Stew Smith Fitness News — BUDS

Near daily, I receive emails from young people seeking to serve and I am so grateful for a new generation seeking to serve, but there are things that you need to learn, practice, and master prior to joining - it may not meet your self-imposed deadline.  See question / answer below: I just finished my freshman year in college but decided the better option for me was to withdraw, and join the Navy - since I am looking to make this my career, and hopefully become an officer later on.  I just got PRK surgery last Thursday, so I am...

To, Through, and After Podcast Series The To, Through, and After Podcasts have been growing in popularity over the past year.  These are interviews that Stew Smith does with various people who have a story to tell about their journey before they decided to serve their country or communities in one of the tactical professions (military, special ops, police, fire / rescue).  See the videos below for the shows or go to iTunes / GooglePlay podcasts and search To, Through, After with Stew Smith within the Tactical Fitness Podcast with Stew Smith programs. Enjoy To, Through and After with former...

(Part 2 of this article - What is Good Enough - Strength Numbers) Throughout your journey into the military and perhaps as you move into a special ops selection, you will hear people describing their PT scores as “good”, “great”, “optimal”, or even the occasional “PT animal”. But what is “Good Enough”? Of course, all of these scores are relative to the person, programming, branch of service, and the person evaluating these scores and abilities of candidates.  As a tactical fitness trainer with decades of this type of training, this article is going to try to add some objectivity to...

Looking back 15, 20, even 30 years ago for some of us is not an uncommon activity.  Thinking “had I known then what I know now” or “if only I would have done this” what would I have become. But a fairly common question young students will ask their instructors, mentors, and teachers is “what advice would you give 21 year old yourself as you prepared for your next challenge?” Here is a question recently asked that I thought was a fun mental challenge and journey through time: Stew, My goal is to get to and through BUD/S and serve...

When asked recently about the most important "non-physical" trait someone who is about to attend BUD/S or any other Special Ops selection program should have, it took a minute to decide on the "most important." Sure, you need mental toughness, a never quit attitude, and must be hard physically, but I think the most important non-physical trait is being a TEAM PLAYER. Of course, there are individual challenges and tests that you alone must conquer, but no one makes it through any selection program by themselves. You must be a team player and help each other get through training TOGETHER....