Military fitness exercises?

Question

What are some good pushup routines and abdominal workouts? How many reps, etc. should you do?

Answer 1

First of all, Are you training for a physical fitness test for a specific branch ...or just to get in shape for basic?... Realize that every different branch of the military tests your physical fitness differently. An example is that in the marines part of your offical test makes you do pullups... In the Army you rarely if ever do pull ups.
In general though the best excersises to do for the military are runs (long distance 2 -5 mile) , situps (not crunches as the military doesn't count a crunch as a situp) and of course the good ole pushup.
The best way to train for this is to do a workout every morning... YES MORNING... Most military physical fitness is done very early in the morning and practicing in the morning will get your body used to working out hard in the mornings. On one day do all your running and some light calestetics, and on the next do all your pushups and musclar endurance excersises.
Do not try to build tons of muscle and be a body builder... the army likes their soldiers lean and mean and they train to make their soldiers such... Body builders generally have tons of strength but when it comes to endurance they come up short.

Here is an example of what I would do to train (your physical fitness is probably different from mine so try to at least get an idea.
Run mornings:
Medium paced jog/run for 2 miles... (hopefully you do this in about 18 minutes). Take a short break and do 3 sets of 60 situps arms crossed in front of your chest... (builds hip flexer muscles <---- IMPORTANT) then do another shorter faster run that is about 1/4 of a mile just to burn yourself up

Muscle mornings:
8 sets of pushups (hopefully about 15-30)
1 set of pushups (as many as you can possibly do before your arms shake and you fall right on your face)
Pullups ( just a couple sets)
4 sets of situps (approx 50) (do them fast and work your abs hard) .. abs repair on a daily basis so excersise them every day
and throw in some sets of mountain climber excersises and jumping jacks as well. If you know what Squats are you can do those too but use Very light weight and do high amount of reps. (remember you want to build endurance not become huge and bulky)
lastly if your in the marines or navy you have to practice swimming.. do that at least once a week.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

General activity is the best solution. Find something you like to do.

The AF currently test based on 1 min push-ups, 1 min sit-ups, 1.5 mile run, & body mass index or abdominal circumferance.

Do more than this, & you should be good. I suggest at least 30 minutes of cardio in the 85% range & followed by calistenics afterward. Your muscles will be slightly tired, & you should build muscular endurance faster.

Answer 4

Some countries post this info on the internet. Look it up. When I worked for the US Army they had pushup, situp, and running requirements. These requirements varied by sex and age.

Answer 5

Matt Furey is a physical trainer in Florida. Check out his website -- http://www.mattfurey.com