Don't meet the physical standards yet, but working hard. What tips, diet/exercise suggestions or tips about ANG basic or OCS can you tell me?

2017-07-20T14:47:46-04:00

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 2:58 PM

2017-07-20T14:58:30-04:00

Are you able to attend an RSP-Recruit Sustainment Program? This existed before my time but I heard its really increased the retention rate at Basic Training (mostly due to physical requirements) since it was introduced.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 3:21 PM

2017-07-20T15:21:34-04:00

The community could probably provide better tips if we know where you are falling short rather than providing vague "If your puships are lacking, do more puships!"

There's always crossfit, P90X, Insanity, etc. I recall the Army had a bunch of different PT videos I had looked at before I went off to basic training. Go to the gym regularly, eat as healthy as you can, drink lots of water, etc?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2017 4:23 PM

2017-07-20T16:23:00-04:00

There is one surefire method of getting better at the APFT events: do them more often. If you want to get faster you HAVE to run more. The more you run, the easier it becomes. Same goes for the other 2 events. If you can only do 30 sit ups, do 100 every other day. Do them in as few sets as possible while resting in between. Same with push ups. Another method which works well is to do A LOT of them but in small sets spaced throughout the day. So you might do 20 sets of 5 push ups from morning til night. But keep at it. If you need to run 12 minute miles, run more. But ease into it. Increasing your mileage from say 12 miles a week to 30 at one time will lead to injury. Also, at least once a week run several (5-10) quarter mile sprints with some rest in between. You have to get your body use to what going faster feels like. The more you practice that, the better you'll get. Be patient though, endurance is acquired over time, nothing else.

Response by Cpl John Barker made Jul 20 at 2017 4:54 PM

2017-07-20T16:54:26-04:00

Use the squat rack 2-3 times a week, contrary to what was previously thought it actually strengthens your knees which are going to be the first thing to give you problems in the military followed shortly thereafter by your back, therefore give special attention to your core and legs

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Jul 21 at 2017 9:21 AM

2017-07-21T09:21:56-04:00

To quote my former senior drill sergeant, "we're a runnin' Army". So after reading some of your responses to other's advice, it seems you are struggling with time on your runs as opposed to distance is I am correct.

I was never a great runner, but back in high school I did manage to letter in track (as a sprinter) and cross-country, so I have some thoughts on these different running styles and objectives and how they relate to your situation. Additionally, it should be noted I managed to pass my APFT runs, even if it was rarely pretty!

Keep up with the distance runs--absolutely--but start to work in shorter, more intense runs. Go to the local high school's track and do 100, 200, and 400 meter sprints; compare your times on those runs from one week to the next to track progress just as you do on long runs. With sprints your muscles will react differently than they do with longer runs at slower paces, which should help your time on the two mile.

Good luck killer!