Global Gossip

I thought this week I would give a little information on this little test that the Army has deemed capable enough to test how physically fit their soldiers can be in a combat environment. It’s a simple series of events starting off with the push-up, an exercise that tests the strength and endurance of the upper body. The second event is the sit-up, which tests the abdominal strength and endurance. After these two events you will usually be given a 10-15 minute break before you begin the third and final event which is a 2 mile run. This event is also the only one which has alternate events in case you are not capable to run. These events include an 800 meter swim, 2.5 mile bike ride, and a 2 mile walking event. There is a chart which the Army goes by that is made up by your age, I have added the link below if you would like to take a gander.

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/army/a/afpt.htm

Now onto what this article is really about. I know most people will say the best way to train for this is to just do it but after awhile the push-up just gets kinda boring. Since I have longer arms I can only go down as far as the floor then back up which  doesn’t leave much room for an extended stretch so since I am stuck in the desert I decided to try something different. If you take a look below I added a desk, and two chairs to suspend my entire body in the air as well as elevate my feet. This not only gives my chest a great downward stretch it also helps build strength with a higher lift.

For improving my abdominal strength besides the common sit-up and crunch I like to use the beams in the roof of my building to throw in some more intense ab action, you will see from the pictures below that this might not be the most clean or best equipment but when you are out here you have to learn to use what you have. Though I didn’t get a chance to take the picture to hit the obliques I like to bring my knees up in a twisting action.

The third and final event leaves not much for ways to improve except building leg strength with a simple single fuel can leg lift which I will show after the paragraph. I do recommend using water cans but where I am at I really don’t have much of a choice. Other then that the best way to improve a run is to run.

So hopefully everyone got a little something out of this, I know it may not be much but some soldiers enjoy keeping themselves fit by any means while others prefer to waste away and coast through the service. I hope all of you have a great April Fools day and I wish everyone the best!

From here in Iraq this is SGT Greene, over and out!