Mike Cacciola Jr.

Background

Mike is a member of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY), where he serves as an active member of Ladder Company 22 on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He is a member of Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of New York, IAFF Local 94. He was born and raised in New York, and has been with the department since 2013. In addition to his front-line role, Mike is also one of the department’s Peer Fitness Trainers, a member of the FDNY CPAT unit (which oversees CPAT training for FDNY fire fighter candidates), and a member of the FDNY ceremonial unit. He first became involved with the IAFF in 2015 when he became a certified PFT. As a new member of the instructor cadre he is looking forward to opening a new chapter in his career while forging new relationships with fire fighters across the United States and Canada. The thing Mike enjoys the most about working with fire fighters is the fact that all fire fighters, despite differences that may exist between them, can relate to each other. Fire fighting is a unique career. It’s extremely fulfilling while also being extremely difficult at times. For Mike, it is interesting to learn about the nuance and customs of other departments as it relates to fitness and wellness.

Activity Habits

Life outside of the fire service consists of spending as much time as possible with his wife Ashely and their newborn son, Michael III. Mike and his wife have a passion for travelling as well as exploring all of what NYC has to offer. Health and fitness also play a big role in his life outside of the fire service. Mike’s preferred activities include running outdoors, spinning on the Peleton, stair climbing, strength and resistance training and all things related to the beach. Occasionally, he will throw on his weighted vest and head to the 35-story high-rise near his firehouse and run stairs!

Mike’s motivation to be active lies in the challenge. He challenges himself to get better every day. Whether it’s running an extra mile, shaving seconds, or minutes off of a run, or adding that extra 10 pounds of resistance, Mike is always striving to improve. At the same time, he gets motivation from his desire to live a long and functional life as he gets older. Mike would love to one day be able to run around comfortably with his grandkids free from chronic ailments. The time constraints of life sometimes make it challenging for Mike to be as active as he would like. Also adding to the challenge, is the fact that he is rarely able to sleep during his 24-hour tours. Consistency, is key though, he finds. Sometimes it just takes a little extra intrinsic motivation to get through a workout and over time a habit is formed.

Perspectives on F2T and fire fighter wellness and fitness

In Mike’s opinion, the F2T program is unique because fire fighters are instructing and guiding other fire fighters. When the instructor can directly relate to the job and lifestyle of a fire fighter, he or she is better able to communicate the key fundamentals of the program. He also believes that the program is extremely comprehensive when it comes to developing and supporting all aspects of wellness, which is important for addressing the difficulties associated with the job of a modern fire fighter. For Mike, the F2T program adds value to fire fighters and departments because it provides not only fitness education but also puts a focus on overall wellness. The program provides a wealth of information for departments regardless of size, and gives members the needed tools to navigate their wellness journey and reach their goals in a thorough manner.

The one thing Mike would tell fighters and departments is that the F2T program is geared towards every fire fighter no matter what skill level he or she possesses. It’s for all members regardless of knowledge, ability, age or fitness level. It can also be tailored to suit the needs, characteristics and/or constraints of any department whether they are made up of 50 members or 15,000 members. He would advise fire fighters thinking about investing in their wellness and fitness that it is never too late to start. No goal is ever too small. Mike stands firm in his belief that the willingness to make a change for the better is an indispensable first step in achieving a sustainable and enjoyable lifestyle.