Anyone here been/still in the military?

[Arkitech]

What part of the military were you in?

How long ago?

What type of physical training (exercises) did you go through? What kind of diet were you on?

I want to get stronger and lose a few pounds and I've heard that a lot of the military training programs can turn boys into men.

Do all divisions of the military have the same basic training?

 

[Analog]

The Marines have a more intense basic training. There is some good information out there on this. Try google.

 

[Calin]

I was a firefighter, for six months. But it had little military training, and the physical part was easy. Anyway, here is Romania

Calin

 

[B00ne]

I was in the military - 1st platoon of a tank batallion - tank maintainance.

Well I am german and we are mandatory drafted to the military when I did it it was a year, basic training 3 months. but the "green" part of the training was very little - a joke to be exact. But who cares I wasnt eager to crawl through mud. Much nicer to be in the garage and beeing trained as a tank mechanic - at least a little use for brain there is. Anyway since the mil. service is mandatory I thaught like: "You steal a year of my life, now be nice to get me to do your BS. " So I am bad role model someone WANTING into the military.

Well now that I have seen the Bundeswehr I have no respect for them well I didnt have that before either ...

 

[SlowSS]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
What part of the military were you in?

Navy

How long ago?

21 years

What type of physical training (exercises) did you go through? What kind of diet were you on?

I was a long distance runner, ran some mini-triathlons.

I want to get stronger and lose a few pounds and I've heard that a lot of the military training programs can turn boys into men.

You could do that on your own without joining military, just have to have some discipline and a good plan.

Do all divisions of the military have the same basic training?

It depends on what branch, and what type of field they are in.

Not all Marines are fit, and not Air Force peeps are fat and lazy....

 

[Arkitech]

I should mention that I'm not interested in joing the military I'm just curious about their physical training programs. I'm thinking of adapting some of their training and diets to something I can do at home.

 

[blackhawk]

I was in the Canadian Army, Infantry and Airborne about 25 years ago.

Basic training was very basic exercise, generally running and stretching as its common to all trades. Advanced training was more running and also lifting of weights and each other for carrying over distances.

Airborne was LOTS of running for longer distances and in unpleasant conditions wearing more and more gear.

Emphasis is on stamina and less on strength although pull ups in the airborne were mandatory all the time and were difficult.

Food was as much as you could eat, three times a day with supplements in winter in the field due to the extreme cold and the fact we had to pull big sleds with our equipment on.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: blackhawk
I was in the Canadian Army, Infantry and Airborne about 25 years ago.

Basic training was very basic exercise, generally running and stretching as its common to all trades. Advanced training was more running and also lifting of weights and each other for carrying over distances.

Airborne was LOTS of running for longer distances and in unpleasant conditions wearing more and more gear.

Emphasis is on stamina and less on strength although pull ups in the airborne were mandatory all the time and were difficult.

Food was as much as you could eat, three times a day with supplements in winter in the field due to the extreme cold and the fact we had to pull big sleds with our equipment on.

Wow Airborne has some kick ass training!! Did you keep any sort of exercise regimine after you left the services

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
What part of the military were you in?

How long ago?

What type of physical training (exercises) did you go through? What kind of diet were you on?

I want to get stronger and lose a few pounds and I've heard that a lot of the military training programs can turn boys into men.

Do all divisions of the military have the same basic training?

US Navy 1986-1996 , Served aboard USS Florida (SSBN-728) Gold crew from 1988-1992 (Ballistic missile submarine)

during basic training (1986, things have probably changed), we did about 1/2 hour of calisthenics and ran about 2 miles each morning
extra physical training was assigned for doing things wrong
also, throughout the day, at anytime the Company commanders (equivalent to Drill Sergeants in army/marines) could make you do various things (pushups, body builders, all kinds of "custom" exercises) either individually or as a group either for punishment for screwing up , or just for fun (their fun

)
to "pass" boot camp, you had to complete a physical training test, run 1.5 miles in X time (time varies by age) and do X pushups and X situps and touch your toes

compared to what i have heard about army/marine boot camp, the physical part of navy boot camp was easy

the food they fed us was similar to high school/college cafeteria food, nothing fancy or special, just "regular" old food, mass produces so it was fairly crappy

basic training in the different branches is different . marines definetly get a MUCH better physical workout than the navy

if you are just looking for exercise routine, military isn't fancy, just run and do basic exercises a LOT, if you want something "fancy" , find a web site about this stuff

 

[burnedout]

What part of the military were you in?

U.S. Army

How long ago?

