By Rob Shaul, Founder
The Wilderness Professional Training Packet of plans deploys MTI’s Fluid Periodization programming to build the day-to-day fitness training requirements of wildlife and natural resource professionals.
The four plans in this series are mission-specifically designed as day-to-day programming for Game Wardens, Forest Rangers, Park Rangers, Forest Service Enforcement Officers, BLM Enforcement Officers, Field Biologists, etc.
Wilderness Professionals are unique tactical athletes whose mission set which includes patrol-based law enforcement, backcountry wildlife and natural resource management, and backcountry Search and Rescue.
The programming in these plans concurrently train Wilderness Professionals’ primary mission-direct fitness demands: mountain-based endurance (running, uphill movement under load), relative strength, work capacity, and chassis integrity.
These plans are intended as day-to-day programming for Wildlife and Natural Resource Professionals and are engineered to address 90% of Wilderness Professional’s mission-direct fitness demands.
Each plan is scheduled for training 5x/week, for 5-7 weeks. The last week of each plan is an “unload” week – which allows the plans to be run back to back.
Complete the plans in order below:
Individual Plans Overview
Jedediah Smith
The first plan in the packet, Jedediah Smith, is a body-weight only training plan with a slight strength emphasis. Jedediah Smith serves not only as a perfect plan to begin with MTI programming but is also appropriate for training in an austere location without significant training equipment.
Jedediah Smith deploys a 6-exercises bodyweight strength assessment and bases its follow-on progressions on the assessment results. In this way, the plan automatically “scales” to the athlete’s incoming fitness and continues to push him/her as the plan progresses.
Jedediah Smith’s work capacity efforts are 10 minutes long, and sprint-focused, recognizing the sprinting demands of law enforcement.
The plan trains endurance via a 3-mile run assessment and follow-on 1-mile intervals, as well as 25# step ups.
Frank Church
Frank Church, the second plan in this packet, is a balanced training cycle which trains strength, endurance, work capacity and chassis integrity in relatively equal proportions.
Frank Church’s strength work is barbell and weight room based. Strength work is on four classic strength exercises: front squat, hinge lift, bench press, and chin ups, and deploys MTI’s “Density” strength progression.
The work capacity efforts are longer in Frank Church – 20 minutes – and are multi-modal.
Chassis Integrity is trained 2x/week, via MTI’s proven “ARTE” circuits. Each circuit includes one each of Anti-Rotation, Rotation, Total-Core and Extension exercise.
Endurance is trained with moderate-paced, mid-distance runs or trail runs from 5-7 miles. a short ruck run assessment and follow-on intervals to maintain speed under the ruck.
Wrangell-St. Elias
The third plan in the packet, Wrangell-St. Elias has a slight endurance emphasis. You’ll train endurance 3 days/week, and the work includes interval 2-mile runs based on a 6-mile assessment, interval step ups based on a 600x step up assessment, and “brick” efforts which combine running and step ups.
Wrangell-St. Elias’ strength work moves away from the barbell to deploy dumbbells and/or kettlebells, and MTI’s “Efficient Strength” programming. “Efficient Strength” combines a total body strength exercise, lower body exercise, upper body press, and upper body pull exercise all in the same circuit.
Work Capacity drops back down to 10 minute, sprint-based efforts. Chassis Integrity is trained using a ART circuit one day/week and a low back-focused circuit one day/week.
Bob Marshall
The final plan of the packet, Bob Marshall, is a balanced training plan which deploys MTI’s TLU progression and barbells for it’s strength work. You’ll train strength 2x/week.
Work Capacity efforts are multi-modal, and 25-30 minutes long.
Endurance is trained via a 1.5 mile run assessment and 800m repeats on Tuesdays, followed by longer, 6-8 mile easy runs on Fridays.
See the chart below for a comparison of each plan.
Required Equipment
Jedediah Smith – the first plan in this packet, uses only bodyweight for it’s strength work. For the endurance work in Jedediah Smith, athletes require a 15-18″ bench or box for step ups, a backpack, and 25″ of filler.
The remaining 3 plans in the packet, Frank Church, Wrangell-St. Elias and Bob Marshall, all require a Fully Equipped Functional Fitness Gym including:
racks, barbells, bumper plates, benches, plyo boxes, sandbags, dumbbells and/or kettlebells, 40# sandbag (women), 60# sandbag (men), Backpack with 25-pounds of loading.
- Rack
- Barbell
- Bumper Plate
- Bench
- Plyo Boxes (20″)
- Sandbag (40# for women, 60# for men)
- Backpack and 25# of filler
- Stopwatch with Interval Timer (smartphone will work)
You can also click on the individual plans above to see the required equipment for each specific training plan.
Common Questions
What order should the plans be completed it?
We recommend the order listed above.
What if I miss a day?
Begin where you left off when you return to training. This program is progressed – each session builds upon the prior session – so don’t skip a session or skip around. Follow the training sessions in order, regardless.
What if I can’t do the whole session?If you don’t have enough time to complete the whole session, you can split the session into two.
Where do I find unfamiliar exercises?
See our Exercise Library HERE. The Run Calculator is listed as an exercise.
What about nutrition?
See our Nutritional Guidelines HERE.
Can I see sample training?
Yes – click on each individual training plan above, then click the “Sample Training” tab at the plan product page to see sample training.
How do I access the plan? Pdf? Online?
Plan access is online or through the MTI app, via username and password.
Can I print out sessions to take to the gym?
Yes – you can print a week of programming at a time.
More questions? Email coach@mtntactical.com