What kind of physical fitness training do ICE agents undergo?

1. Where the training happens and how long it lasts

Most initial physical conditioning for ICE hires occurs at FLETC’s Glynco campus and the ICE Academy complex there, with basic training blocks that range from weeks to months depending on the job track — ICE’s basic programs have been described as roughly 22 weeks for some hires while criminal investigator tracks (CITP/HSISAT) are shorter, accredited programs of 56 and 71 days respectively that include multiple fitness phases ^{[1] [4] [5]}.

2. What the pre‑employment fitness screen measures

The preemployment physical fitness test (PFT) used by ICE measures core, job‑related physical components — the ability to move quickly and maintain balance, upper and lower body strength, aerobic capacity and endurance — and is explicitly intended to predict an applicant’s ability to meet academy demands rather than serve as a generic wellness screen ^{[3] [6] [7]}.

3. The typical PFT events and job‑specific variations

ICE materials and reporting indicate the PFT varies by program: HSI selects via a four‑event PFT and ERO/DRO materials describe a battery used to determine academy suitability; media accounts and DHS statements list common elements such as sit‑ups, pull‑ups and a timed 1.5‑mile run (one report cites 1½ miles in under 14:25) while ICE guidance and videos advise trainees to train to standards appropriate to their track ^{[6] [3] [8]}.

4. In‑academy conditioning, combatives and performance assessments

During academy courses trainees participate in structured physical conditioning, combatives, scenario‑based control techniques and stand‑alone physical ability assessments: FLETC Physical Performance Requirements mandate activities like strikes and defensive techniques, simulated officer‑suspect confrontations, multiple rounds of striking and a Physical Abilities Assessment (PAA) with both initial and final administrations ^{[9] [7] [10]}.

5. Frequency of testing and on‑the‑job fitness expectations

Special‑agent tracks must pass the PFT multiple times during training — archived ICE guidance says trainees take the PFT three times during CITP and HSISAT — and ICE public guidance recommends candidates prepare in advance and maintain fitness as a continuing job requirement; ICE also provides remedial training and medical screening when needed ^{[4] [6] [3]}.

6. Differences between HSI special agents and ERO/deportation officers

Although both tracks stress fitness, HSI special agents go through investigator‑oriented programs (CITP then HSISAT) that emphasize investigative workloads plus repeated PFTs, whereas ERO/DRO recruits have a different fitness battery tied to arrest, transport and removal duties; ICE podcast and program materials make clear the physical regimes are tailored to role‑specific tasks ^{[2] [4] [10]}.

7. Controversies, implementation pressures and limits of available reporting

Recent media scrutiny and DHS responses show tension between hiring timelines and fitness vetting — reporting alleges training durations were shortened and that some recruits failed fitness tests, while DHS maintains standards and says fitness checks have been moved earlier to improve accountability; public materials outline what is tested and practiced, but specifics such as exact repetition counts, the complete current PFT scoring tables, or how local remedial programs are run are not fully available in the cited documents ^{[8] [11] [6]}.

8. Bottom line: what kind of fitness training agents undergo

ICE agents undergo job‑focused, graded physical conditioning that tests and develops aerobic endurance, upper and lower body strength, agility and defensive techniques through preemployment PFTs, ongoing academy conditioning including combatives and scenario work, and recurrent assessments — with details and thresholds varying by HSI versus ERO tracks and some operational changes reported amid shifting hiring practices ^{[3] [9] [4] [6]}.