1980-2000

What type of physical training (exercises) did you go through?

Up until about 1987, the focus was on calisthenics(sp?) along with running, push-ups, pull-ups and sit-ups. Now the focus has changed slightly to more aerobics along with running, push-ups and sit-ups. Longest run in basic was 5 miles in combat boots. They have since changed training, so that recruits now run in regular running shoes (damn weenies ). Seriously though, running in combat boots all the time is not good for the legs, ankles, feet, shins, etc. At the regular unit, we ran at least 5 miles once per week and three to four miles on other days. Ran the old "10 mile Hard Core Charlie" at least once per month in some units.

Also road marches; 12 miles in three hours with helmet, LCE, weapon, promask; 15 miles with full-ruck. Then, for various schools such as airborne and air assault, the physical training differed. Air Assault school had a 10 mile with rucksack "run" in 2 hours, 20 minutes. I finished that in 1 hour, 55 minutes. The EIB had a 12 mile in three hours with ruck and other equipment. The best performance I could ever muster on that one was 2 hours, 8 minutes. Jump school had some slow, killer runs in boots too.

What kind of diet were you on?

<billmurray>Army diet, sir!</billmurray>. Eggs to order sometimes, cereal, bacon, sausage, grits, oatmeal, potatoes for breakfast; meat, starch (potatoes, pasta), veggie, bread, milk, dessert for lunch & dinner while in garrison during basic. C-rats while in the field along with hot chow. Regular unit has soda fountains plus wider choices of food. In essence, plain old institutional food. Not too bad.

I want to get stronger and lose a few pounds and I've heard that a lot of the military training programs can turn boys into men.

You get out of it what you put in. The Drill Sergeants or school cadre motivate people to do more than they would normally do in civilian life physically or mentally. For today's average U.S citizen, between the ages of 17-34, military training typically represents a dramatic change in their respective lifestyle.

Do all divisions of the military have the same basic training?

No. Army and Marine Corps are the most rigorous.

 

[Apathetic]

I was an Air Force pilot about 15 years ago. Every branch has it's own version of basic training (boot camp). The air force's is probably the easiest while the Marine's is probably the hardest.

If your thinking about joining the military, then I recommend you start jogging/running NOW. And pushup, lots and lots of pushups. Just make sure you have another reason for joining than "I want to get in shape".

Dave

 

[Autumnscarbi]

I am in the US Army right now....been in for about a year.....basic training was actually pretty easy and I never did much running before I entered, but now I'm in great shape(c: I'd say the hardest thing for me was the pushups...but they're cake now. typical week for me: run at least 2 miles 3 days a week, other days I do this: last number I did on PT test (49 push ups, 81 situps) rest a minute, do it again, then rest, then cut it in half, then in quarter....for my company, if you score 300 you do PT on your own, if not, but you at least pass, it's 3 days a week. As far as diet....our chow hall has some really fatty foods....it all depends on the person....I just try to eat healthy.....hmmmm....oh, about the basic training, army decides which basic you go to depending on your job....I'm military intel so I went to what they call "lackson jackson".....hope I answered some of your questions. (c:

 

[FrustratedUser]

What part of the military were you in?

Coast artillery / Amphibious platoon. Laying out mines.

How long ago?

12 years ago.

What type of physical training (exercises) did you go through? What kind of diet were you on?

Not very tough. Running a few miles every day + other crap.

Do all divisions of the military have the same basic training?

I wouldn't know. It was not the in the US forces.

I do know I lost 12lbs in 7 days. :Q

 

[glenn1]

Well, i don't know if military PT programs are necessarily the best way to lose weight and gain muscle. If you want to do that, then just take some of the more strenuous military mission activities and do those. Instead of going for a 12-mile run in jungle boots, give these a try:

1. Take an entrenching tool, and dig a full-size latrine.
2. Go on a jog through knee deep water with a Zodiac boat on your shoulder.
3. Load up a rucksack with about 140 lbs. of lithium cadmium batteries, and climb up the side of a rocky cliff in the middle of the night.

Those were pretty typical things we'd do in my unit, and trust me, we didn't have many heavy guys in Group.

Oh yeah, if you really want to try something which will wipe you out, try to be slick like our team was one day and try to have a "light PT day" instead of humping a ruck, and invite over the lead "Jazzercize" instructor from the post wellness center (bonus points if she's like 45 y.o., and is about 5'1" and 95 lbs. soaking wet). By the time she's done with you about 2 hours later, you'll wish you were never born.

 

[gotsmack]

I'm a DoD civilian does that count?