Getting Into Military Shape

Off Topic
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Okay, so I’m a contracted ROTC cadet for the class of 2017 and the University of North Georgia. I’m still a senior in high school and leave for college on August 10. I also have a powerlifting meet during the second weekend of May. After my meet, I plan on taking a week off and then start training to be in “military shape.” This is confusing to me because I can’t run very well (only have a 7 minute mile) and don’t know what to do for lifting. As of right now, my plan is to follow a 12 week cycle of Westside for Skinny Bastards: Part III on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and then I’ll perform my own kind of PT on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which consists of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, a distance run, and sprints.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could/should do? Does my program sound like too much?

CS

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You could do 5/3/1 and just do the main lifts 4x a week, and do whatever stuff you need to do afterwards… be it BW circuit, crossfit WOD, hill sprints, etc.

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[quote]CSEagles1694 wrote:
Okay, so I’m a contracted ROTC cadet for the class of 2017 and the University of North Georgia. I’m still a senior in high school and leave for college on August 10. I also have a powerlifting meet during the second weekend of May. After my meet, I plan on taking a week off and then start training to be in “military shape.” This is confusing to me because I can’t run very well (only have a 7 minute mile) and don’t know what to do for lifting. As of right now, my plan is to follow a 12 week cycle of Westside for Skinny Bastards: Part III on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and then I’ll perform my own kind of PT on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which consists of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, a distance run, and sprints.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could/should do? Does my program sound like too much?

CS[/quote]

Hi, I am lurker that’s never had anything to add, but this I know.

The key is running, and it’s mixed running, like windsprints and jogs.

The actual test is a 2 mile run, pushups (real military pushups — which are good), and military style situps (which are stupid, but just learn them).

There are websites all over with how to do the pushups.

Start the running now, and shoot for 5 miles – not for the test, but for basic.

Do pushups, pullups, rope climbs, and running on broken ground (like trails if you have them).

Do windsprints until you puke.

Do this 6 days a week for 3 months and you will be a fucking star.

Oh, and one week before turn off your AC and sleep in your clothes.

I would not do combat skills trainng stuff, but a lot of local police departments have obstical courses that are 100% the same as military ones. Tell them you want to practice. My local cops had me out there with the swat team — they were really cool and impressed I wanted to do well.

Go to a gun smith (or a buddy) and learn how to field strip an AR-15 and put it back together. Tell them why you need to know this and they will help. If you have never shot a rifle, learn.

Learn how to make your bed — and sleep on the top.

There are all sorts of websites about each day of basic and the tricks they pull. Go to these and read them.

Keep eyes front; you’ll do fine.

4

I’d also point out that there are different kinds of “in shape” for the Army.

At the initial level, it’s all about endurance, etc. Later, in combat arms, strength matters.

You want to do well on the endurance stuff at the start, especially because you will presumably do basic early, then move on to the cool stuff.

This is very incompatable with power lifting, or at least I found it to be.

But later, it’s not.

Not sure if that made sense, but you need to re-ass you short term goals.

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If I was in your shoes I would personally do crossfit training. Starting after your week break in May. I know to some people here it is a bad thing. But, there are A LOT (thousands) of military service men and women that use it.

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[quote]CSEagles1694 wrote:
Okay, so I’m a contracted ROTC cadet for the class of 2017 and the University of North Georgia. I’m still a senior in high school and leave for college on August 10. I also have a powerlifting meet during the second weekend of May. After my meet, I plan on taking a week off and then start training to be in “military shape.” This is confusing to me because I can’t run very well (only have a 7 minute mile) and don’t know what to do for lifting. As of right now, my plan is to follow a 12 week cycle of Westside for Skinny Bastards: Part III on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday and then I’ll perform my own kind of PT on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, which consists of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, a distance run, and sprints.

Does anyone have any ideas as to what I could/should do? Does my program sound like too much?

CS[/quote]

http://militaryathlete.com/ Check out the Free Operator Sessions first. You are a strong kid and won’t have any issues with destroying the APFT after prioritizing the running for a few months. Honestly, I would prioritize grades before anything else, especially so considering that your major almost necessitates attending a tier one graduate school. Plan on graduating with a 3.8 GPA and start off strong in your undergraduate years.

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[quote]mbdix wrote:
If I was in your shoes I would personally do crossfit training. Starting after your week break in May. I know to some people here it is a bad thing. But, there are A LOT (thousands) of military service men and women that use it. [/quote]

Crossfit’s popularity doesn’t necessarily make it optimal for his goals. He needs something more structured and specifically crafted towards the operational requirements of military service.

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[quote]mbdix wrote:
If I was in your shoes I would personally do crossfit training. Starting after your week break in May. I know to some people here it is a bad thing. But, there are A LOT (thousands) of military service men and women that use it. [/quote]

That’s one of the most common responses that I’ve heard. There’s 3 different CrossFit gyms in my area, so I’ll have to check them out.

