Is PT a part of your personal firearms defense strategy?
- Thread starter Will Beararms
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spacecoast
New member
Directly, probably not much, but it implies a level of fitness and personal responsibility that should be a part of every service member's life (same applies to firemen/women, paramedics, LEOs, etc.) Being able to run 3 miles (or alternatively, 30 minutes without stopping) is not that big a deal, no matter if you are 15 or 65. For those whose knees preclude running, there are other ways of demonstrating a similar level of fitness.
After 23 years I have yet to see a single soldier run three miles, unarmed, unequipped wearing gym shorts and a T-shirt through a battle. Maybe it happened in that old army.
A much better indicator of performance would be a 12 mile march with full kit, weapon and ruck sack. Also a test that indicated what soldiers could do in short bursts, such as rushing a building, clearing a room, capturing an enemy. These things would be much more important than jogging three miles.
Sorry for the detour.
What I am trying to get at is that new PT test (which there is a lot more of than indicated here) is designed around short bursts of high energy activity and not slower long haul activity. This is a much more useful type of measurement of performance under stress.
A much better indicator of performance would be a 12 mile march with full kit, weapon and ruck sack. Also a test that indicated what soldiers could do in short bursts, such as rushing a building, clearing a room, capturing an enemy. These things would be much more important than jogging three miles.
Sorry for the detour.
What I am trying to get at is that new PT test (which there is a lot more of than indicated here) is designed around short bursts of high energy activity and not slower long haul activity. This is a much more useful type of measurement of performance under stress.
Firearms, and PT, are but two parts of my overall health and well-being strategy.
Run, swim, lift, play sports, eat right, get plenty of rest. Laugh often and be happy.
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For those questioning the logic behind the Army PFT, I suggest browsing FM 25-100, FM 21-10, and FM 7-0.
Although the above post hit the nail on the head.
For "Soldier/NCO of the Command/Year/etc" they do include many skill-based tests, in addition to a basic PFT, weapon certification, and a grilling panel interview with Senior NCOs.
Many law enforcement agencies (granted they operate differently) have gone to shorter "long" runs and more burst events. For example, the current FBI PFT includes a minute of max situps, 300m sprint, maximum untimed pushups, and a 1.5 mile run, with max pullups for HRT candidates. There's a minimum requirement, but it's just that, the bare minimum to scrape through.
I've seen some agencies including shuttle runs and other measures of physical fitness, agility, and overall athleticism.
Run, swim, lift, play sports, eat right, get plenty of rest. Laugh often and be happy.
****************************************
For those questioning the logic behind the Army PFT, I suggest browsing FM 25-100, FM 21-10, and FM 7-0.
Although the above post hit the nail on the head.
For "Soldier/NCO of the Command/Year/etc" they do include many skill-based tests, in addition to a basic PFT, weapon certification, and a grilling panel interview with Senior NCOs.
Many law enforcement agencies (granted they operate differently) have gone to shorter "long" runs and more burst events. For example, the current FBI PFT includes a minute of max situps, 300m sprint, maximum untimed pushups, and a 1.5 mile run, with max pullups for HRT candidates. There's a minimum requirement, but it's just that, the bare minimum to scrape through.
I've seen some agencies including shuttle runs and other measures of physical fitness, agility, and overall athleticism.
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TeamSinglestack
New member
Neither long runs, intensive training, or equipment are required for individual fitness, and even 30 minutes a day is enough to develop or maintain healthy muscle tone and cardio conditioning.
I can't speak for the Corps, but in the Army, the tail wags the dog. The overwhelming majority of Army individuals hold specialties that do NOT require the physical and mental toughness required of fighters, so rather than set standards that would accommodate the limited number of fighters, the Army opts to set their standards for those that "fight" from behind the walls of a FOB, or in an office / TOC behind a computer screen.
Seeing as how fire and maneuver is the concept pretty much EVERY offensive military operation is based on, I would say running would fall into the "maneuver" part of that concept.
Running the short distance required of the Army, and the Corps, demonstrates a BASIC level of cardio fitness that can more easily be built on to perform the more demanding tasks of combat. Long range movements and foot patrols in difficult terrain, under a load, are much easier to perform, adapt to, and recover from, when individuals have a good foundation established through running.
This foundation also supports an assaulters' ability to maneuver to positions of advantage that allow him to close with and destroy enemy positions. Troops can only carry so much ammo, and can sustain fire for a relatively limited amount of time, so it becomes crucial that a maneuver element is capable of moving to a new assault OR support position as fast as possible. That means RUNNING.
While most of the military will NEVER have to fire and maneuver due to having non-combat duty positions, those of us that did / do will need to have the leg and cardio strength and endurance that "running three miles" helps to build and maintain. Running helps to set the conditions for success and survival on the battle field (not the FOB/TOC/motor pool/aid station), and THAT has a LOT to do with combat and military service, whether anyone realizes it or not.
