You Sir are fucking awesome.
I don’t think have ever had an adrenaline rush from reading an article… until now.
I can’t wait to get off work and throw around something heavy!
And thank you for serving!
Thank you for those awesome words.
When I think of my brother in Iraq, a GySgt in Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children, fighting in 120 degree weather with tango all over the place I get embarrassed at the thought of stopping before another set.
If I stop because I feel tired I piss on our fighting men and women. When I decide to “take it easy” in the rack I piss on all those guys in BUD/S who fucking want to take on some of the most dangerous missions. Every time I don’t focus my mind on the weight pile I piss on the memory of men, real men like Chesty and Patches Watson.
If I bargain with myself about the intensity of the weight or the reps, I piss on the t-vixen marine who could kill the average man with her bare hands. When I choose to stay off the weights for a time, I piss on their training that makes the average BB or PL look like a pussy workout. Today I only felt like doing some floor presses, I pissed on my brother who may not come home.
Now, I’ve got no excuses. Thanks for kicking me in the ass! I’m off for an afternoon of sled dragging! THANK YOU FOR SERVING!!!
Outstanding writing. Thank you for your service to our country. I hope most of your men have the same thoughts.
“I’ll shoot myself to go to St. Peter’s pearly gates and find the SOB who didn’t pay attention in my class so I can personally boot stomp his ass for eternity.”
My favorite part.
Great stuff. And thanks for your service. We all sleep a little better knowing we have guys like you on the job.
My friend that was some of the best writing’s that I have heard in a while.
My friend that was some of the best writing’s that I have heard in a while.
[quote]derek wrote:
Maybe a typical(?) training week?
Whatever you have time for. New perspectives are ALWAYS good.
[/quote]
Hmmm…I hate to post a typical training week because I don’t really have one as my goals are constantly fluctuating depending on op tempo and other stuff. Sorry! However I will do this:
I’ll post a more common pressing workout, pulling workout, and my reasonings, then let you take it from there…sound cool?
I have horrible pressing strength, so I like to press as much as possible as often as possible, in as many ways as possible to build on this deficiency. Based on my operational needs at the time, I’ll prioritize a plane of movement and hit it 2 times a week, saving a third day for the other plane.
Horizontal pressing looks like this for me:
DB Press 12-15x3-5
Explosive Shrug 5x3
Weighted Decline Situp 5x3
Russian Twists 3x3
I use the DBs most often because it’s the most unstable and thus, most similar to combat. I also like to do it using alternating arms for that same reason…it’s cool in a funky way.
Vertical Pressing looks like this:
Weighted Dips 10-12x3-5 (or overhead DB presses at the same set/rep scheme)
Weighted Chin ups 8x3-5
Bodyweight Dips 3x6 for speed
Decline sit up 3x25 alternating with leg raises
Pulling workouts are typically between Overhand Deadlifts and Weighted Pullups both at 5-8x3-5…usually, and are done 2x weekly. I typically don?t do ab-specific training on my pulling days.
For leg workouts(prior to injury) I used to adhere to a TON of ruck marching(1-3x weekly), squats, and lunges. Usually it’d be:
-Squats 10x3-5
-Bodyweight lunges around a room for 3 minutes
-Static “horse” stance for 3 minutes or twisting dragon movements for 3 minutes.
That right there is the cornerstone of my “typical” workout regimen. I’ll rotate arm stuff, and other supplemental exercises based on the job I’m filling (gunner/PSD/trainer?). There are also other workouts/programs I have for lactic acid training, PT test prep, and other random stuff.
For energy system training, I like to pull from a kickboxer style workout and do 10-15, 3min rounds of rotating bag work, calisthenics/bodyweight moves, and mat drills(rolls, crab walks, etc). This is done 2-3x weekly.
In addition to this, I do (again, before getting hurt) Army PT 5 days a week in the morning which is usually various grip pullups, situps, pushups, sprints, grass drills, and 3-5 mile runs(not jogging- RUNNING). I also stretch every day, shoot and do combat drills 2x weekly, and study some martial art or other 2-3x weekly. Don’t ask where I get the time because I still don’t know (Thank god for Spike and coffee).
I rarely use creatine, but I chug protein, and take Spike as I need it depending on the op/training tempo for the week/month.
These are not the best workouts in the world, nor are they all that complete, but it?s what I?ve found to work for me, with my erratic schedule. I also know there is huge variety in the programs utilized by other service members; some using nothing but Kettlebells, and others swearing by bodyweight stuff. Just depends on your needs and background. I don?t think my workouts are anything special or overly great, it?s the mindset I adhere to while doing it that sets me apart from the crowd. I also like to keep a lot of flexibility in my training plans as my time requirements and equipment options vary quite often- sandbags/rifle PT anyone 
Hope that gives you an idea. I?d like to start a thread on military specific training in the near future as that is very near and dear to my heart. So maybe when I get time to actually put something decent together, I?ll post that and see what kind of programs T-Nation can put together for our men and women in green.
