Who loves PT!?

[young_dog19]

Have you all been going to PT? If you are, great! If you haven't, shame, SHAME! I love my PT. My Recruiter loves it too. He's in infantry, so we are probably getting the best workout that we're able to. He's motivated and dedicated to get us ready. He is freaking awesome! Our PT usually consists of running from the office to the theater at the outside edge of town (2.8 miles), or running (or marching) on a trail (anywhere from 2-4 miles); it also consists of pyramid pull-ups (up to 5 usually); Marine Corps Daily Seven; and some other random exercise that our recruiter thinks is necessary. I LOVE PT! You should definitely enjoy it (while you can). It's not only fun, but's it's also good for you!

PS - 3 months and 2 weeks left to go!

[ProtectnServe]

wish my recruiter was quite as motivated lol. I think he only cares about putting more kids in, and its funny how he gave the speach to my parents i'll help your son get prepared mentally and physically for recruit training =P. I leave august 4th and he still hasnt given me the papers so I can get on base and workout by myself, so I been doin PT everyday around my neighborhood

[young_dog19]

What a shame that your recruiter doesn't put more effort into preparing you. But you are getting yourself ready by doing PT anyway. Good for you! You're also showing that you have the initiative to do things even when others won't push you to do them. Rock on. Good luck at PI. What am I saying? You will make it! Who needs luck!?

[ProtectnServe]

Originally posted by young_dog19
Good luck at PI. What am I saying? You will make it! Who needs luck!?

Thanks alot :). Times ticking down gettin a little nervous lol. But im excited and motivated as hell.

[young_dog19]

Keep that motivation. As my recruiter would say: it's the only thing that'll keep you going!

[ProtectnServe]

haha only thing i hear from my recruiter "You have reached the voice mail of Sgt... " lol =P

funny story is when im in the recruiting office for the first time my recruiters boss calls and hes like "did you sell the kid yet" I shouldve known how great my experience with the recruiters were going to be then

[young_dog19]

Shame you don't live in Missouri. We go and do all kinds of fun things together with all the recruiters from our district. IST's, paintball, repelling. This weekend we're playing "Capture the Flag."

PS- Funny story as well: My nickname is "quota guy."

[ProtectnServe]

we usually have a poolee function once a month, in June we played football for about 15-20 min then went home

[young_dog19]

Wow. That's all I can say. Gunny would never allow that. He would say, "You want to be Marines? Then you're gonna work for it!" or something to that effect. Anyways, why don't talk in the chat room? It would be easier than waiting 3-4 mins for each other to post.

[poolee womack]

yea thats cool that you have a recruiter that does that much for you. my recruiter does his best to help get my job and for me to get my ship date but pt wise he doesn't do much i have to keep myself in shape. i took my ist 2 days ago and passed so i am ready to leave on aug 4th also.

[young_dog19]

sweet. keep going with that attitude and you'll go far!

[ProtectnServe]

Outstanding Womack. You shipping to PI or SD. PI for me Aug. 4th

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

There are some excellent recruiters in the Marine Corps. But, you can't blame your recruiter all the time. His main function is to get people into the Marine Corps. IF it is difficult for him to reach his mission numbers, then he will have to spend more time with people that may enlist, and less time wigh those that have. Tat being said, you don't need a recruiter to PT. You won't have one with you in the fleet, so you may as well get used to doing it on yuor own now. Running is something you don't need a base for. The daily seven requires no equipment. Push ups, sit ups, leg lifts, and all the other wonderful body weight exercises are free.

[young_dog19]

Excellently said, and very true!

[MillRatUSMC]

Physical Training and Fitness should be life long.
Many on leaving the service, left that go by the wayside.
Years later they're paying for not doing anything to stay in shape.
It's hard to get self motivated but a comittment to your well being should improve that self motivation.
I'm leaving soon to go workout on the 440 track at a middle school.
I do a mile worth of lunges and I ride my mountain bike about 6 miles or more.
Not bad for a 62 year old man.
It took my wife getting after me for letting myself go.
To get motivated again.
If a recruiter is not available, than you have to do it yourself.
Push-ups, running, and pull-ups are some of the main thing needed.
Build upper body strenght.
Is the way to go.

Go for it, it worth a lifetime.

Not many can claim the title of a United States Marine...

