MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

Follow MilitarySpot:
 
  • Home
  • Enlist
    • Join The Army
    • Join The Navy
    • Join The Air Force
    • Join The Marines
    • Join The Coast Guard
    • Join The National Guard
    • ASVAB
    • Army Physical Fitness Test
    • Military Draft
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
  • Career
    • Join the Military
    • Jobs for Military and Civilians
    • Career Center
    • Prior Service Army Enlistment
    • Criminal Justice
  • Education
    • Online Schools
    • Spouse Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
    • Military Schools
    • Criminal Justice
  • Benefits
    • Army Benefits
    • Navy Benefits
    • Air Force Benefits
    • Marine Corps Benefits
    • National Guard Benefits
    • Coast Guard Benefits
    • Veteran Benefits
    • Basic Pay Rates
    • Allowances
    • Special & Incentive Pay
    • Military Spouse Education Benefits
    • VA Education Benefits
    • GI Bill
  • News
    • Headline News
  • Finance
    • Debt Relief
    • Military Pay Rates
    • Military Personal Loans
    • VA Loans
    • Military Star Card
    • Military MyPay
  • Spouses
    • School Finder
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • PCS, DITY, & Moving
    • Pay Rates
    • MyCAA
    • Education Benefits
  • Community
    • Military Games
    • Military Reunions
    • Classifieds
    • Photo Gallery
    • Buddy Finder
    • MilitarySpot Pinups
    • Military Bases
  • Resources
    • Military Alphabet
    • Military Reunions
    • Military Acronyms
    • Currency Converter
    • Military Tools
    • Ranks
    • Military Time
    • Military Tactics
    • Military Discounts
    • Military Games
    • Military Videos
    • Photo Gallery
    • Infographics
    • How To
  • Travel

8 Activities That Can Quickly Prepare You For Military Service

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 – Having a good level of fitness and being comfortable in a variety of environments is crucial when joining the military. Strength, endurance, and flexibility are important for long hours on your feet whilst carrying heavy equipment. You also need to prepare for being in different climates, weather conditions, heights, being in water, and tight spaces. Therefore, training inside a gym can only get you so far. Instead, you should look to other sports and physical activities to help you get physically and mentally ready for military service.

Water Sports

Water activities can help you get comfortable with water. Being able to swim is a valuable skill in the military so practice, with clothes on too if you can, to build your ability at swimming. You can view details on how other water-based activities like kayaking, canoeing, and paddle boarding can be great for fitness too. Remember to be sure to take proper precautions when you’re in, on  or near water, such as wearing a life jacket and training with a partner, to make sure you stay safe.

Rock Climbing

Getting familiar with heights is also a necessity. You can join an indoor climbing gym where you can use learn how to belay and use harnesses or try bouldering which is climbing walls without a harness, but the wall isn’t as high. If you have the chance, you can try some outdoor climbs and this can get you comfortable at heights in the outdoor world too. Climbing is a great full-body workout, which requires in particular upper body strength, grip strength and leg strength.

Team Sports

Activities like football, rugby, lacrosse, and hockey are great ways of building up your cardiovascular endurance. This is because these kinds of sports are aerobic exercises that require raising your heart rate for a long period of time. Better cardiovascular endurance gives a range of benefits including weight loss, lower blood pressure, decreases the risk of strokes, and a more efficient immune system.

These games improve not only your stamina but your teamwork and interpersonal skills as well. Being able to work together with other people and getting along with them will mean your time in the military will be happier, and you’ll have a good support network. Collaborating with team members to work towards a common goal with the ability to overcome problems is a crucial skill in the military. 

Meditation

Meditation and breathing exercises can help keep you become more centered and aware of yourself. It encourages a more positive outlook on life to help you through inevitable tough days during military service. You can use these methods you learn whenever you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed or anxious (such as being in a tight space). Learning to take time out for yourself (even if it’s just 30 seconds) and keeping your cool will be vital skills to have when you’re called up for military service. 

Yoga

Yoga also incorporates meditation during physical movement. It’s great for developing your flexibility which can help you perform better in various military tasks. Flexibility is the range of motion a joint has so increasing this improves your mobility and also helps to decrease your chance of developing an injury. The movements and poses you perform strengthen muscles and are very useful for improving balance. Overall, practicing yoga will be very useful in preparing you for day-to-day life in the military and can help keep you focused and steady physically and mentally. 

Running 

It’s basic, but it’s a key activity people use to prep, and for good reason. Running is a good cardio exercise, and the same benefits are described in team sports. Running on a treadmill is good for regulating pace and elevation so you can track your progress but try running outside too. Training outside can prepare you for working in different weather conditions and terrains whilst under physical strain. 

