Are You a Special Ops Recruit? Welcome to the Special Ops Journey

Going Into Special Operations Programs as a Candidate is Very Similar to this Ominous Picture:

It is dark. You can see the beginning of the path, but the unknown around the corner appears to be going up a steep hill and into a cold and dark winter storm.
Welcome to the Spec Ops Journey!

Prepare Smart or This Journey Can End Before it Even Starts

When you're preparing to join a military special operations program, you need to make sure you're as fully prepared by doing the hard work…not just interested in joining. You're embarking on a journey that will require intense physical, mental, and emotional toughness, and you need to be ready to take on the challenge. At some point in this journey, all you can do is get tougher.

Preparing properly for military special operations programs requires a great deal of dedication and hard work. You must be in peak physical and mental condition and have a strong sense of commitment to the task at hand because your desire will be tested and you need to have an answer WHY you still want to do this when the days turn dark, it is cold and wet and sandy, and there appears to be no end in sight to the evolution you are enduring. 

The first step in preparing for a special operations program is to get yourself in the best physical shape of your life. You'll need to develop power, strength, speed, agility, endurance (run, swim, ruck), muscle stamina, flexibility/mobility, and grip to complete the rigorous physical activities required to get both TO and THROUGH the training program (aka selection).

Next, you should get familiar with the military's physical fitness tests in the branch of service you are considering. These tests are designed to measure your physical abilities and evaluate your readiness for a special operations program. These initial tests are truly your entrance exam into training.

You'll want to start training for these tests early and practice the exercises until you can complete them with ease - even on a bad day. My advice is DO NOT even talk to a recruiter until you are crushing the fitness test that allows you to enter the gates of spec ops training (phase 1 of tactical fitness). THEN spend the remaining time you have before you actually start basic military training / boot camp focusing on the specific events of your selection (aka – phase 2 of tactical fitness – getting THROUGH the training).

Keep doing your research on your future profession. Once you've got your physical training in order, it's time to focus on the mental and academic aspect of special operations, though if you are training hard and training even when you don't feel like it, you are building the discipline and mental toughness you need.

You'll need to think quickly and clearly under pressure. You should begin studying up on tactics, strategies, and military history to stay sharp. Additionally, practice problem-solving and critical thinking exercises to help hone your mental skills. You should develop a thorough understanding of military culture and the regulations associated with special operations programs. You should familiarize yourself with the chain of command, military lingo, and the various regulations governing the conduct of members of the armed forces. Having a strong grasp of these concepts will help you to be better prepared for the intense training you’ll undergo.

Instead of setting an arbitrary timeline for joining, establish a performance starting line once you have achieved goals and objectives related to the program, which you regularly assess (see assessment tool). Once you meet these performance standards, it is time to join. This will help you avoid what most people who attend special ops training do – not be fully prepared. Additionally, it is important to learn to cope with stress and fatigue, as you will be more resilient to tough days and long nights of training you will encounter both during the program.

By taking the time to prepare for a special operations program, you'll ensure you're ready to take on the challenge. Get your body and mind in shape, and you'll be ready to take on anything the military throws your way! Time to get training...

Training is What We Do: 

Need Programming for Fitness Tests and Beyond?  We are all about getting you TO and THROUGH your future training program.  See how that works.  

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