News

This study by our PhD student and Tactical Coaching Extraordinaire Coach Jeremy Robinson in JSCR (doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005356) was recently published.

A 12‑week Daily Undulating Periodisation (DUP) program delivered to specialist police trainees produced simultaneous improvements in: 

• Strength (pull‑ups, split squat) 

• Lower‑limb power across unloaded and loaded CMJs 

• Anaerobic performance (RAST total time ↓ 1.12 s) 

• Aerobic capacity (MAS ↑ 0.09 m/s; VO₂max ↑ 1.10 ml/kg/min) 

All while these officers were completing high‑tempo tactical skills training, limited recovery, sleep and nutrition disruption, moving and wearing loads of over 20 kg, and the unpredictable demands that come with specialist policing – with no ‘opt out’ option. 

This is the real story: 

Tactical personnel don’t need to “peak”, they need to sustain readiness under constraints athletes never face. They may even have to perform at their best in a critical incident with little notice immediately after training session.  

Smart programming like DUP helps bridge that gap. 

Recent analysis of a specialist riot police training program led by Dr Ben Schram again highlighted aerobic fitness as the strongest predictor of successful course completion. Officers with higher initial shuttle run scores had substantially greater likelihood of finishing, with modelling showing clear probability thresholds:

Meeting the minimum standard ~60% probability of completion

+4 shuttles above minimum ~70% probability

+9 shuttles above minimum ~80% probability

+17 shuttles above minimum ~90% probability

Strength and power also emerged as important contributors to occupationally relevant performance under load, with explosive lower‑body ability and upper‑body force production showing the strongest associations.

Interestingly, demographic characteristics did not predict outcomes. Age, height, weight, and sex had no meaningful influence once physical performance was accounted for.

These findings reinforce a simple operational truth - start with aerobic fitness!

Privileged to present at the European Police Trainer Conference in Nuremberg on Human-Systems integration and its critical link to fitness. Great to collaborate with the hosts, Polizeitrainer in Deutschland e.V. at this event that was held in conjunction with Enforce Tac.

Professor Rob Orr was honoured to present at the International Association of Chiefs of Police Officer Safety and Wellness Conference on behalf of the Tactical Research Unit. The presentation focussed on research informing one of our latest publications on police officer fitness (https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4663/13/7/219). Fellow authors, Jay Dawes, Robert Lockie, and Joe Dulla shared the panel which was artfully directed by Mandy Nice.

The TRU would like to congratulate our latest PhD graduates. Dr Graham Marvin (front left) and Dr Dustin Kidd (front right). Dr Marvin's thesis was on 'Understanding Cognitive and Physical Fatigue in Emergency First Responders' and Dr Kidd's thesis was on 'A Comparison of Overt and Covert Body Armour Systems'.

The Tactical Research Unit turns 10 and what a ride.  With a current capability of just 1.6 FTE (4 x 0.4 FTE) the work by the TRU has led to changes in training approaches and policies, equipment design, and veteran care. BUT all this could not have been done without a lot of support. While there is a long list, thanks are definitely due to Professor RODNEY POPE who was a cofounder of unit. Professor Helen Chenery who threw her full support behind our concept from the start and Professor Nick Zwar who has supported and guided the TRU's growth. To Professor Wayne Hing for the quiet guidance and mentorship and Professor Suzanne Gough for unwavering support and championing our cause. To Tanya Forbes who all our PhD students credit for their sanity and Peter Marendy who we credit for ours. Then comes our 250+ collaborators, foremost amongst the group are Dr Jay Dawes, Dr Robert Lockie, and Dr Filip Kukic. To the end users who got us started and kept pushing us to help their agencies Mick Stierli, Shane Irving, Richard Gorey, Charlie Kornhauser, Ryan Holmes, Joe Dulla, Jason Semple, Ben Hinton. To industry giants who fostered innovation and collaboration, most notably ADA (AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE APPAREL PTY LTD) and LEGEAR. To the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) for fostering learning in a tactical space. Finally, to the team Ben Schram, Elisa Canetti and Lizzie Marsh (Cooper) for the late nights, early mornings, and the copious burgers.

Another successful Tactical Research Unit Mini Congress held during Bond University's Research Week. 42 Delegates in person, 68 online (across 10 countries). Military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, paramedics, corrections, academics, researchers, and S&C coaches all in attendance. Special thanks to our keynote, Ex ADF PTI Michelle Peronne.

Tactical Research Unit back in the field: Dr Ben Schram & Dr Elisa Canetti went back in the field on trip two for this month to collect data in support of specialist police selection. Now comes the fun of grinding through all the data.

Professor Rob Orr was honoured to once again be part of ADA (AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE APPAREL PTY LTD)’s Capability and Innovation Day - a paradigm shifting way to enhance first responder outcomes with Industry, Academia and the end users (law enforcement, corrections, fire and rescue, ambulance / paramedics) all proving input and experiences - the Trident Approach.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/australian-defence-apparel-pty-ltd_cid20…

The Tactical Research Unit Rapid Fire Mini Congress held during Bond University's Research Week. This face-to-face and virtual conference is open to serving members and those working with tactical personnel including medical, allied health, academics, and administrators, and the wider research community.



More information can be found here: https://lnkd.in/gBtWd9Wk