There are different ways of training when running depending on your aim. For example, you can try interval training, which is when you switch between high-intensity (sprinting) to low-intensity (walking) to enter different heart rate zones; this method is good for burning fat and increasing endurance. There’s also altitude training, which is when you would run or train at higher altitudes. Higher altitudes cause the body to burn more calories and increase the body’s efficiency at transferring oxygen around the body. This creates an advantage when you go to lower altitudes where oxygen is more abundant. You could try running with a weighted vest on as well.

Circuit Training

Performing different exercises with short breaks in between is known as circuit training. Usually, around 6-8 activities are chosen, performed for 60 seconds with 15 seconds rest in between – this is then repeated two or three times. Exercises typically include things like push-ups, skipping, sit-ups, leg raises, bicep curls, burpees, etc. Circuits are good full-body workouts (or you can target specific muscle groups by selecting certain exercises) that can be done from anywhere. They don’t require equipment if it’s not available, because you can simply use your own body weight for strength exercises and simple cardio exercises, such as high knees running. 

Wake Up Early

Not so much an activity, but definitely something that you should start doing before starting military service. And it’s not just waking up, but actually getting up out of bed earlier, no matter how uncomfortable that is. It’s hard to leave a nice, warm bed in the morning but this will not only train your body into having to rise early (which you’ll most likely have to do) but improve your willpower. This is essential in building a tough mentality and can-do attitude that you’ll constantly call upon when serving. 

Military service is tough but preparing properly for it will help you adapt to life better. Water sports can help you get used to water, climbing can improve how you handle heights and team sports will work on your teamwork. Trying yoga, getting up earlier and meditation can help with your mental strength. All these activities will help you quickly work on your physical, mental and emotional fitness which will be vital during military service.

Comments

Filed Under: Enlist, Resources

  • News
  • Enlist
  • Education
  • Career
  • Finance

SECNAV Awards Navy Cross to Retired Korean War Veteran

MARCH 25, 2023 – Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro awarded the Navy Cross Jan. 20 to retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams for his exploits during the Korean War at a ceremony at the San Diego Air and Space Museum The Navy Cross is an upgrade of the Silver Star Medal previously awarded to […]

8 Activities That Can Quickly Prepare You For Military Service

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 – Having a good level of fitness and being comfortable in a variety of environments is crucial when joining the military. Strength, endurance, and flexibility are important for long hours on your feet whilst carrying heavy equipment. You also need to prepare for being in different climates, weather conditions, heights, being in […]

Summer Military Programs for High School Students 

MARCH 6, 2023 – Military training programs are not just meant to teach you self-defense or the art of rappelling up a wall; they are also great opportunities for you to develop leadership skills and build your inner strength, character, and discipline. Moreover, they offer regimented education initiatives that teach students values such as decisiveness, […]

Navy Fitness Allows Reset of Past PRT Failures

MARCH 23, 2023 – A new Navy policy allows Sailors a one-time reset of all their previous Physical Readiness Test (PRT) failures. This policy was implemented in order to improve reenlistment and advancement rates as well as increase acceptance rates for extensions and duty station transfers. However, with PRT season right around the corner, it’s […]

VA Loans: How They Can Impact Your Financial Future

MARCH 15, 2023 – For those members of society who make the selfless and brave career choice of becoming a serving member of the US military, there are a number of varied and interesting benefits that are available on home soil. One such benefit is access to the VA loan system, which is a home […]

Recent Posts

  • SECNAV Awards Navy Cross to Retired Korean War Veteran
  • Austin Asks Congress to Support Defense Budget Request
  • U.S. Responds to Attack That Killed U.S. Contractor in Syria
  • Navy, Coast Guard Begin Oceania Maritime Security Initiative Patrol
  • Resolute Hunter Provides Real-World Opportunity
MAINMENU




SITESEARCH
Can't find something? Try using our site search to dig through our entire site.



Still having trouble? Try the Advanced Search to refine your searches.
NEWSLETTERSUBSCRIBE
Sign Up To Receive Information, Updates and Special Officers from MilitarySpot.com.



Don't miss an issue! Jump in the Newsletter Archives to catch up on previous issues.
FOLLOWMILITARY SPOT

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter & StumbleUpon and more. Keep up with MilitarySpot.com news & updates. We also have an RSS Feed.

Advertise | About | Contact | Feedback | Unsubscribe | DMCA | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
 
Copyright 2004-2023 Sun Key Publishing. All Rights Reserved.



 
This is not the official recruiting website of the U.S. Military. The site you are on is run by Sun Key Publishing, a private company, and is not endorsed by or affiliated with the U.S. Military.