The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide - Uniformed Services ...

Final Comments From:RADM SmithThis manual is a superb guide covering all the major focus areas required tomaintain fitness as a SEAL. I offer as a final piece of SEAL culture, my version of "burnoutPT" in Table 15-11. The progression of the program is as follows: start at Stage 1 andcycle through the first set of each exercise, followed by the next sets. Next, move on toStage 2 and use the same sequence. Begin with lower reps per exercise, with the goal ofeventually completing the PT as set forth in Table 15-11. Those who have done it, know itis not what a modern fitness expert would necessarily approve of e.g., no stretching, (do iton your own time), over repetition of the same exercises, and several stomach exercisesclearly not beneficial for the lower back (an understatement!). Having said that, you can doit practically anywhere, (if you have two or more hours); it exercises the vast majority ofmuscle groups; and finally, it imposes great pain and discomfort on the body - an instinctcarefully nurtured, although sometimes avoided, (what's the water temp?) by even the mostdriven of us.Its origin stems from a legendary SCPO in UDT-12 - Frank Perry, who reignedsupreme among the West Coast teams for at least 15 years. I have omitted one of hisfavorite exercises -- the eight-count body builders -- invoking the principle that if you domy PT fast enough (it's structured to do that), you will get the requisite cardiovascularbenefit without the 100 eight counts we did every Friday morning (one set- non-stop).Enough is enough! While I suspect it was only Frank Perry's way of reminding us whoWAS "the king" in those days, I certainly don't recall any challenges to his reign!I've also picked up many of these exercises from working out with the variousSEAL teams. I've attempted to incorporate unusual or esoteric exercises to provide themore easily-bored SEAL with a bit of variety. I've also attempted to work opposing musclegroups - my one compromise to modern-day fitness.Of course, do not feel constrained with what I offer - add your own or modify mineas you see fit. However, if you can do this program in less than 2 hours 15 minutes, youmight try marketing the program to the public (plenty of former SEALS are already doingso with their programs)!More importantly, do it with your platoon! It makes for great brotherhood when oneshares pain with one's teammates!Hoo-Yah!RADM Smith260 Physical Fitness and Training Recommendations