How to Jump the 3 Foot PARE Test Vault

This post is for everyone who fears or has trouble with the 3 foot vault. Or both.  If you can clear it, this article ain’t for you.

Jumping over a 3 foot wall, barrier, fence, or 3 foot anything gives many people trouble. I’ve even seen those who can clearly jump it still have anxiety issues with it.

Why is that?

It’s part psychological and part physical. But it is largely psychological.

Here’s a little overview of the vault if you’re not familiar with it:

- The vault is the last obstacle on each lap of the course

- You can clear the vault any way you can: jump over it, climb over it, crawl over it, it doesn’t matter as long as you get over it

- What does matter is you land in control on the other side

- Once over, you must perform either a front fall or a back fall, which is barked out by the PARE test administrator as you approach the vault

As I mentioned, you can get over the vault however way you can. Here are some examples:

But considering time is of the essence, doing whatever it takes may not always be the best course of action. You need to be as fast as you can. And some jumps are faster than others. Learning how to get over it quickly and efficiently is key.

Before you can learn the most efficient way of getting over, you have to build a solid foundation. And that foundation starts in your head.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE

You need to conquer your fears, or your fears will conquer you. Being scared is not going to get you anywhere.

But of course, that’s easier said than done. I could tell you til I’m blue in the face that there’s nothing to fear. And there really isn’t, but in your mind there will be.

So what’s the first step in building confidence? Let me lay out for you:

1) Strength Training

There’s no greater confidence builder than getting stronger. When you feel like The Hulk, you feel like you can take on the world

To get stronger, you have to drop those light weights. You are training for STRENGTH, which means lifting heavy weights and pushing them around like it’s nobody’s business.

No more high rep, low weight strength routines, you have to lift appreciably heavy weights for less reps. When strength training, you are doing it to increase performance, not to look good (although you can still look good aesthetically when training for performance). It doesn’t matter what you look like for the test, all that matters is that you can perform.

(As a quick aside, I was at a training session for applicants and I saw a lady who was about 5’ in height, and probably 20-30 lbs overweight. And yet when she ran the course she blew everyone away, even the people half her size. She was running the laps with ease and tackling the vault like it was nothing. Appearances can be deceiving.)

Heavy lifting will develop stronger and more powerful legs, ingredients necessary for a better vault jump.

Two very important strength exercises are the deadlift and squats. Now, before you start lifting heavy, do make sure you have very good technique for both the deadlift and squat (but really, you should have good technique in everything you do). These two lifts are more technical than people realize, especially the deadlift. If you’re not doing them right, you’re in for a world of hurt, like this guy will be if he continues deadlifting with that form:

In terms of reps and sets for both, you’re generally looking at 3-6 sets of 4-8 reps. And because you’re lifting heavy, you want to make sure you get good rest time between sets, about 2-3 min of rest.

2) Practice Practice Practice

You know what they say, practice makes perfect. And practicing the vault jump as often as you can will help you in the end. When doing this in concurrence with strength training, you will see improvements.

I mentioned that, for the most part, it doesn’t matter how you jump over the vault, as long as you get over it. Watch the video above to see the different ways again. There are some better than others, and typically the one foot method or both feet swinging over are the fastest ways of jumping. But of course not many can do the one foot method or both feet swinging. If you did you wouldn’t be reading this right now.

Find the fastest way possible for you at your current abilities. Continue to learn the best methods, but practice those methods at a lower height first. As strength improves, and your proficiency improves at the lower heights, you can try practicing them at higher heights.

If you know someone who can build you a vault, great! Ask them (politely of course) to help build you a vault, preferably one that is adjustable. If not, ask anyway as it will be handy to have.

If you’re not fortunate to know a handyman, the next best thing is having access to an aerobic step and risers. 

You can set them up at the adjustable heights: 2’6’, 2’8”, 2’10”, all the way to 3’. The step adds 2-4", and each riser is 2". Do measure the height with a measuring tape to get the rough height. 

As you improve at one height and are able to clear it with ease using whatever method you deem comfortable, then move on to the next height. Keep moving up until you hit 3 feet.

If you’re out of luck and can’t have a vault built nor have access to steps and risers, then you find whatever you can to help simulate the vault. You can go to a playground and try to find something there. Concrete medium barriers may be good examples to use (at least for lower heights). Construction barriers may be another alternative, just make sure to use it when there’s no construction happening.

Do whatever it takes to practice on a vault. If that means using the scissor method, then use the scissor method. Build yourself up to the point where you can at least arc over the vault.

Bonus: Jump Training

Jump training (better known as plyometrics), takes the strength gained from the heavy lifting and allows you to better utilize it for quick and powerful movements. And the vault requires a quick and powerful movement in order to jump over well.

Here are some jump training exercises to help you bounce around like a kangaroo:

BOX JUMPS

JUMP SQUATS

SPLIT JUMPS

HURDLE JUMPS

TUCK JUMPS

Not all have to be incorporated. Choose one, two max, to perform in a training session. And not very many sets and reps need to be done. Two to three sets of 5-8 jumps is sufficient. A good time to perform jump training is after the warm-up and before the first main set.

These jumps are meant to be done explosively and with the intent of getting up as high as you can. This is the same intent you want with the vault.

Yes, the vault can be scary. But what’s scarier: an inanimate object that doesn’t fight back, or a dude twice your size ready to pummel you into a bloody pulp? In the end, there’s nothing to be afraid of.

It may take you 2 weeks to become comfortable and proficient with the vault, it may take you 2 months. However long it takes you, make sure to get yourself strong and practice lots. Don’t let fear deter you from becoming an officer. If you truly want it, you will do whatever it takes to reach your dreams.