I think people can be a little heavier than the average, and drag a hose while wearing full fire gear just as good as the next guy. Look at the NFL, some of those big fat offensive lineman run sub-5 second 40’s.
Those NFL linemen are athletes. They can run and perform, don’t let their tubby looks deceive you.
They are quite different from your run of the mill overweight person who is hard pressed to run 20 yards.
I think these decisions they are making are criminal.
Criminal.
Back in my time in the weight rule wasn't there. I was 5'10" at 210 lbs and was One on One on the Fire Dept. I was number one nozzleman and pulled many a fire hose. I ran to lots of drills and a few fires fully geared up. I could climb from 6th deck to 010 level and be ready to go. You want the heavier guys on the hose team. For those who don't understand the Navy on a ship fights fires from a squatted position not standing. This is to prevent getting burned to a crisp. We also used two hoses Number One Hose for fighting the fire and Number Two Hose the gooseneck to be placed over One on Ones shoulders so he and the hose team stayed cooled and were safe.
I got out in 1980. I joined the Army National Guards in 1984 and the weight rules were in place. The lowest my weight got was 205 and I could still do the job which was onloading and offloading 155mm shells and drive the truck. Today? No, but I'm 57 and weigh in at 235 and I've lost 2" height.
I would be more worried about how much weight a sailor could carry then how much they way within reason. I knew lots of sailors who would not meet the requirements today but did their job daily. Oh and it wasn't from a lack of exercise LOL. Heavier guys came in handy when my shop had Freon Parties to onload 50 gallon barrels for the chillers.
There certainly are big, strong people that can perform remarkable feats.
I don’t think these rule change have anything to do with keeping them in. On the contrary - given this administrations record - I am certain these rules are about letting people in and keeping them in - that should have never been in uniform in the first place.