CS

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Lifting is not really needed for bootcamp, so just do it if you want… But you should be running, get a rucksack and fill it with some sand bags, do a shit ton of push ups and pull ups and calisthenics, You are going to lose weight in boot camp anyways.

In the long run if you are in the Marine Corps definitely at least try for Recon/MARSOC, I was never able to join due to a medical waiver but I don’t know why EVERYONE doesn’t at least try out once, far cooler then any other job in the military.

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[quote]cstratton2 wrote:
Lifting is not really needed for bootcamp, so just do it if you want… But you should be running, get a rucksack and fill it with some sand bags, do a shit ton of push ups and pull ups and calisthenics, You are going to lose weight in boot camp anyways.

In the long run if you are in the Marine Corps definitely at least try for Recon/MARSOC, I was never able to join due to a medical waiver but I don’t know why EVERYONE doesn’t at least try out once, far cooler then any other job in the military. [/quote]
Is he going to Basic though? He didn’t mention it so I assumed he was just going to do the standard ROTC PT 3x a week while at school.

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[quote]PB Andy wrote:

[quote]cstratton2 wrote:
Lifting is not really needed for bootcamp, so just do it if you want… But you should be running, get a rucksack and fill it with some sand bags, do a shit ton of push ups and pull ups and calisthenics, You are going to lose weight in boot camp anyways.

In the long run if you are in the Marine Corps definitely at least try for Recon/MARSOC, I was never able to join due to a medical waiver but I don’t know why EVERYONE doesn’t at least try out once, far cooler then any other job in the military. [/quote]
Is he going to Basic though? He didn’t mention it so I assumed he was just going to do the standard ROTC PT 3x a week while at school.[/quote]

I plan on joining the reserves while I’m in college, so yes, I might be going to basic.

CS

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The LRB blog had something posted on march 14 for exactly this

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[quote]Legionary wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
If I was in your shoes I would personally do crossfit training. Starting after your week break in May. I know to some people here it is a bad thing. But, there are A LOT (thousands) of military service men and women that use it. [/quote]

Crossfit’s popularity doesn’t necessarily make it optimal for his goals. He needs something more structured and specifically crafted towards the operational requirements of military service.[/quote]

I agree that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it is optimal. But countless real world military people have stated that crossfit has drastically helped them in becoming ‘military fit’. Are there more than one way to accomplish things? Yes.

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[quote]CSEagles1694 wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
If I was in your shoes I would personally do crossfit training. Starting after your week break in May. I know to some people here it is a bad thing. But, there are A LOT (thousands) of military service men and women that use it. [/quote]

That’s one of the most common responses that I’ve heard. There’s 3 different CrossFit gyms in my area, so I’ll have to check them out.

CS[/quote]

Good to hear. Choices are always a bonus.

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Your lifting is there you just need a good aerobic capacity.

Maybe for powerlifting is decrease the intensity and decrease the rest times to make it somewhat of a “cardio/crossfitt” style of training.

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[quote]mbdix wrote:

[quote]Legionary wrote:

[quote]mbdix wrote:
If I was in your shoes I would personally do crossfit training. Starting after your week break in May. I know to some people here it is a bad thing. But, there are A LOT (thousands) of military service men and women that use it. [/quote]

Crossfit’s popularity doesn’t necessarily make it optimal for his goals. He needs something more structured and specifically crafted towards the operational requirements of military service.[/quote]

I agree that just because something is popular doesn’t mean it is optimal. But countless real world military people have stated that crossfit has drastically helped them in becoming ‘military fit’. Are there more than one way to accomplish things? Yes. [/quote]

a marine buddy of mine has said a few times that crossfit type workouts are a common occurance … so there’s that

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Ask Evan to share the super soldier serum

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Austrian military shape?

Beer.

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[quote]orion wrote:
Austrian military shape?

Beer. [/quote]

The Bundeswehr doesn’t seem to have an issue balancing the two.

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Bulletproof shoulders and hips.
Injury prevention/flexibility, endurance, and strength in that order.
If you’re hurt you’re no good and the Army can’t use you.
Endurance. Most of what you will do at basic is punishment because morning PT is fucking lame. Most punishment PT CAPE or whatever they call it now to be politically correct is just exercise until they get bored or have something better to do. Which is bullshit because doing 100 squat jumps with no warm up is hell, but that is a realistic punishment. So stay stretched out and loose.
Being able to walk 12 miles in 3 hours honestly is more important than the runs. Running is easy, the long marches can be hell. Get combat boots and break em in walking.

If I could turn back time I would do yoga and hike after push ups and sit ups every morning.
It is the Army. Simple=good.