By Samuel Johnson As someone just finishing grad school and entering the strength and conditioning profession, I’ve had a front-row seat to the buzz around technology. Velocity-based training systems like Perch, force plates from Hawkins, AI-driven recovery tools—everywhere you look, there’s a new device promising to change the game. And while I see the value […]
Charlie Bausman
My Army ROTC Experience
By Jackson Mann When I began applying to colleges, I had two main goals: to pursue a military career and to graduate without the burden of student debt. These priorities led me to apply to both the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy. I was initially accepted to West Point, […]
Q & A 7.5.25
Q: Practiced the PFT yesterday but am still not where I want to be: 39 situps 52.9 300-meter 23 pushups (not sure why I’m struggling to this degree) 13:01 1.5 mile My question, if I continue to work my ass off, do you think I can get to the following in 30-60 days?: 45 situps […]
Research Review: The Impact of Military Applied Sports on Cardiorespiratory Function
By Jackson Mann BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) Cadets who participated in military-applied sports (MAS), such as the military pentathlon, demonstrated significantly better cardiorespiratory function than those who engaged in general physical training programs. These improvements were evident both at rest and during physical exertion. MAS-trained cadets exhibited more efficient oxygen consumption, better heart rate […]
Q & A 6.27.25
Q: I’m a National Guard soldier out of Montana. Currently forward deployed with 19th SFG (A). Looking at making the jump to become a Green Beret. I have a tentative SFRE date in Utah on November 7. That’s 20 weeks. I am looking at your SFAS Training Program, and want to know if I were […]
One Unit, Many Fitness Levels: Managing Training Load in Diverse Military Populations
By Seung Ho Choi The Universal Challenge I’ve had the opportunity to serve in both the Republic of Korea Army (18 months) and as a personal trainer for the Temple University ROTC program. Despite the cultural and organizational differences between the Korean and U.S. military, one reality remains constant: military personnel must be physically prepared […]
Research Review: Alternatives to Standard Military Fitness Testing
By Jackson Mann BLUF Traditional military fitness testing has long relied on scheduled assessments. However, certain branches have explored randomized testing to combat “cramming” and promote continuous readiness. With the U.S. Space Force piloting a fitness model centered on wearable technology, and the U.S. Air Force randomizing testing, the question for the military becomes: Should […]
Research Review: Energy System Training Applications for Climbing
By Sam Johnson Introduction Energy system training is a well-established concept in endurance and performance sports. As climbing continues to evolve as a performance sport, with increasingly distinct sub-disciplines (e.g., bouldering, sport climbing, speed climbing, traditional/multi-pitch climbing), there is a growing need to understand the energy system demands of each style and how targeted conditioning […]
Research Review: Is Merino Wool the Ideal Baselayer?
By Jackson Mann BLUF This study by Faisal Abedin (2023) developed and validated a novel methodology for evaluating the thermal and moisture buffering behavior of textiles under dynamic environmental and physiological conditions. Among the fibers tested, wool consistently exhibited stronger thermoregulatory performance—particularly in maintaining warmth during post-exercise recovery—compared to polyester, cotton, and viscose. Purpose of […]
Q&A 6.21.25
Q: I’m excited to share that I’ll be trying out for a state police special operations team in early September, with the 2-week selection process planned for late September to early October. The selection is based on the HRT selection, as our team works closely with HRT. I’m currently following the daily SWAT workout subscription, […]