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Stew Smith Fitness News

The Strategic National Threat Everyone is Ignoring

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The Strategic National Threat Everyone is Ignoring

 Well...Not Everyone is Ignoring It But Nothing is Getting Better (steady downward trend since the late 1980's) There are a number of reasons why people cannot serve in the military. Besides those who are just disinterested is service, a growing number of recruit aged (17-24) men and women would not meet a range of requirements. See the 2020 Qualified Military Available (QMA) Study shows the following in graph form:Throughout our history there has been a recruitment issue of some type. Medical issues (manual labor work injuries, deformities, tuberculosis, etc.), education, and criminal records were among the most prevalent during WWI...

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Recovery: Training Systems, Periodization, Rest, De-Stress, Mobility, Nutrition, and Sleep

Stew smith

Recovery: Training Systems, Periodization, Rest, De-Stress, Mobility, Nutrition, and Sleep

Recovery: Training Systems, Periodization, Rest, De-Stress, Mobility, Nutrition, and Sleep Recovery: There is more to being well-rested and ready to go than a good night's sleep. That is a big part of recovery for sure, but when you are training hard, you also have to train smart, add rest / easy days, eat well, and relax. In my opinion, recovery is represented well in the unscientific chart below: Sleep, Rest, Relax 50%Nutrition 40%Ice, Heat, Stretching, Mobility 5%Gear, Massage, other Services 5% Once You Realize That IT IS ALL ABOUT RECOVERY - You Got It... Optimal Performance is the Mastery of Recovery ...

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Try a Team Work Drill With Tough Workouts

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Try a Team Work Drill With Tough Workouts

Another Way to Add Elements of Teamwork, Communication, Thinking/Strategy to Your Training.. Ask These Guys How Important Teamwork is... You have to push yourself—YES, but programming smartly so you see improvements in your self-assessments (PST, runs, rucks, swims, lifts, etc.) is the goal of your training. Obviously, this is relative to your athletic history, as someone's "beat-down" could be another person's warmup. But there may be elements of training you could be improving WHILE you work on your fitness ability. There is more to military training than physical beatdowns and toughness. You also have to be open to working as...

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Navy SEAL Mental Toughness Through Physical Training

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Navy SEAL Mental Toughness Through Physical Training

Bridging the Gap: How to Prepare Mentally and Physically for the BUD/S Physical Screening Test In preparation for any Special Operations training program, it is common to question whether you have what it takes to tough it out. The minimum standards for the BUD/S Physical Screening Test (PST) are a hot topic of discussion this week.The previously accepted minimum standards for the BUD/S Physical Screening Test (PST) required candidates to meet the following criteria, with the updated standards highlighted in red:-- Swim 500 yards. Maximum time allowed is 12 minutes 30 seconds (12:30)-- Max push-ups. Minimum number is 42 in...

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What is a Ruck? Forced March? Hump?

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What is a Ruck? Forced March?  Hump?

      RUCK: A Challenging Adventure in Backpacking If you've never embarked on a hike with a backpack weighing 50+ lbs for many miles, the term "ruck" may be unfamiliar. The definition of ruck can be as simple as strolling with a backpack on a hike or as demanding as swiftly navigating rugged terrain with all your military gear. However, the key concept behind ruck, hump, or forced march is the act of carrying your gear from point A to point B in a backpack.You may be wondering, what exactly constitutes a ruck? How should you incorporate it into...

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