How important are the specific numbers provided with some Physical Factors (e.g., carry a stretcher 750 meters)?
They have value as guidelines only. The description of a task without specific numbers would not have been very useful to CFMS personnel. That is why the first five Physical Factors include quite specific numbers. These numbers come from an extensive validation study that has been conducted, over the last ten years, by a team of specialists in sports medicine and exercise physiology. This study has included regular and frequent discussions with high level personnel in the three military environments. The information and pictures of Appendix 2 to this Annex also come from this study. Since CFMS personnel do not actually have to test CF members for these tasks, these numbers are only provided to CFMS personnel to give them a general idea and a better understanding of what is expected of members performing these tasks.
