Will heavy weight training help me in USMC basic training?

Question

I am leaving to go to USMC basic training. I can run 3 miles in 21min, do about 60 push-ups, 15 pull-ups, 109 sit-ups in two min. But Im not that strong, I just have alot of endurance. I weigh 130 and my max bench is about 130. So my question is, should I do some weight training before I leave, if so what should I aim for by the time I leave(I have about 9 months before I go)? Or should I just keep working on cardio and runing and stuff?

Answer 1

Cardio and running will more then likely help more.

Some strength training is good too, but you wont be able to maintain it when you are in Basic. I would say get to the point where you can pull at least 150% of your bodywieght, that way you can pull yourself and any equipment you have through any obstacles or help a battle buddy through it. You do what you are told to do for exercises so a lot of any gain from weight training would be lost through a lot of your initial training since a lot of that exercise will be at the level of the weakest person. They will push them to be better, but if you greatly exceed the minimum the focus on, you will not be able to maintain.

The best thing to do is keep focusing on the Marine requirements as you are.

Also, roadmarching would be good to practice as well. About 1/3 of your weight for several hours. It sounds like you have the streangth to do it, but conditioning your muscles to roadmarching will help, expecially with conditioning your feet.

Answer 2

My son was 5-11 and arrived at USMC Boot Camp (Not "basic training" by the way....) weighing in at 137. By the end of Phase I, despite being on double rations, he weighed 128. Of course, by the time he graduated boot, 8 weeks later, he was up to 156 of solid muscle.

If you feel your upper body strength is a little lower than it should be, then some light weight training wouldn't be a bad idea, but don't feel like you have to go crazy with it. Stick with the cardio and endurance training for sure! Phase I involves so much marching and running, stress fractures of the legs, bruised feet, severe shin splints... those are very common problems that drop recruits back a week or more in training.

Your recruiter probably has videos or an old yearbook from boot camp. Check those out, to see what will be physically required... Also, keep an eye out on the Military Channel or on Discovery Times Channel... they have a series called "Making Marines" that is a 3-hour documentary on boot camp at Parris Island. VERY good. (You can also order it from almost any of the major online bookstores.)

Answer 3

We all want to score as high as possible and the anxiety is really your fear talking, telling you that you probably won’t score that high. I’ve experienced this many times in my life and I’ve certainly experienced it before a PFT. It took me a while to realize that if I was prepared for the test, I had no anxiety. In fact, I would actually look forward to it. Here’s a few tips on preparing for a PFT.

Start Training Now
Don’t wait until a few days before your PFT to begin training. You should always be training for your PFT. This doesn’t mean that you have to make running, pull-ups and sit-ups your only exercises, but you should definitely know where you stand on these 3 important exercises.

Take Your Own PFT
You should take your own PFT once a week. This is a good way to know where you stand at all times and also how you need to improve. By doing the PFT every week on your own, the real thing will feel like just another day.

Get Used To The Stopwatch
A stopwatch can cause a lot of anxiety if you are unsure of what you can do. However, if you are doing your weekly PFT and using a stopwatch when you do it, you should have no problems with this.

Believe in Yourself
Your mental attitude is one of the most important indications of how well you will do on your PFT. If you think you’ll do bad then you probably will. You have to believe that you will do great and then go out with the attitude that you are going to be the best.

Don’t go to your PFT just trying to survive, go knowing that you will have the best PFT of your life and you probably will!

SSG Schramm

Answer 4

I was in the Corps for 6 years. The hard part about boot camp is not the physical. I was in decent shape when I went in, a lot in bad shape. All came out very fit. The hard part is the mental part. A lot of learning, told what to do from early morning till late at night. You have 0 free time. The last Sunday you are there you get a few hours to walk around the area somewhat free. You learn to do everything you ever learned in your life over, for example a certain way to tie your boots, how to brush your teeth. So, the tough part is not physical. If you can run 3 miles now yoou are probably well ahead of a lot of others.

Answer 5

keep up the cardio, don't worry about weights. Work on the pull ups all you have to do is 5 more to score perfect for pull ups on the PFT. Knock 3 minutes off your run time and you'll have a perfect run time for the PFT.

Whatever you gain in weightlifting you will lose because that's not the type of training you're going to be getting. Continue your pushups and what you've been doing all ready, you're well on your way. Good Luck

Answer 6

Cardio wise, you are in great shape. However, if I were you, I would run trail, with a pack. Get off the smooth surface. Most of your running in basic will be up and down, in boots and combat fatigues, with a rifle and pack.

You do want to work on your upper body strength. Talk to somebody about a weight lifting plan, and stick to it. 60 push ups in 2 minutes isn't much. 9 months is plenty of time. Good luck!

What others have said about not bulking up is correct. You don't need a ton of muscle mass, but the stronger your arms are, the better off you will be.

Answer 7

You can add a bit of weight training in but mainly focus on your endurance. I did PT with the Marine Corp when I was in K-9 school and they did a 8 mile run with push-ups, sit-ups, cherry pickers, mountain climbers, and any other kind of exercises you can think of in between. It was not fun and I couldn't finish it. Endurance will help you more too when you deploy. One of the guys at my base prepared for a marine deployment by adding weight to his backpack while he ran. He ended up with 60 lbs in his bag by the time he left and ran about 2 miles a day. Not saying you need to do all that but mainly you need to work on your endurance.

Answer 8

I would start out with what you are capable of doing and keep working on it till you get to boat camp. Trust me you will better your time and what your capable of doing in boat camp. I hate running. Two weeks before I went into boat camp (navy), I just started walking several miles a day, but that was because I had to lose 8 lbs to get with in the weight limit for my height, but by walking those miles everyday did help me in the long run. By the end of the first week I was able to run the mile and half and I ended up not getting the shin splints that most of the other girls got. Ask your recruiter about ways to reduce getting shin spints in boat camp from all the marching.

Answer 9

You are doing way better than when I went in back in 75. I done my 20 and made it each and every day. You sound to be in very good shape I would not give up on that just keep doing what you have been doing. If you have any bad habits it's best that you learn to stop them now(smoking was a biggy)they did give the breaks but I think you see my point. I used to chew until boot camp then I quit, lucky for me. As one other said it is a mental thing. I looked at each day as it came. I would think lord this day is pure d hell but then I would think I thought yesterday was that way. I seen guys that could not do one set up none, we went so far as to put him on an inkline with his head higher than his feet he still could not even get up. I was surprised he could even walk. He ended up as a drop. We had one that had no shoulder blades freak the hats out(I think there was more to it)they sent him home because he could not maintian the pull up part. Had a man that had no knee caps was turned down just to enter. Seen them hit him with a board and he didn't even flinch, he was a trained in karata and had lots of school on pain manegment, but in there wisdom said no can do.
Your biggest hurdle will be the , mental side of it, as for the physcal you are on a good road. Boot camp is to remove the weak and keep the strong that strong is not only physcal but themental side. I always felt that I could always tink about boot camp if thing got ruff later on in life(they are now)someting I could rely on imade it through that I can make it through a lot more. Sort of like if you was became a pow.
I grew up on a farm in Kansas, hauled lots of hey an played 4 yrs of foot ball, I found it not much harder than a good game of football. Yes some days were harder but mind over matter was my key.

Answer 10

No matter what you do, keep up the cardio and running, but introducing weight training would be a very good idea. No matter what you do, the drill instructor will demand much more. You don't need to get huge, but strength will be required.