Stew Smith Fitness News

 Thanks for Choosing to Serve!Now, Are You Ready? Throughout the decades of writing about military fitness, I have observed recruitment ebb and flow in response to various situations. Before 2000, the economy was booming and a military down sizing caused a tightening in recruitment. After 9-11, 2001, people wanted to serve at above-average rates as a call of patriotism and to defend against future attacks. When the economy suffers and unemployment is high, recruitment tends to increase. When the economy is strong, recruitment tends to decrease. A 20-year war did not help recruitment (final 10 years). COVID hurt recruitment. The...

What Training Program is Right for Me? (Book, eBook, Online Coaching?) This is a very common question and the answer is always - "IT DEPENDS." It depends on your scores compared to other successful students.  See the Assessment Tool to Make it To and Through Selection and see where you stack up with all the elements of fitness - not just a PST score.  Assess your weaknesses, as they will likely be exposed during your first PST and especially during your first day of selection.  Typical Transitions of Weaknesses That Must Occur Special Ops Selection is specifically designed to expose weaknesses, and...

  Typical Errors and Corrections with the Combat Swimmer Stroke   1 – Kick off the wall – Kick off hard like you are trying to jump and grab the rim of a basketball hoop – just horizontally in this case. Stay streamlined with hands interlocked and biceps on your ears.  Hold the glide off the wall for about 4-5 seconds, add in a double arm pull, kick and recover your arms over the head – hold that glide for a few seconds.  THEN start your stroke (top arm pull…See #8 for full sequence)       ~ search “breast stroke pullout” for...

Being a Good Team Player - What Does That Mean? When asked recently about the most important "non-physical" trait someone who is about to attend BUD/S or any other Special Ops selection program should have, it took a minute to decide on the "most important." Sure, you need mental toughness, a never-quit attitude, and must be hard physically, but the most important non-physical trait is being a TEAM PLAYER. Additionally, being coachable is another trait that comes in a close second.  Of course, there are individual challenges and tests that you alone must conquer, but no one makes it through any selection...

What is Rucking?  Many people seeking jobs and training for challenging tactical schools (even events like Bataan or GoRuck) will realize they need to start preparing for rucking at some point. What is a Ruck? Great Question - This article tackled some of the training / pacing strategies that you should consider as you progress into rucking. But, what is a good way to go from Couch to 5km when that 5km requires rucking? Or if you are joining the Army and know you have to run 2 miles timed and perform several miles 6-12 miles with 40-50lbs while in training...