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[BGMFH]

ProtectNServe:

My recruiter said the same thing, "I'll get you in shape."

The only thing he's done is talk to me, and comment on how Im not working hard enough!

Ive been at a weight plateau lately, and not really losing so Im working on my upperbody strength instead of weight. So now he complains that Im not losing weight, when pullups are the only part of the IST I cant pass!

[22DevilPup87]

I've been keeping up on my PT, just not keeping track of it.

Running, swimming, and weights along with those wonderful crunches and push-ups have taken up most of my PT time.

I'll be doing a mock PFT tonight after work. My goal tonight is the pass, but with some hard work, by goal is to have a first-class by the end of August.

[ProtectnServe]

Originally posted by Echo_Four_Bravo
you don't need a recruiter to PT. You won't have one with you in the fleet, so you may as well get used to doing it on yuor own now. Running is something you don't need a base for. The daily seven requires no equipment. Push ups, sit ups, leg lifts, and all the other wonderful body weight exercises are free.


I actually prefer to PT on my own, but I would like to get on base and use the facilities (steam room, pull up assistant and be able to do some curls). Its cool that hes trying to put more people in I understand that hes busy, but the biggest selling point he used when talking to my parents was "I'm here to prepare your son both mentally and physically". Which I find amusing now. Since he has probably helped with neither, lol.

[poolee womack]

i go to PI on aug 4th

[ProtectnServe]

Originally posted by poolee womack
i go to PI on aug 4th

thats awesome we should see each other, maybe even make it into the same platoon, I'm not sure how their formed so I dunno

I think my recruiter told me somthin bout 2nd bat.. Echo but im not sure that was a long time ago

[poolee womack]

yea i know that if i leave aug 4th i will be 3rd bat. not sure what platoon though

[22DevilPup87]

I wish you both the best of luck.

As far as PT is concerned, I've never had the opportunity to PT with somoene else except when I was at the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. I enjoyed group PT while I was there, but it was somewhat overwhelming and very much based on the needs of the majority. (There were roughly 600 Midshipmen Candidates there, all PTing together.) I kind of wish I had someone PTing by my side on my "lazy days" though.

[ProtectnServe]

Originally posted by poolee womack
yea i know that if i leave aug 4th i will be 3rd bat. not sure what platoon though

maybe he did say 3rd bat. I'll find out tommorrow for sure

[poolee womack]

I really don't want to wait till aug 4th though i might leave next week they are saying they need someone for next week.

[Soon2BkidTx]

PT good for you and good for me......i love PT i hate humping up the Reaper and MT. Mofo....lol....but was doesent kill me makes me stronger.....so OOOH-RAAH!

[CrazyBrave83]

My Recruiter really does a good job at all of our Poolee functions. At our weeklys, he usually works us to the bone. I remembered when my friend was in the DEP the most he ran at weeklys was 1.5 miles. I've only been to maybe 5 weeklys (I work and am often very busy, but I PT on my own time), and we run 5 miles at most of them and do a good hour of calisthenics. The Calisthenics include push ups, pull ups, crunches, side-straddle hops, squat-thrusts, and (I can't remember the name) the arm rotations. I've only been to one monthly, the first I couldn't make, and it was TOUGH. I'll admit, I like going to them but I kind of don't. There are a lot of kids that are in great shape and it makes me feel like a s***head. But anywho, at our last monthly, we kinda had a recruiting station competition, did relays in a field that looked like Vietnam, it was all overgrown and muddy. We did firemans carry while running (distance was about 50 yds.), We bear crawled, Crab walked, Did squats, Wheelbarrow racing, and then we did up-downs in a Multi-Park car garage. It was a DIFFICULT day but I loved it, it sucks cause making them is tough because I work on Saturdays and I owe my parents a ton of cash.

Overall I'm very happy with my recruiter, he's a great guy who actually cares about the recruits, not just numbers.

