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Training for Military Professionals

January 19, 2007 Send this Article to a FriendPrint This Article

Being a Marine (or being in any other service) requires top physical condition. Everyone in your unit is counting on you, and being in shape is the only way to ensure you are physically capable of helping a buddy in need.

I was in the Marine Corp for over seven years, and since everyone in my unit counted on me, I developed my own workout routine to make sure I was always in top shape and ready to help my unit.

Current practice
During my time in the Marine Corp, I experienced many different types of training, including boot camp, Marine Combat Training, winter mountain warfare, water survival instructor course, Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP) and of course unit Physical Training (PT).

The main component of all of these courses is endurance, such as long slow distance training, long cross country ski marches, 1000 meter swims, and formation runs. MCMAP was an exception to the rule. In this training, we often used our partner to provide resistance.

Because the variety of tasks performed by military personnel vary on a daily basis, I recommend adding strength and conditioning training for anyone in the military.

The Demands
Military personnel have to train for a variety of tasks, such as: marching for many miles or even many days with a full combat load sprinting through a series of fire team rushes to get to a target, and the strength and power demands of hand to hand combat. And this is just to name a few of the tasks requiring excellence in fitness.

The main component of military fitness is strength endurance. However, the other aspects of strength cannot be ignored. Max strength is important, some military gear is very heavy, and so are people when you have to carry or drag them out of danger. Power is important for hand to hand combat, jumping over obstacles and sprinting. In the military, you really need to be physically prepared to do anything.

Strength and Conditioning
Formation runs should not be abandoned altogether as they do build aerobic endurance and esprit de corps. You should also have a timed run as part of most physical fitness tests.

The majority of your training should be devoted to circuits using a mixture of weighted and body weight exercises. The circuits should be 2 to 5 exercises, each working on a different part of the body, for example you can alternate upper body and lower body exercises. That way you can build strength and keep your heart rate up and improve your endurance. The obstacle course is also good for this. Some days should be used to work on maximum strength. Use 1 to 5 repetitions and partials (link to partials article here).

Sprinting different distances should be incorporated. Be sure to vary the rest periods. Ruck marches (fast hike with full gear) are also a useful form of conditioning.

Injuries
All types of injuries are possible. From all of the marching and running some people develop stress fractures or sprain their ankles. There is a chance for scrapes and lacerations from falling to the ground during fire team rushes. You might strain you back lifting something heavy and awkward, like a 50 cal or your buddy. Stretching, massage and proper nutrition and proper rest (when possible) will help prevent these types of injuries.

The Bottom Line
You need to combine super-human endurance with super-human strength. Endurance is important, but don’t neglect the other aspects of strength. Train smart and train hard. Oorah!!
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