Posted: 8/11/2007 11:38:38 AM EDT
Hey all- I admit this a neophyte question so don't all go jumping at me, alright??!  Something I've always wondered about the units that train really hard during basic training- recon marines, SEALs, etc.- what exactly happens after they're done, as far as physical conditioning and downtime are concerned? I see all these films and read all these accounts of how hard Hell Week, BUD/S is, etc. But what happens once you're in a unit? Do you essentially live mission to mission, on a ship or on a base? And if so, what physical training is required? I ask because, as we all know, your body loses what you gain pretty quickly as far as endurance and strength go. But there is no way you continue to train as hard as you do after you make it past basic, right? Otherwise the burnout rate would be enormous. So, I guess my question is in two parts: 1) What do you actually do as a soldier/marine once you're out of basic but between operations/missions? 2) What role does PT play, and how does it stack up compared to your days in basic? Thanks a lot! -BB |
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Boot camp PT isn't that hard. We PT'd harder in my regular infantry unit than I did in boot camp. And yes, PT can (and should) remain tough. Recon units PT MUCH harder than recruits do in Boot camp. You'd be surprised as to what the human body can adapt to, you can maintain a pretty high level of physical conditioning whether it's PT or combat conditioning for quite a while. Between "missions" Marines train. PT, field exercises, classes, combat conditioning etc. This is from the perspective of an infantry Marine though. Oh yeah, you made it sound like recon Marines go to a different basic training. This is not true, all enlisted Marines go to the same recruit training then infantry Marines go to Infantry Training Bn and non infantry go to Marine Combat Training then their MOS school. After that Marines can choose to "try out" for recon by going to an indoc which if passed means they go to a recon unit to begin training (scout snipers work much the same way). |
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Depends on your branch of service as well as rate/mos. I can only speak for the Navy, but, unless you are in a high speed type of job, nine times out of ten it is up to you to keep yourself within standards. It is really pretty pitiful to see how many fat, lazy, out of shape men and women are in the Navy. My department only has mandatory PT two to three weeks before a scheduled PFA. Sometimes not even that much. |
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Every unit I've been in, except for TDA assignments, do PT 5 days a week. It is harder than basic training PT, because basic training PT is "basic"--meant to turn civlians(some have never done PT) into Soldiers. Remember, PT in a unit is meant to maintain a general level of fitness. For people that are more physically fit, PT while off duty is used to improve. |
up on kelley hill on ft benning we PT like its going out of style. only in iraq were we allowed a minimal break on PT, and thats only because we dont have time to do it. |
| I went to school at NAB Little Creek a couple of times (Surf Salvage )and saw the SEALS swim a long ass way up the beach and then RUN back (where I'm sure the PT continued) EVERY am rain/shine or cold did not stop those guys. I ,on the other hand was a surface HM so I either PTed with the chub club or didn't PT at all. It really depends on the unit but the Navy is the least likely to PT on a regular basis.Dan |