How can I prepare for basic training this summer?

Question

Hi...I'm seventeen years old and am seriously considering the National Guard. I'm 6'2'' and a 140lbs (yikes, only one pound above the cutoff). I am in very good shape running-wise, I can run a sub 5 mile and distance running (10+) at a solid pace (6:30) isn't difficult for me. The problem is I'm not very strong at all. I struggle to bench 90lbs. Assuming I would do my training this summer, going into my senior year, how can I best prepare? I don't want to get there and be unprepared....I really don't want that. Thanks. Also, what kind of diet should I be on? I mean...I eat tons of food and by nature I don't gain weight, I'm thin...so I'm going to really have to eat to gain strength and weight.

Answer 1

Since your run time is good, look to your upper body strength and your abs. Do a variety of pushups (regular, close hand, incline, and elevated), as well as situps, crunches, leg lifts and flutter kicks.

Here's a routine that has worked for me and my soldiers when I was in.

Get a deck of cards and use it in the following manner:

Hearts = regular pushups
Diamonds = close hand pushups
Spades = leg lifts
Clubs = crunches

The number shown is the repetition (2-10)
Jacks = 11
Queens = 12
Kings = 13
Ace = 15
Jokers = 25

Do this every other day, so that your muscles can heal on the off days.

Answer 2

Don't worry about weight they know what to fed you to gain or lose weight. As for exercise running s good you will do a lot of it. And Push ups sit ups and many more try running 5 miles with 60 pounds of extra weight, they don't run that fast as they normally run as a group and normally they don't go full tilt run, of course if you were being fired upon it would be different. You are at an age that you will be gaining weight so don't worry be happy and go for it, it will be a challenge for you but you will be fine. The biggest hassle is the mental stress you will be under to learn a lot in a very short time.

Answer 3

What all the above people said is correct. Running, pushups, situps, 6 mile march. Also, get prepared for sleep deprivation. They will limit your sleeping time and play a whole bunch of head games with you.
Still, boot camp is not really that big a deal if you just stay on your toes and avoid being labeled a dirt-bag.
However, I strongly recommend that you reconsider your options. I myself am a disabled veteran who can't work because of my injuries. And 17 years after my discharge I am still fighting with the VA for disability compensation. Forget the rhetoric that the politicians put out about never turning their backs on those that have served. That's all BS. There is an estimated 3 million homeless veterans across the country right now. Don't be foolish and think that you are immune to that.
Google: homeless veterans, incarcerated veterans, disabled veterans
reconsider your options. also google; how to get out of the military
it might give you some insights of what you are getting yourself into.
good luck

Answer 4

Pushups situps and your run time is good enough.

Former army here,and out PT test has been 2 miles.
youre time is no problem.

Sit ups and push ups is what you need to focus on.
Not weight work.

Diet, eh, youre young, your body needs to develop. Sounds lik youre a string bean. Just eat eat as long as youre not gainign wieght. you just have a quick metabolism -- which is good.

your goal should be to do about 80 pushups in 2 minutes. Its possible. And the same for situps, if you want to be high speed.
Anything over 45 will pass you.

Humping a ruck is what youll have to get use to, and I would suggest you get a backpack, and go for long walks with it on your back.
You dont have t, but it will help build your endurance for those grueling marches. Dont know about the nasty guard, but right now theres a mandatory 6 mile march with a 40 pound ruck for all mos'. Last I heard.
Thats pretty much it.

Military's lowering their standards now so you might have it easier than we did. But pushups situps run and march is all you have to worry about

Good luck!

Answer 5

well first off, you will definately need upper body strength. I'm in the navy and I know that to even make it out of bootcamp you have to pass a Physical Fitness Test. which for your age would be 50 pushups, two minute break, 50 situps, two minute break, and then a mile and a half run (which you wont even worry about). If you get too skinny, they will put you on a "double rations" diet. They will literally make you eat two meals at a time. As for getting stronger... go for stamina, not strength. You need those 50 push ups and sit ups! good luck

Answer 6

Do push ups many times a day. The main thing about basic is the mental stress. They will try a lot of ways to throw you off the treadmill. Like have you ever been in a wrestling match where they try to throw you off the edge of the mat? Like sumo wrestling they try to get a reaction, they try to uncover a weakness. It ain't no biggie you'll have fun after a while when you know it's all set up for you to breeze through. Don't get rattled it will be like boy scouts but the first few days can be a bit much until you know what angles they have.

Don't stick out. Blend in to the mass.

Oh and if I were you I would not join at all. Sorry to pee on your dream but it's not a good idea to volunteer to become government issue (GI) when the government is no longer trustworthy.

Answer 7

Before I went on active duty I was a reservist for a year. I used that time to run twice a day, do jumping jacks, pullups, situps, pushups and the general exercise requirements that your recruiter should have given you. You can also find them online. If you'll follow the requirements set forth by special forces basic training will be a joke physically.

Answer 8

The advise my dad gives, he's an ex drill instructor for the Army, is do push ups to strengthen your shoulders, do leg lifts to help with endurance, take a lot of protien and complex carbs if you are doing weight training. Don't try to bulk up, you will only gain excess weight with the muscle. Make sure your endurance is up, and just try to tone your body, making it stronger.
I hope that helps a little!

Answer 9

don't worry about trying to get under the weight standard. if you're over, they measure you for body fat. given your discription of yourself, you'll have not trouble at all.

as far as strength, you won't be asked to bench anything, but you'll do lots and lots of push ups, flutter kicks, crunches, and other calithenics. start doing them. for a guy your age, you'll have to do about 70 push ups in 2 minutes to max the PT test. i think 50 is the minimum but ask your recruiter or download FM 21-20. that's the guideline for Army physical fitness.

you sound like you're in great shape already. good for you. keep it up and remember, it's 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental.

Answer 10

Start doing 3 sets of 20 push-ups every night.