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By Stew
Smith
from Military.com
Going For The Green Beret:
Some Guidelines And A Workout That May Help You Make It If you want to
wear the green beret of the Green Berets, be warned that it takes more
than the ability to do hundreds of push-ups. To make it in the special
forces of any branch of the U.S. military,
you need intelligence, an outstanding record of prior military
service (at least three years), and
high motivation -- very high. But now, a new program will enable you
to go straight to the SFAS after Army bootcamp - skipping the 3 year
wait!!!
My next few
columns are for those of you who think you have what it takes to go
Special Forces. I can give you the requirements for each service and a
workout that will help you get physically
prepared for the advanced training. As for those other qualities, you're
on your own.
Getting Into SFAS
The first step
to becoming a Green Beret is to pass the Special Forces Assessment and
Selection Course (SFAS). To get into this course, you must meet
some basic physical fitness requirements by
scoring a minimum of 206 on the Army physical fitness test for the
17-to-21 age group. Remember, that's the minimum
score.
If you're
serious about applying for Special Forces, however, never settle for the
minimum score in anything.
Since the Green Berets are so selective and competitive, it helps to stand
out in as many areas as you can. I recommend that you work toward these goals
in your Army PFT:
-- Complete the 2-mile run in at least 12 to
14 minutes.
-- 100 sit-ups in 2
minutes.
-- 100 push-ups in 2
minutes.
Accomplishing
these goals will bring you close to a perfect score of 300 and increase
your chances of being selected for SFAS.
The three-week
SFAS course, taught at Fort Bragg, N.C., consists of two phases. During
the first, the physical phase, you will be expected to PT (running,
swimming, sit-ups, pull-ups, push-ups), run
an obstacle course, and participate in rucksack marches and orienteering
exercises. The second phase measures your leadership and teamwork
abilities.
Next Step: The Q Course
After
completing SFAS, you will be selected by the Green Beret instructors to
attend the "Q Course," the
Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). Depending on your occupational
specialty, this course will last from 6 months to a year; the
medical and communications courses last
longer.
Daily training
at the SFQC takes it toll on your body since your day usually starts very
early and ends late. While you are training for the Q Course, you
should adopt the attitude of a marathon runner. Be
ready for the long haul, but take each day one at a time. Most people who
quit the course lack the ability to focus through the fatigue and stress
that accompanies such training.
The Workout
If Army Special Forces is your goal, here's a
good starter workout that may help you reach it.
Swimming: NEVER swim
alone.
-- Two to three times a week, 1,000 to 2,000
meters each time.
-- One day a week, try to swim wearing
cammies and boots for 100 meters.
Running:
-- Four to five times a week, 3 to 5 miles as
fast as you can.
-- Once a week, do rucksack marches carrying
a 50-pound load.
PT: Every other day.
-- Pull-ups, 75 to 100 repetitions (seven to
10 sets of 10 reps).
-- Push-ups, 200 to 300 repetitions (10 to 15
sets of 20 reps).
-- Sit-ups, 200 to 300 repetitions (five to
10 sets of 40 to 50 reps).
Remember, it's
always a good idea to check with your physician before starting a new
exercise program, especially if you have been inactive for a long while or
if you have certain medical conditions. With any
download you buy you get over 40 hours of training personally designed
for future students of the School AND access to Stew
Smith
(the author) for any answers to your training questions!!
Interested in buying this Downloadable Workout or any
other:
Visit the Military.com eBook
Store
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