How Did/Do You Stay Fit In Military Service?

[weederr33]

I'm using this an an unofficial method to document how those who are or were in the military stayed fit. It doesn't matter if you served in WWI with @Tcoat or you're part of the latest conflicts around the world. I'm trying to gain further knowledge of what service members did while in garrison or deployed to maintain or improve their level of fitness. For transparency, I'm trying to develop effective methods to help improve exercise for those within the tactical community. I realize this is a random place to ask such questions, but I know we have a decent population on this amazing forum of prior or current service members. I'll list a few things I did while stationed at Ft. Bragg:

Running. And lot's of it!
Ruck marches =/>6mi - sometimes full battle rattle
Push Ups & sit-ups - usually to failure
Pull ups (was a must to pull your risers down(or so they say))
Flutterkicks & planks
Rope climbing
Overhead arm claps
Up-Downs (burpees were not the hit cool thing at this time)

I was not very knowledgeable at 18 to know what to do to condition myself better. So time spent at the actual gym was minimal. I also went through physical therapy while in due to a multitude of injuries. Please feel free to add what you did!

[SkyeHack]

Push ups, pullups, 3 mile run!
These are the things that we do for fun!

[Tcoat]

A 17 to 22 year old metabolism and resilience meant I never had to try to stay fit! It just sort of happened.
I drank a lot.
Smoked a pack a day (at least more when drinking).
Sat in a truck or ready room for much of my enlistment.
And since mostly on air bases had loads of fun with nurses, supply clerks, and any other form of female predominate positions in that era.


If I was running it was because the Junior Ranks was closing soon and I had to get there.
If I was doing sit ups it was because I had just woke up.
If I was doing pull ups it was because I had fallen down and need the bar to brace me to get back up.
If I was doing push ups it was because... Well see the last note above.


The odd part is that even today (40 years later) I am still more fit than the average for my age even though I have done nothing to stay this way.

[ROFL it's Waffle]

We had to "make it rain" in our barracks. Any combination of squats, pushups, burpees, planks... anything that would raise the temperature in the barracks such that condensation would form on the walls.

We did this a LOT. We had these idiots who would break out into Michael Jackson solos in the middle of the hallways (where it echoed the most), resulting in this frequent form of discipline.

[weederr33]

Originally Posted by ROFL it's Waffle

We had to "make it rain" in our barracks. Any combination of squats, pushups, burpees, planks... anything that would raise the temperature in the barracks such that condensation would form on the walls.

We did this a LOT. We had these idiots who would break out into Michael Jackson solos in the middle of the hallways (where it echoed the most), resulting in this frequent form of discipline.

Lol that sounds pretty awful

[ROFL it's Waffle]

Originally Posted by weederr33

Lol that sounds pretty awful

It sucked LOL. In hindsight, I went in weighing 157 lbs soaking wet, went up to 178 in muscle in just a month and a half. Civilian life set in and I stayed at a satisfied/"attractive" 225 for the last 13 years.

[Clutch Dog]

restricting my diet to a consistent regime


hate,
tobacco
caffeine

sleeping for 4 hours only
putting my body on lean burn mode, and over stressing it.

side effects, your hair turns grey, people have a general disdain for your existence ( the feeling is mutual) and your gumline will receed


but Ive been 240 lbs for 10 years and under 38 inches so thats a plus

[BigHugeFatGuy]

Same as Tcoat; be a young degenerate.


In hindsight, I think it would have been better to pick a hobby that's extremely active. Rock climbing is fun, a great workout, and builds functional muscle. Change it up with Tough Mudder, Spartan Races, and such.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by ROFL it's Waffle

We had to "make it rain" in our barracks. Any combination of squats, pushups, burpees, planks... anything that would raise the temperature in the barracks such that condensation would form on the walls.

We did this a LOT. We had these idiots who would break out into Michael Jackson solos in the middle of the hallways (where it echoed the most), resulting in this frequent form of discipline.

That sounds like some normal basic training shit and doesn't reflect the day to day operation of most units.


I managed to avoid all that stuff.
From 1972 until 1976 I was sea Cadet. Back then the cadets trained with the reserves and were qualified on the same level (imagine the uproar of 13 year olds training on automatic weapons today). In late 76 I went into the reserves. Since I had already qualified on everything except grenades and gas mask they waved basic on the condition that when the next basic course ran I would get those items signed off. I then went right into my trade training as a driver which took 6 weeks. A couple of week later and I was driving for the basic course so just threw a couple of grenades and went through the gas shack. The result is I have a basic training certificate that is dated a month after my trade qualification one. Then in mid 77 I transferred over to a regular unit and all my qualifications remained. The end result was that I was shipped over to Germany as the Canadian equivalent of an E-4 when I was barely 18 years old. After I got my aircraft refueling certification I was bumped up to E-5 when I was still only 19. It was sometimes embarrassing since many of the guys of the same rank were pushing 5 or 6 years of regular service.

[ROFL it's Waffle]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

That sounds like some normal basic training shit and doesn't reflect the day to day operation of most units.

Very much so. Bad knees sent me home before the real fun started

[weederr33]

Originally Posted by ROFL it's Waffle

Very much so. Bad knees sent me home before the real fun started

Oof that's no bueno. I got injured in basic but soldiered on( no pun intended). It wasn't till I messed my knees and back up during some jumps that it was curtains for me.

[Sapphireho]

I've never been in the military, but I've heard some Navy guys do towbar presses.

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by Sapphireho

I've never been in the military, but I've heard some Navy guys do towbar presses.

I have video

[86MLR]

AM.Cardio: 5km run every second day (which is walking now, I'm 54 now and my joints are kaput)

PM. Weights: the days I dont do cardio, which is a mix of Olympic lifting and power lifting, with some assesories thrown in (cool kids now call it crossfit).

Load carry (pack) whenever I can bother to do it) load weight never gets more than 25kg now. See: I'm 54 and CBF.