Stew Smith Fitness News

Many will argue about whether or not you are genetically wired to handle colder temperatures or can you build your stamina in lower temperatures by training in colder environment (water or land). I believe it is a little bit of both. When I was attending SEAL Training, the water off San Diego was brutal to new recruits. Typically, water temperatures at best were 69 degrees during the warmest of the summer and dropped in the low 50’s in the winter. Then in dive phase, at about 15 feet underwater, you would hit a thermo-cline and water temperature was in the...

People often ask me how I personally trained for SEAL training before there were movies, books, and websites helping people prepare. As a former power- lifting football player, what I thought was in shape for military training - was not. I soon learned after arrival at the Naval Academy at age 18 that I was out of military shape. The email below brought back memories of my transition. Here is an email from a young man seeking to become a Navy SEAL but is a college football and power lifter. He asks, "Right now my run and swim times are...

On several dates in 2008-09 on the National Geographic Channel Fight Science – Special Ops Episode, you will see the effects of body core temperature in both extremes (high and low body core temperatures) and how science is able to manage them both. By definition:Hyperthermia is abnormally high body temperature. It can be due to exposure to extreme temperatures, high humidity, and heavy work loads. . Heat related injuries are more common than ever now due to high levels of exertion in desert combat areas with heavy insulation of protective gear. In the extreme, hyperthermia can result in heat stroke...

The Navy SEAL and Air Force PJ Drown-Proofing Test is a tough one and will either instill water confidence or terrify a student out of the program. Before I even mention the question, please do not EVER tie yourself with hands behind your back and feet together and jump in a pool prior to joining the military. You can practice simulating this test and if you have a tough time keeping your feet together you can use a rubber band to remind you your feet cannot separate during the test. BUT - do not do this for real and especially...

There are two different types of training you must be prepared for in order to become a member of special operations of any branch of service. First, the entrance fitness test, which is typically a test of calisthenics, running and maybe swimming depending upon the branch of service. Statistics show that scoring well above the minimum standards on these type of "physical entrance exams" increases your chances of graduating from 6% up to 85%. Second, there are follow-on training cycles which were commonly referred to as Combat Conditioning Courses that are more job related tasks such as shooting, rucking, swimming...