness activity log which records the date, time, duration of official
and personal fitness time, fitness activity, and location. Participants will
forward the log through their Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) to the Physical
Fitness Coordinator within 5 workdays of the end of each month on a monthly
basis. Form 9839 is utilized for this purpose.
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The authorized physical fitness activities for this program are those recognized
by the U.S. Department of Labor for coverage under the Federal Employees
Compensation Act (FECA). Recreational sports such as bowling, badminton,
and golf are not authorized. Because of their high rate of physical injury
and not being characterized as aerobic or strength building activities,
competitive team sports (for example, basketball, football, softball, etc.)
cannot be included in an individualized exercise program. The following
activities are authorized as fitness activities:
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Brisk walking
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Jogging
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Running (stationary or outdoor)
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Cycling (stationary or outdoor)
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Cross-country skiing
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Treadmill
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Stair climbing or Stairmaster
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Rowing
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Swimming
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Aerobic exercises (low impact, calisthenics)
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Rope skipping
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Basic weight training (No free weights)
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Isotonic calisthenics
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Flexibility exercises
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An employee who is ranked fair or better after completion of their aerobic
assessment may also be certified to perform the following four physical fitness
activities:
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Racquetball
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Squash
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Handball
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Singles tennis
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Activities not listed above are not part of this program, and are not covered
by the Federal Employee Compensation Act.
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The following subsections cover the responsibilities of the physical fitness
program coordinator, the SSA and the employee.
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[9.2]
2.5.1 (08-14-2000)
Physical Fitness Program Coordinator's Responsibilities
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The role of the Physical Fitness Coordinator includes providing employees
and management with necessary materials and guidance for the administration
of the program. The Physical Fitness Coordinator is responsible for the
following:
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Arranging blood analysis for employees and retaining copies of medical screening
results.
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Reviewing and signing participants' monthly fitness logs and retaining these
reports on file. Review should ensure that fitness activities listed on the
log conform to program guidelines.
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Meeting with each participant individually to review or develop a personalized,
progressive, and systematic health and fitness improvement program geared
toward reaching specific goals. The exercise prescription will be developed
based on the individual's current level of fitness and fitness goals and
should address cardiovascular, strength, and flexibility conditioning as
specified in the Physical Fitness Special Agents Handbook. The Physical Fitness
Coordinator should emphasize to the participant that the plan is flexible
and can be adjusted if necessary.
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Administering or arranging the periodic fitness assessments. In addition,
the Physical Fitness Coordinator will monitor the participant's records to
ensure that periodic assessments are completed on a timely basis.
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Considering safety factors during all aspects of fitness testing and program
development and or administration to eliminate liability and prevent injuries.
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Identifying possible health risk factors.
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Maintaining necessary certification in basic life support (CPR).
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Reviewing annually the procedure for recognizing and treating injuries caused
by heat or overexertion.
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Knowing and properly using the Rest, Ice, Compression, Evaluation, Stabilization
or Support (RICES) treatment for injuries.
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Thoroughly documenting all exercise-related accidents or injuries.
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When possible, taking corrective action to prevent future accidents and/or
injuries of a similar nature.
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Checking each piece of fitness testing equipment to ensure that it is in
safe working order before each use and before it is returned to storage.
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Maintaining all fitness and medical information for all participants in a
locked, secure file cabinet or safe, and complying with the provisions of
the Privacy Act.
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Physical Fitness Coordinators are encouraged to attend the basic first aid
course offered by the National Red Cross (or its equivalent).
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Each SSA is responsible for:
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Ensuring that employees have been approved to participate in a health and
fitness improvement program. This includes ensuring that all medical screening
and assessment results show that the participant meets all necessary criteria.
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Discussing the program with each participant to determine an anticipated
fitness schedule for pre-approval and ensuring participants keep management
informed of the location of fitness activities during the workday.
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Identifying and discussing with employees, as situations arise, when official
duties will preempt pre-approved fitness program activities.
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Obtaining monthly fitness logs from participants and reviewing them for
completeness and adherence to approved program activities.
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Ensuring that LEAP, Compensatory Time, or Overtime is not utilized for official
time fitness activities.
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Ensuring compliance with all safety guidelines.
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The employee's responsibilities include:
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Participating in the CI Physical Fitness Program, including Part I (medical
screening) and Part II (physical assessment).
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Notifying the Physical Fitness Coordinator of any changes in his or her medical
or physical condition that may effect participation in the Physical Fitness
Program.
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Ensuring the SSA is informed of his or her location during participation
in Part III (approved health and fitness activities) on official time.
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Ensuring that monthly fitness logs are maintained and submitted on a timely
basis.
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Ensuring compliance with all safety guidelines.
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If an individual is unable to participate in a scheduled fitness assessment
because of injury (for example, a broken leg) he or she will, after a
rehabilitation period, attempt to participate in fitness assessments during
future assessment cycles.
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Ensuring official time for physical fitness activities does not negatively
impact on official duties.
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Internal Revenue Manual
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Hndbk. 9.2 Chap. 2 Physical Fitness Program
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(08-14-2000)
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