All of you keep your heads up. Womack and ProtectnServe, good luck at PI! I'm heading down there Dec 1st.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

I understand where you all are coming from, but I am starting to get frustrated. Your recruiter can't get you in shape, you have to do that on your own. He can stand there and watch you do it, but he can't do it for you. But, being the highly trained Marine NCO or Staff NCO, he can tell you what needs to be done. It may not seem like the best idea to you at times, but believe me, he knows what he is talking about. Now, sure it would be nice to have all the nifty stuff that a gym has. But, last time I checked the PFT didn't involve anything in a gym. With the exception of a pull up assist machine, there isn't much you need that you can't get by working out alone. With a partner to hold your feet, you even have moved past the need for a pull up machine. There are thousands of places to look for PT advice. (I am sure there is even some on this board!) There are books written about the PT program at MCRD, there are web sites dedicated to military fittness... all the information you need is out there, show some initative and desire, and go find it. If you can't, send a PM to me and I will show you where it is. But remember, nobody can do it for you. I can't get you ready, your recruiter can't get you ready, six guns, bones, nor anyone else can. It is something you have to do... so go do it.

[ProtectnServe]

Like I said. I do PT on my own I don't need anyone to hold my hand while I get out and do my runs, or watch me do situps, or pushups ect.

I just found it funny that one of my recruiters main selling points is "I will help your son/daughter get prepared mentally and physically for recruit training".

and as for the gym thing I just think it would be nice to be able to get into the gym and workout on the days that it rains (which its been raining here on and off for a couple weeks now ).

and as for PT advice I dont need any, I've read everything in this forum, and on numerous other sites.

[firstsgtmike]

Damn, ProtectnServe.,

I wish I had it all together the way you think you do.

"I dont need any, I've read everything "

I'm going to make you eat your words, OR you can make me eat mine.

After graduation, come back here as a Marine, and announce once again that you didn't need any advice, because you had read everyting and had it all together.

BEWARE. I had many parents who lost their bet with me and were required to make a "substantial" contributuion to the Toys For Tots program.

I supported the program, but I Never Lost.

Time passes on, and you MAY get lucky. Like a crap game, announce your point, and then make it. You're covered on the back line.

[richgitz]

Yes siree! firstsgtmike.
Sounds like this person knows everything. Reading and knowing
and doing are two different things. I hope for his sake he can
back up everything he says. I know the DI's will find out, just how
much superior this person is, on knowing everything. I guess only
time will tell.

[22DevilPup87]

I partially stand by ProtectnServe. I PT on my own and don't need anyone to watch me do it, but when my recruiter found out he wouldn't be getting a billet out of me he literally said, "Make weight, get a first class PFT, then come back to see me. Don't step foot in my office until then." For me, that's motivating. He's going to see me again, and he's going to see me with a first class PFT and at weight.

I do have to admit, though, that I have friends that can't sign yet that go to pool-ee functions with their RSS, yet I was never invited. It's disappointing, but as I said, I'm going to get that first class PFT and make weight. In ... eh, a month or six weeks ya'll should hear about that happening.

[ProtectnServe]

I didn't mean I know everything for boot camp, I've got alot more that I could find out about that I try to find out somthing new everyday.

What I meant was I know pretty much everything about what I need to do as far as my PT routine.

[poolee womack]

It's crazy how fast the year goes while your in DEP but now that I am only 3 weeks from shipping the time has slowed to a halt and I just want to get there and get started. It's driving me crazy.

[btrogu]

True, I'm 34 years old and have been out since 1997. I keep my haircut a high and tight and run 3 miles a day atleast 3 times a week. Plus do my push-ups, side straddle hops, leg lifts, etc.. Plus living at the beach and running on the boardwalk and seeing those nice pretty girls will motavate anybody. I also have a couple of running cadance cd's I use. PT GOOD FOR YOU GOOD FOR ME OORAHH

[firstsgtmike]

22DevilPup87

"Make weight, get a first class PFT, then come back to see me. Don't step foot in my office until then."

I remember.

I remember an underaged fat blob who would accompany his older friends to my recruiting office.

When they came to visit on boot leave, he would be with them.

After his 17th birthday he wanted me to sign him up. I told him that I had never sent a blob to the Fat Farm at MCRD. I told him to join one of the other services.

Four months later, he was back in my office, minus thirty pounds of flab.

He paid his dues, I paid mine. He went down to the Fat Farm and came back from MCRD eighty pounds lighter than when he left.

His father owned a car dealership and wanted to give me a free .......

No thank you sir, I've already been paid. Dennis stopped by here on his way home.