For those who say they don't have the time, look up a gentleman by the name of David Goggins.
33 years old.
Full time, he's a Navy SEAL.
He's married with a family.
In his SPARE time, he runs ultra marathons (100 and 150 miles), performs 500-mile bike rides, and does other extreme endurance sports. This was after he quit being a powerlifter, and lost a ton of weight.
Now, what excuses do you have?
33 years old.
Full time, he's a Navy SEAL.
He's married with a family.
In his SPARE time, he runs ultra marathons (100 and 150 miles), performs 500-mile bike rides, and does other extreme endurance sports. This was after he quit being a powerlifter, and lost a ton of weight.
Now, what excuses do you have?
I was involved in a serious car accident once, and the injuries left me with some serious physical limitations. Fortunately, my quality of life is good, but I won't last long in a hand-to-hand confrontation.
As such, I've had to change strategies. I have prior training in Aikido (which doesn't place much emphasis on strength), and some of those techniques are viable, but for the most part, I'll be more heavily dependent on a firearm should things go that terribly.
Those three cups of coffee a day do grant me catlike reflexes, however.
As such, I've had to change strategies. I have prior training in Aikido (which doesn't place much emphasis on strength), and some of those techniques are viable, but for the most part, I'll be more heavily dependent on a firearm should things go that terribly.
Those three cups of coffee a day do grant me catlike reflexes, however.
The ability to run three miles is a start but hardly enough. In AIT 5 miles is a standard run and you will run further. Don't worry if you are out of shape, after boot camp, you won't be. If you are a Marine, an Infantry man or a Navy corpsman; you will then go to advanced infantry training(ait) after that you will have little trouble running 3 miles or 5 miles; assuming you are healthy of course. So what does running three miles have to do with the military? Nothing if you are lucky enough to avoid deployment over-seas; everything if you aren't!
zenshooter
Inactive
Definitely PT helps, imo.
Especially cardio since it makes the heart more efficient, beating less during rest and shooting sport times. The breath becomes calmer, which can also improve shooting scores.
I do running, bicycling, stairclimbing.
Especially cardio since it makes the heart more efficient, beating less during rest and shooting sport times. The breath becomes calmer, which can also improve shooting scores.
I do running, bicycling, stairclimbing.
Since we are talking about quick and efficient workouts, now...
... there's a book I'll recommend. An acquaintance of mine wrote it, and it's been selling well. It's about how to workout with virtually no equipment, using bodyweight and household / hotel room furniture. There are two or three exercises that would require light dumbbells, or similar, but the vast majority of exercises in the book require little more than the right attitude.
http://www.marklauren.com/
For background, Mark is a former USAF Combat Controller, who helped design the fitness program currently in use by the Air Force for Combat Controller training. You can find reviews of the book pretty easily via google, and even those that criticize Mark's writing style seem to praise the actual exercises.
And the really nice things about it, in my opinion, are:
1) As noted, you can do most of this stuff in your home, or at your hotel when on business. You don't need a gym, or special equipment; and
2) Mark has provided ways to increase difficulty for each exercise; he has also set things up to allow design of effective 20-minute workouts.
I have a signed copy, and I highly recommend the exercises in the book.
... there's a book I'll recommend. An acquaintance of mine wrote it, and it's been selling well. It's about how to workout with virtually no equipment, using bodyweight and household / hotel room furniture. There are two or three exercises that would require light dumbbells, or similar, but the vast majority of exercises in the book require little more than the right attitude.
http://www.marklauren.com/
For background, Mark is a former USAF Combat Controller, who helped design the fitness program currently in use by the Air Force for Combat Controller training. You can find reviews of the book pretty easily via google, and even those that criticize Mark's writing style seem to praise the actual exercises.
And the really nice things about it, in my opinion, are:
1) As noted, you can do most of this stuff in your home, or at your hotel when on business. You don't need a gym, or special equipment; and
2) Mark has provided ways to increase difficulty for each exercise; he has also set things up to allow design of effective 20-minute workouts.
I have a signed copy, and I highly recommend the exercises in the book.
Tactical Jackalope
New member
Uh-oh.....I feel another type of pictures coming along..
Can we post progress pictures? Before and After?
We can turn this into a bb thread! I was with the forum.
Benched double my weight 6 months ago. And worked out three years straight before that...all went great..However....haven't in 6 months. Work -__- too much over time.
Now...YES! I felt more comfortable shooting then, than now..
Can we post progress pictures? Before and After?
We can turn this into a bb thread! I was with the forum.
Benched double my weight 6 months ago. And worked out three years straight before that...all went great..However....haven't in 6 months. Work -__- too much over time.
Now...YES! I felt more comfortable shooting then, than now..
