Military

I love the input you all got from the Canadian you posted on the front page.

Mine is not as sexy, but a few times in the past you have asked for input from us out here on how we are doing. If you are still interested, here goes:

1) Unloaded step-ups I went from 893 on 24 NOV to 985 today.

2) Last 1RM Bench Press was 210# which is most ever and is over my body-weight for first time in life. 8xBP get to 155#, which again is most ever.

3) Last front squat (which I used to HATE) is up to 130#. Again most ever for me.

Last weekend in Rome, Italy we walked MILES doing the tourist thing. I carried backpack and/or 4-yr old all four days and still set the pace.

Overall, I am in the best shape of my life, I am losing weight while gaining muscle, and I look better than ever.

Thank you both. Let me know if this is good stuff or not. I can send something every quarter or so if you like it.

I wanted to thank you for the workouts. I’ve been a Marine for over ten years and spent the last six as a Recon Marine. This past year I had 4 surgeries on my spine, resulting in a fusion of the lower spine (basically metal rods and cage). I felt ruined after all was said and done, as the recovery process was brutal. I came across your site towards the later part of my recovery (6 months after surgery). I was told to stay away from anything heavy on the spine and try not to run anymore. This of course was not an option for me as I wish to continue my career in the Corps. Now, less than a year from the surgery, I’m in the best shape of my life, thanks to your work. I took everything in small doses and it took me over a month to finish a whole week’s worth of workouts. Most days I came home and rested on the floor in the fetal position. Months later my back pain is mostly gone, I can run with the heavy packs, and finally I have no limits to what I can do. I’m now awaiting officer training and have passed on your site to all the Marines I work with (I also leave printouts every so often in the gym to let others know). I feel passionate about what you have brought to us in the combat arms. This is one of the many tools we can place in our packs to carry out our mission and will probably be the one that saves it. Thanks and keep it up!

Sir-

i just wanted to say thanks for the workouts, been doing it about 10 months, and i won’t go to anything else. i’m reading Mark Twight’s book Kiss or Kill: confessions of a serial climber, and he talks allot about a hatred of mediocrity, pushing yourself continually to the limit. i think this explains your program – pushing yourself to excel and be the best. i look forward everyday to see how you’re going to punish us the next, it hurts so good. thanks again for your coaching and program. i truly appreciate it.

Respectfully- CPT K

Sir-

I find what you write very encouraging – a buddy and I each just wrote (not knowing the other did) a paper discussing the inadequacies of the APFT to assess a soldier’s fitness level for combat (mine) and how soldiers should be treated as athletes (my buddy). we’ve both had numerous heated discusses (agreeing with each other) about how pitiful regular unit pt is. We both cited your military athlete program and much of your commentary. The sad thing is, we’ll talk about the need to change the pt standard, etc. with other leaders and they all agree, yet seem reluctant to change. Hopefully within a few months I’ll be taking command of a reconnaissance troop in the 10th Mountain Division, and can’t wait to employ your squad PT and Afghan train up program. I have a feeling the soldiers/NCOs will initially be reluctant, skeptical, and pissed their normal routine is being changed and they are actually being challenged during pt, but they get to suck it up and deal with it. they’ll come around eventually (if not, I’m the commander), and my goal is to get your point of “hard pt makes you harder to kill” across to the younger soldiers, molding their minds about pt. who know’s if it will happen, but I’m going to do my damnedest to get it done. Thanks again for forging the change in military fitness.

Respectfully – CPT K

Sir, I am a cadet at West Point. During the past few months a group of us has been using your operator sessions to prepare for a military competition held here every year called Sandhurst. Thanks to your sessions we were quite successful and were able to come in 1st in the Corps and 3rd overall out of 49 teams. So thank you for all the work you put in to your training program.  I would also like to request your Afghan training program to use. I think it would be very valuable to prepare for some of my summer training. Thank you very much again for all your help. I know many people here value your training program. It has really helped me and those on my team. Very Respectfully CDT SGT B

Rob, I’m a member of 3rd SFG and I’ve been doing the Operator Sessions for about 4 months now, and just wanted to say how impressed I am, being a former meathead, at the gains I’ve made not only in my fitness but also in mobility/durability.

CK

On a separate note, I am currently in Afghanistan and finishing up my 12-month deployment with 3 BCT, 101st ABN. It has been a long year, but thoroughly enjoyed your workout program. I know it has made me a better soldier, both physically and mentally.

Thanks again.

Z

“I was put on to MA while TDY to some training by a STO who went to college with me, I was doing 3-4 CF Wods a day and thought I was in shape and he invited to do one of the two a day stamina workouts…once we were done…I quietly picked my pride up off the floor and threw it in the trash and was hooked ever since. That was last August…since then I have transformed my mind and body and made HUGE gains in every category…when I am able to do a MA workout in the morning…then take my PT TEST in the evening and score a 98% with ease then I have to give all the props to Rob and his team. Thank you and God Bless!!!”

missed my mom after doing my first session. Broke my soldiers in half, I felt like my thighs had been raped … It is everything I have been looking for. I will let you guys know the end result. I plan on cycling through your skinny guy routine and operator sessions a few times and see where it takes me.

Thank you. That fucking hurt. I hope this email isn’t an auto reply.

Respectfully, SGT A