Stew Smith Fitness News

Many people confuse the training programs groups like active duty Special Ops perform to maintain their fitness levels for the demands of the profession with how they prepare for challenging schools like BUD/S, SFAS / SFQC, and PJ training to name a few. Here is a question to better describe a very common issue with candidate training program selection: Stew, I have been watching some Youtube videos showing active duty special ops guys working out like SEALs, Rangers, SF, and others.  They are huge and lifting very heavy weights so I have been lifting more and doing less cardio.  Is...

I love getting email questions that require me to think and recall over the years some of my experiences to share.  These questions are from a future SOF candidate, who asks a simple question, “Why is the attrition rate so high?”  Here is his specifics: I was curious Stew, why are the attrition rates for SOF so high? It seems that to get into any SOF training program you have to pass a physical examination to show you can handle training, academic tests, and reach a pretty high level of fitness. Therefore; all those who start should technically be able...

A recent training opportunity with a high school baseball team allowed me to develop a challenge week with their coach.  Not only was the Challenge Test a team building gut check, but it had a system built in that helped calculate overall winners.  This system is the very same method we have used for decades to determine a total score in a physical screening test within the Special Ops community.  This allows for the selection board to determine who has the overall best score as well as the winners in individual events.  The screening test we use for Navy SEAL...

Book - Tactical Fitness - For the Heroes of Tomorrow / Today! Tactical Fitness is a new fitness genre, which I personally define as: The ability to perform military, police, fire fighting and other personal survival-related skills, such as running, rucking, swimming, buddy rescue,  climbing, jumping, and equipment carry, which require full-body strength, muscle coordination, stamina, speed, agility, and cardiovascular conditioning. Tactical Fitness primarily applies and refers to the type of fitness needed to assist active duty military, law enforcement, fire fighters, and other first responders.  However, it also applies to those seeking the first responder professions.  We call them...

    Why Military and Police Officers are Switching to Speed and Agility Training Achieving a high level of physical fitness is crucial for anyone pursuing a career in the military, law enforcement, or special operations. Standard tests that once focused on pushups, situps, and long-distance runs are now becoming more dynamic, requiring speed, agility, and combat conditioning. These changes reflect the evolving demands of tactical institutions for well-rounded, versatile individuals who can quickly adapt to various scenarios. Changes That You Cannot Ignore - Tactical fitness tests are evolving to focus on speed, agility, and combat conditioning, shifting away from...