MikeNice81
New member
I concur with MLeake. Mark Lauren has one of the best books out there. His book gives you enough information to customize your own plan. If you don't fell comfortable with that, he has multiple fitness regimines in the book.
I customized my own plan and in just a month I was remarkably fitter in every way. One of the reasons is that Mark focuses on functional fitness. His excercises work multiple muscle groups. Your body learns to use muscles in unision to help with real world situations.
Even some of the most basic looking excercises can be monsterous. Try doing the bear crawl. I like to do it as modified tabatas. I like a 40 second sprint followed by a 20 second "walk." Do that for ten minutes. In days you will see improvements in your upper back, shoulders, chest, arms, and cardio.
You can find numerous "easy" excercises that will tone and tune your body. My first day I did 30 rear lunges per leg. I over did it (Mark warns about that) and it hurt to sit down or walk for two days. In about a month I could do a one legged squat. Not everybody will get those results. However, you will be astonished at how fast you improve.
Sorry to sound like an infomercial. I just fully believe that with Mark's book you can achieve an amazing level of fitness. You just have to be willing to sacrifice 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.
MLeake, try doing "the roof is on fire" with a 10 pound weight in each hand. I tried doing it and cut the "lifts" from four to two. If you can reach 7 (14 lifts) you are doing awesome. If you make it past 10 (20 lifts) you are a god among men. That would put you over 57 (114 lifts) total. I was lucky to reach 4
(It is like a ladder, only you keep progressing instead of coming down.)
I customized my own plan and in just a month I was remarkably fitter in every way. One of the reasons is that Mark focuses on functional fitness. His excercises work multiple muscle groups. Your body learns to use muscles in unision to help with real world situations.
Even some of the most basic looking excercises can be monsterous. Try doing the bear crawl. I like to do it as modified tabatas. I like a 40 second sprint followed by a 20 second "walk." Do that for ten minutes. In days you will see improvements in your upper back, shoulders, chest, arms, and cardio.
You can find numerous "easy" excercises that will tone and tune your body. My first day I did 30 rear lunges per leg. I over did it (Mark warns about that) and it hurt to sit down or walk for two days. In about a month I could do a one legged squat. Not everybody will get those results. However, you will be astonished at how fast you improve.
Sorry to sound like an infomercial. I just fully believe that with Mark's book you can achieve an amazing level of fitness. You just have to be willing to sacrifice 30 minutes a day 5 days a week.
MLeake, try doing "the roof is on fire" with a 10 pound weight in each hand. I tried doing it and cut the "lifts" from four to two. If you can reach 7 (14 lifts) you are doing awesome. If you make it past 10 (20 lifts) you are a god among men. That would put you over 57 (114 lifts) total. I was lucky to reach 4
(It is like a ladder, only you keep progressing instead of coming down.)
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nefprotector
Moderator
I just started back exercising last week. Walking briskly for 2 miles now. I began by walking 1 mile in 30mins, 2 miles in an hr. Today I shattered my time by walking 2 miles in 35 mins. I couldnt believe it myself. But that's what my watch said. Or it could have been the big dog chasing me that made me walk faster. =) I can really tell a difference in my endurance and confidence. But for the range time. Ill have to wait until tomorrow and see if it has had any impact on my training.
Maximus856
New member
I assume you mean after bootcamp a Marine with an infantry contract will go to SOI (School of Infantry)? They won't let you out of bootcamp if you can't pass a PFT so you really shouldn't be out of shape. Also, PT runs are few and far between in SOI. You simply don't have much time for it. It's approximately 2 months long, and I think we ran a total of 7 or 8 times. Is it enough? No. But, there's too many other things going on such as ranges and forced marches.
For the record, I hate running with a passion. I'm not good at it and if I slack for even a bit my time suffers. However, I do understand the need for the 3 mile test. In 2008 or 2009 (right around the new year) I found myself running about 4-5K back to the COP in Iraq. I was doing a mission only a few kilometers out right on the Syrian border. We ended up taking fire from a vehicle when we were on our way back, and the best course of action was to simply get the hell out of there. It wasn't without stopping once or twice to to keep accountability of the patrol and make sure the two civilian contractors were still with us. Like I said, I'm not a big fan of the 3 mile run and enjoy the CFT much more then the PFT. Having the ability to run 3 miles though definitely helped that night in Iraq.
I saw earlier someone mentioned a female Sgt 1st Class and that combined with the talk of marches reminded me of why I hate the battalion I am in. We were going to do a SHORT hump with the battalion, maybe 6-7 miles at most. A female LCpl complained to her MstSgt that she was too short to carry her M16A2 and wanted a M4. Unfortantely she got it. Then, a female 1stSgt complained that she as well was too short so needless to say she got an M4. I often wonder how they got through bootcamp where the standard issue is an M16A2. Sorry to go off track with that, but at least it's firearms and PT related
-Max