[Echo_Four_Bravo]

ProtectnServe, I am going to say a few words to you that you will hear often in your time in the Marine Corps, IF you make it. "If it ain't rainin', you ain't trainin'!" Marines are amphibious warriors from the sea, a little rain is nothing to be concerned about.

Now, about your recruiter. I can see why you are upset. You think he isn't living up to the promise he made to your parents. That may be how you look at it, but I see it in a different light. If you are ready to go to boot camp, he did his job. The fact you may have to spend some time doing it on your own is in fact doing more for you than you think it is. You can't always rely on someone else to get things done for you, sometimes you need to do it yourself. Case in point, if there is some kind of paper work you need to get on a base (this is new to me, poolees didn't get on bases around my RSS) then go to the guard shack on the base, get the papers, fill them out, and bring them to your recruiter to sign. He is busy dealing with other issues and it would make his life a LOT easier if you showed some initiative and got things done.
Now, as for you knowing everything you need to know about your PT program... if you aren't running a 300, this isn't true. I know I have been PTing for a long time, and I still learn something new almost daily.

22DevilPup87, I can see how what the recruiter did to you may be seen as something "bad." I disagree though. You took it right. You used his comments as a form of motivation. You will make weight, get your PFT in order, and show back up at his office. That is great! But, there are people out there that will not do that. They will take what he said to mean they can't do it, and will just go away. In honesty, it is better for the Corps if those people walk to the Army recruiters office.

[22DevilPup87]

What my recruiter did was an important part of the weeding out process. I don't hold it against him in the least. I want his help, but I have to earn it. I'll earn it by showing him I can get a first class PFT and make weight. I'm in the midst of proving to him that I have what it takes to have a shot at being in the beloved Marine Corps.

So, Echo_Four_Bravo, long story shortened, I definitely agree with you.

[Patrick8605]

I have a question, what if you were a "little" guy...I'm talking about 140lbs and around 5'9", I know I have to work my butt off but watching discovery channel they had a documentary on Marine Cold weather training and almost all of those guys were small like myself even before they went to the training. So I am just wondering if there is anyone who went to boot who has a small body frame?

[btrogu]

Yep, I was 5'5, 119 lbs. I was also in great shape too. I did a 298 in my final pft in boot camp and always had nothing lower than a 295. You're gonna have to work butt off nomatter what your body frame. It's always better to be smaller. It's a lot easier to gain than to lose. It will be tough when carring a heavier pack. I went through cold weather trainging up in Bridgeport Ca, and I carried a pack that weighed more than I did. No lie. Just keep doing your PT and study your Genral Orders and learn some Marine Corps history and you're be fine.

[gwladgarwr]

I'm what you might call a "little guy", sorta. I myself am 5'10" and 135 lbs, and thought those recruits were going to outrun, out-crunch, and outdo me in pull-ups, and outdo me in every other physcial aspect. When I reported to MCRD Parris Island in March 2001, I was also 32 years old and had also previously taken two trips through OCS (liked it so much I had to do it again!) I'm also a runner (a lazy one, but still a runner), which helped a little bit. I graduated from Plt 3053, M Co, 3rd Bn as company high PFT as the company's oldest recruit at age 33 with a 300 and the only one to max out in Mike Co. (except for the female company high recruit from 4th Bn who also got her 300.) I also scored 300 at OCS in '98 on a broken hip, which was weird. I've run 6 marathons since the broken hip, and three of them after boot camp.

The older recruits in boot camp and at OCS tended to do better physcially for some reason - even the broken ones! So, long story short, being "little" is no obstacle to achieving your goal at boot camp. You will amaze yourself at what you can achieve! A lot of training and preparation prior to ship date don't hurt, either. In fact, the smaller recruits tended to resist injury or physical problems more than the big guys - could be attributed to either the big guys' not having conditioned their bodies enough prior to boot camp, or, their bigger and heavier frames simply could not tolerate the physical stress of training due to more mass and weight.

Keep training, and know that you can do anything you want if you set your mind to it. In the Marine Corps, there are no obstacles standing in your way - just another objective to identify and destroy! Semper Fidelis! :marine:

gwladgarwr (LCpl Race)

[22DevilPup87]

Just to back up what these Marines are telling you (Not that they need any backing up ...) being small shouldn't hurt you. My max weight is 125, but you can bet (and you'd win) that I plan on maintaining at 115 - 120. My guess is that at one time I'll be expected to carry something heavier than I am.

