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Stew Smith Fitness News — spec ops

Physical Assessment Tools for To and Through Spec Ops Selection

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Physical Assessment Tools for To and Through Spec Ops Selection

Work to Achieve These Scores / Times on the Following Events(Then - You MIGHT be Ready) Jeff Nichols and I recently did a Tactical Fitness Report on how we assess candidates throughout the process of training.  Not just as an initial assessment, but this chart can help you see where you meet up on the spectrum of training that will place you in the top 25% of candidates in spec ops selection programs.   The Tactical Fitness Report (video) The Charts and Exercise Standards of Selection Preparation TRAINING PROGRAMS FOR YOU - IT DEPENDS ON THE FOLLOWING:- your athletic history (sports/training...

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Why Embracing the Grind is Your Key to Special Ops Success

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Why Embracing the Grind is Your Key to Special Ops Success

Prepare for Selection and Life: The Best Tips from Stew Smith Fitness When preparing for a significant challenge, such as starting down the road to become a member of a special operations program, it's crucial to savor every step of the way. The path ahead is not just a test of your physical abilities but a true testament to your will and determination. In my own experience, which began at the United States Naval Academy and led to serving as a Navy SEAL, I quickly learned the necessity of embracing every part of the process. Even failure. While you'll face...

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The Basics - TO and THROUGH BUD/S

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The Basics - TO and THROUGH BUD/S

Your Quick-Start Guide for The Basics: Getting TO and THROUGH Selection There are three phases of tactical fitness and to get through BUDS you need to master only two of them. Many people miss one of more phases and quickly become an attrition statistic. Here they are:Phase 1 - Getting TO the Training - Qualifying for BUDS requires crushing the PST, but also passing MEPS (medical review), ASVAB, and other tests such as criminal records and finanicial checks (not in high debt).  Most of the attrition actually happens here due to people not qualifying for other reasons than physical fitness. Many...

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Preparing to Get THROUGH the Training (aka Graduate)

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Preparing to Get THROUGH the Training (aka Graduate)

Do Not Miss Out On What a Majority of Spec Ops Candidates Fail to Do(Train Specifically to Get Through BUD/S, Selection, etc..)  Many people focus simply on getting accepted into difficult programs but never consider that they should also be preparing themselves for the challenges of getting THROUGH the training. This requires specific focus and ALWAYS a level up in effort levels. Believe it or not, most people do not know, understand, or have ever experienced what they need to do to prepare themselves. Here's why I say that...  Most Spec Ops Candidates Think They Are Ready Because: Often military...

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CSS Help: The Sequence - Pull - Breathe - Kick - Glide (1 Mississippi - 2 Mississippi) Repeat...

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CSS Help: The Sequence - Pull - Breathe - Kick - Glide (1 Mississippi - 2 Mississippi) Repeat...

CSS Help: The Sequence "Pull - Breathe - Kick - Glide(1 Mississippi - 2 Mississippi - Pull) Repeat..." If you have ever watched my Instagram or Youtube CSS Critique videos and now TikTok CSS Videos, you may have heard me use this sequence of events that must occur in order to have an effective and efficient combat swimmer stroke.  This quote is nothing fancy, just what I say everyday when I teach someone new the Combat Swimmer Stroke. Once you master this sequence, we can then focus on building and maintaining the momentum from kicking off the wall using another common phrase: ...

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