-B
Thanks for all the words of encouragement everybody. I appreciate it a lot. Bit of a tough crowd around here so that’s awesome. I’m in the process of hanging up my helmet and boots, so I’m working to get some of my lessons and ideas passed on to the newer generation of janes and joes before I move on for good. I’ll try to make sure some of that happens in front of a computer again and spread it here, if you all don’t mind. At least until I get a new job that is Hopefully next time I’ll actually give some time to the writing and not make it so “spur of the moment.” In the meantime, KATN!
-B
That’s great, B.
I’m still working on a method to make “machines” out of ordinary people.
I figure there’s got to be way to “do it all”.
To run, fight, lift, carry, sprint, jump, climb etc., etc. faster ans better than anyone you normally run into.
It’ll probably take 7 days/week training with PT, weights, strongman and a heavybag to do it.
Keep us posted.
derek
Let me jump on the bandwagon here and say that was a terrific post. Very motivating.
One of those posts that I’m sure to reread every now and then.
Nice post. Good to see some literacy combined with intensity.
Inspiring words. Thanks for sharing.
[quote]derek wrote:
That’s great, B.
I’m still working on a method to make “machines” out of ordinary people.
I figure there’s got to be way to “do it all”.
To run, fight, lift, carry, sprint, jump, climb etc., etc. faster ans better than anyone you normally run into.
It’ll probably take 7 days/week training with PT, weights, strongman and a heavybag to do it.
Keep us posted.
derek
[/quote]
From what I’ve seen, the most important training factor in turning people into machines is psychological conditioning. The rest is important in developing the quality of machine. This is why I stress the desired mental state at every possible point I can in training. When I’m teaching non-front lines soldiers CQB, I always take them to the extreme first, and then pull back later because it creates a mental state that is necessary to actually make the training work “out there.”
BUD/S, SFAS, and all the other SpecOps evaluation programs are designed to not only test, but reinforce the intestinal fortitude and aggressiveness needed to succeed at the levels these guys work at.
Some of my trainees have asked me how it is I keep going in a fight with a guy who outweighs me by 35lbs, when I’m bleeding and sore from 72 hours of training. ’
The answer is that pain is psychological. If you can learn to move past it, it can’t control you. This is how Frank Shamrock continued to train with a fractured leg, and I continued to work with a (literally) broken knee. There are stories of men and women defeating their opponents after being shot and stabbed. One of my favorites is of a woman who walked MILES to find help after being raped, beaten and stabbed multiple times. If that’s not heart, I don’t know what is.
In order to get anybody to train at the levels we ask of people who need to be machines, it is necessary to first build heart, desire, and endurance. The rest is cake comparatively. But still highly important
Just my two pesos amigo.
-B
P.S. What kind of work do you do that you are trying to make mortals into machines?
[quote]blondeguy wrote:
derek wrote:
From what I’ve seen, the most important training factor in turning people into machines is psychological conditioning.
P.S. What kind of work do you do that you are trying to make mortals into machines?[/quote]
I’m a Strength Coach here in MA.
What I enjoy most about what I do is take ordinary people (especially untrained women) and make them able to do things they NEVER even imagined just weeks/months before.
Most of the women I work with LOVE the strongman equipment and the heavybag.
The look on the face of a 50 y/o woman who completes her first “medley” consisting of a tire flip, sled drag, keg/waiters walk, sand bag carry and load and farmers walk is very satisfying.
And I don’t mean to say I can enter them in SEAL training but it’s soo much more than they’ve EVER accomplished physically.
As for myself, I’m in a bit of a quandry. I’ve done the “big” thing. I’ve reached my goal of squatting 500 raw. I’ve pulled 640. Now, I’m wondering what it’d be like to be more “fit”. Not to the levels of SpecOps or anything, but more of a “Swiss Army Knife” can-do-ANYTHING athlete.
But you’re right on about the mental side of the equation. Without the drive to be great, all the training in the world is useless.
Blondeguy,
For God’s sake don’t leave! We need more of the old school Drill’s with attitude like yours to stay around. Excellent article.
God’s speed & give 'em hell.
Awesome post!
[quote]fos121 wrote:
Blondeguy,
For God’s sake don’t leave! We need more of the old school Drill’s with attitude like yours to stay around. Excellent article.
God’s speed & give 'em hell.[/quote]
Thanks buddy. Unfortunatley, this decision is not mine to make anymore. Uncle Sam says I have to move on to gentler living. But have no fear, there will always be better men and women than myself to keep our warfighters on the right path.
One of the Non-commissioned officers who took the time to educate me as a private once said that the job of an NCO is to propagate the knowledge of those who came before them, in order to pass it to the generation that comes after them. I figure that beyond the knowledge, we need to pass on the spirit of those who came before us- the warior mentality that built our military in the first place.
This, more than anything, is the most important piece of our legacy we can give to our younger soldiers. I could go on for pages about the deterioration of the NCO corps and the military in general, but I won’t here. Instead, I figure that although I may be about done, I’ve still got 45 more training days to ensure that my bootprint is permanently branded on those staying behind so that they might come back from battle victorious. Can you say, “pushups”?
Now if I can just figure out what to do with myself on “the outside”… maybe I can take up basket weaving or something. Thanks again for the kudos.
-B