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What medical and fitness tests are required for ICE academy?
Executive Summary
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) academy candidates face a mix of medical screening, background/security vetting, and physical fitness requirements that vary by role and program; the core fitness benchmarks commonly reported include sit-ups, push-ups, a 1.5-mile run and additional timed events or obstacle tasks [1] [2] [3]. Reporting also documents inconsistencies in how quickly recruits complete vetting and medical clearance before training, and exemptions or alternative pathways exist for prior law-enforcement hires and specialized agent tracks [1] [2] [4].
1. What the records say about the basic fitness checklist that trips recruits up
Multiple sources converge on a set of consistent minimums used in ICE’s fitness evaluations: roughly 15 push-ups, 32 sit-ups (or 32 in one minute), and a 1.5-mile run clocked at about 14 minutes to 14 minutes 25 seconds, with some accounts adding a 220-yard sprint and a sit-up/push-up timed structure depending on the test version [2] [5] [6]. These figures appear across both academy-wide descriptions and reporting on recruits failing to meet PAA or PFT standards. The evidence shows the fitness element is not merely a formality: a substantive share of new entrants fail these tests, prompting debate about recruitment standards and candidate preparedness [2]. Different sources use slightly different thresholds and event lists, indicating that test content has multiple documented variants depending on class type, issuing office, or year.
2. The medical screening and administrative clearance that precede training
ICE and affiliated training centers require a medical examination and health-unit clearance as part of pre-employment vetting; candidates must provide physician-completed medical release forms and, where relevant, follow-up care or referrals are managed by the FLETC Health Unit [7] [3]. Sources describe routine drug testing and security background checks as parallel gatekeeping steps, meaning recruits must clear medical, fitness, and administrative screens before—or, in practice, sometimes during—academy attendance [1]. Reporting notes cases where recruits arrived at training without complete vetting, which raises concerns about procedural consistency and whether medical or fitness gaps are being deferred rather than resolved [1]. This pattern suggests that while policy requires medical clearance, execution across hiring pipelines can vary.
3. Specialized tracks and exemptions: who faces the strictest gates
Prior law-enforcement hires and experienced officers sometimes undergo streamlined validation processes and may be exempt from repeating some fitness evaluations, yet they still face medical and background requirements before joining ICE training [2] [5]. At the same time, specialized agent tracks—such as HSI Special Agent programs associated with ICE operations—use distinct batteries and PFT variants that include extra components like sprint events, situational judgment tests, and written assessments tied to federal law enforcement duties [6] [4]. These differentiated pipelines mean that fitness and medical expectations are not uniform across all ICE roles: candidates for investigative or special-agent functions face broader skill and cognitive testing in addition to physical screens.
4. Conflicting accounts and shifting test formats — what’s consistent and what’s not
Available analyses show agreement on core fitness elements (push-ups, sit-ups, 1.5-mile run) but diverge in detailing auxiliary events such as a 5-minute step test, obstacle/CTT courses, kneel/stand assessments, or sprint times; older test formats (e.g., revised 2007 PFT guidance) appear alongside newer consolidated PAA/PFT descriptions [8] [7] [3]. This patchwork of descriptions indicates that the ICE fitness regimen has evolved and differs by posting, training facility, and year. Reporting of recruits attending training before full vetting suggests operational pressure on hiring timelines, affecting how strictly formats are enforced. The net is a landscape where core pass/fail metrics are stable but procedural application and supplemental tests vary.
5. Big-picture implications and what recruits should prepare for
For prospective candidates, the clearest preparation strategy is to train for the core physical tasks consistently cited: timed sit-ups and push-ups, a 1.5-mile run near a 14:00–14:25 threshold, and short sprints or agility tasks if possible; obtain medical clearance and complete physician forms before arrival to avoid administrative delay [2] [3]. Organizations and watchdog reporting that document recruits arriving without full medical or background clearance highlight operational tensions: policy requires medical and fitness vetting, but practice sometimes lags, creating both training risks and public scrutiny [1]. Those entering specialized or prior-service channels should verify which PFT variant and supplementary exams apply to their cohort, as the specific battery can differ substantially across ICE and HSI streams [6].