Soooo, got this email from BART....

[sixtus]

You can guess where this is going. Yes, BART PD. *cues laugh track*

But hey, it's a level above where I am as Security at a Casino, and pays much better too. And I've also been reading as much as I can to prepare myself. I'm 27, and in decent health (weight, smoke in lungs and glasses being my only problems).

But I digress. It's the second step, a physical test and a written test. The written is the PELLETB to my knowledge, and I'm confident that I'll do well. I have strong writing and reading skills, and a very good report writer (lots of practice).

The physical aspect is what makes me nervous. I'm overweight, around the 250 mark, but I can haul *** if I have to, thanks to my current job and my lifestyle. Problem is that I'm obviously overweight, and I know that could be a mark against me. Not sure how high the standards are with BART, but I'm still nervous.

Mostly nervous about the 6 foot high solid wall and chain link fence climb. 500 meter run won't be a problem, as I can just slip into a jody pace and lengthen my stride the entire way. Same for the obstacle course and the dummy drag. I know that the best way to learn to climb a wall or fence is to get out and do it, repeatedly, and I'm doing so.

So my question is this. I meet the qualifications that they're asking for on their website, what are the obvious DQs here? Any overall tips not contained in the sticky thread above?

[CSACANNONEER]

Are you a straight white male with no ADA recognized disabilities? If so, you're screwed.

[TRICKSTER]

It's not the agility that you should be worried about, it's if you get hired and start the academy. Run, run and run some more.

[sixtus]

Thanks for the honesty guys.

[Samuelx]

The POS's that Oakland PD, among others, deals with on the streets will be the same ones you'll be dealing with on the trains/platforms/stations/parking lots, etc - if you go into the job thinking this PD or that PD is a joke, you're just asking Murphy to come kick you in the nuts...

[StraightShot04]

It's not the agility that you should be worried about, it's if you get hired and start the academy. Run, run and run some more.

I'd worry enough where I'd exercise and get into decent shape to make it over a couple solid walls, drag a 150+lbs dummy and run 500 meters all together. In my academy, even though everyone made it through the initial testing, a couple failed while in the academy because of the wall, believe it or not.

Work on your cardio and like Trickster said, run, run and run some more.

It's really hard to tell you what the DQs are because we don't know you and every department has different standards for hiring. Your pass has a lot to do with if you get hired or not. Stay out of trouble, stay away from drugs, live, eat and breath the law enforcement mentality before you even begin the academy.

[uspcompact45]

If you are serious about becoming a LEO, you should be serious about dropping the weight or reducing body fat. Maybe it won't even matter if you pass their PT test. However, it's always a plus to be in good health.

At my dept, we have height to weight standards during the hiring. I was overweight and didn't make the height to weight standard but passed on the body fat requirements.

[Country_Jim]

You can guess where this is going. Yes, BART PD. *cues laugh track*

But hey, it's a level above where I am as Security at a Casino, and pays much better too. And I've also been reading as much as I can to prepare myself. I'm 27, and in decent health (weight, smoke in lungs and glasses being my only problems).

But I digress. It's the second step, a physical test and a written test. The written is the PELLETB to my knowledge, and I'm confident that I'll do well. I have strong writing and reading skills, and a very good report writer (lots of practice).

The physical aspect is what makes me nervous. I'm overweight, around the 250 mark, but I can haul *** if I have to, thanks to my current job and my lifestyle. Problem is that I'm obviously overweight, and I know that could be a mark against me. Not sure how high the standards are with BART, but I'm still nervous.

Mostly nervous about the 6 foot high solid wall and chain link fence climb. 500 meter run won't be a problem, as I can just slip into a jody pace and lengthen my stride the entire way. Same for the obstacle course and the dummy drag. I know that the best way to learn to climb a wall or fence is to get out and do it, repeatedly, and I'm doing so.

So my question is this. I meet the qualifications that they're asking for on their website, what are the obvious DQs here? Any overall tips not contained in the sticky thread above?

BART is a good department with some solid officers. I know they have gotten some negative press lately, however most of the officers I have come in contact with are squared away.

I've got some news for you, criminals ride BART and congregate around BART stations. There have been some serious crimes committed on BART property (a friend's son was robbed and badly beaten at the Daly City BART parking structure). With your attitude towards BART PD, perhaps you should stick to security.

[newair]

Sixtus, not judging but can't help but wonder. In a public forum, You insult the dept you hope to go to work for, and yet you hope to be offered a position. Hum,,,

[toddytguns]

Sixtus sounds like they are running the POST standard physical agility test, which can be passed in 3 of the events(99 yard agility run, 6 foot solid wall & 6 foot chain link fence). These events will get you the most points for the test. The other 2 events( body/dummy drag & 500 yard run) just increase your score. For the wall and fence try to get enough speed up in a short distance and then try to use a little momentum to get yourself up and over. On the chain link fence, if there is a cross bar, use it to your advantage. Like, trickster said run run and run. I wasn't in the best shape when I went through a post academy many moons ago and still had a little trouble.

[TKM]

Paul Blart, BART cop.

[Gun Kraft]

Just to add to that "run, run, run" comment: your goal is to run 1.5 miles in 12 minutes. I think the cutoff is 15 minutes in the academy, but it never hurts to do better than that.

[Patrick Aherne]

Google Couch to 5k. Go to a running shoe store and get fitted for good running shoes. Start doing lunges, push-ups and sit-ups. Get on a diet that works for you.

[Gawernator]

Is climbing a fence really difficult? Hmm.... maybe it's because I'm skinny

[Petro6golf]

At the dr physical they can DQ you if your too over weight.