At NASS during their Career Options brief we heard from a Navy SEAL. That SEAL was maybe 5'3" and 125.

It's not the size of the dog in the fight. It's the size of the fight in the dog. It's all heart.

[Patrick8605]

Thanks guys...There is a lot of fight in this dog and I hope I can max my PFT.

[Ajm81]

I must commend my recruiter. I dont know if I should use his name, but he is in the Mempis TN office. He has been with me every single step of the way. Im a little older that most the pooles in my area. Im 22, and married (4 yrs), with 2 kids. but I have the full support of my wife, parents, her parents, and all my friends. I guess I am just lucky (maybe blessed would be a better word) in that area. But anyway, my recruiter calls me up every week. "Hey how are you? you PT ing this Thursday. If you can't make it call me up during the week, Ill work out with you help you out on those crunches..." this is a example of the many calls he's made to me. He keeps me motivated ( I am pretty much self motivated, but his additional mental support has really given me a strong respect and liking for the fella). I would almost go as far as say, I love the fella.....almost. LOL. But anyway, he may never read this, but I feel that I owe him so much. Thanks SSGT Lockman

[clint]

When I went in I was 111 at 5'7". In other words a bean pole. I bearly made the run time but had every thing else perfect when I went Dep. By the time I was heading to San Diago I had a mid second class. When I finished boot I was low first class.During training and Ops I never had any concerns about not able to do something because of size.Most of this was done on my time because my recruiter told me straight up. " Do it on your own because Im here to get future Marines in not do everything for them. I'll give you the how to do it and the rest is up to you ."

[bear_grunt]

I ahve a question for anyone willing to answer. I have assesed my weaknesses and the critical area that I need work in is the upper body area. I do lots of pushups and inclined pushups. My problem is with pullups and rope climbs. One of my problems is that I don't have an accesable pull up bar. I thought about putting one in the back yard, but that idea was nixed by the wife. There is one at our local city park, but when I get on it I struggle. Any suggestions. I do pretty good with teh rest of the PFT. My run time is a 21 min 3 mi, but that has steddaly been dropping. I can also know out the crunches. I did 90 in 2 min last time I tested myself. So any advice on the dreaded pull ups would be helpful.

[doubletaps]

Here is what worked for me and many other of my fellow Marines. Do pyramids at least once a day. Start by doing one pullup, dropping off and immediately doing ten pushups. After this get back on the bar and do two pullups followed by ten pushups. Keep doing this until you get to five followed by ten and then work your way back down to one followed by ten, a brief rest and then a max set of pullups. If up to five is too many, then start lower around three and go for it. Your ultimate goal is to get to 10 and back down. If you can get to eight and back down you can probably do around 17 or so. If your at 10 and back down you can definitely get 20. Hope this helps and lay off the junk food if you are seriously trying to better your PT score. There is always some exception out there who can smoke all day and eat anything he wan't and still kick everyone elses &%**%^ at PT. But as I said this is the exception. Hope this helps some because it sure did help me.

[NFO-05]

For working on the pullups I recomend the Armstrong workout. When I first started the workout I was lucky if I broke ten. Now I max out everytime. It's hard work, but well worth the effort.

http://www.marineofficercandidate.com/armstrong.htm

[JChristin]

If becoming a United States Marine is your prime objective everything else is cream.

A United States Marine can go anywhere, at anytime, under any condition and meet any cause.

This is not only my experience, but the experience of many other Marines.

I was what could be termed a "fu-fu" girl when I entered the Marine Corps. Tall (5'10"), weight in at 124 pounds, and wasn't physically ready for the demands of boot. 13 weeks later, I was a lean, mean, fighting machine, a woman Marine. I made the transfer from the modeling trade to the warrior trade. From Miss. Fu-Fu to U.S. Marine. My life has never been the same since, thank God.

18 years after discharge, I am still a bad runner, except on the trend mill, mountain climb & hike (real mountains - not those east coast hills), mountain bike, swim, lift-weights, and shoot the sh!t with a group of other veteran Marines. Plus, I write motivating letters to recruits in boot. I remember how lonely it can seem not receiving a letter at mail call.

Get ready for the experience of your life. It never ends. After this life, we get called to Chesty's duty - guarding the streets of heaven. Never a moments rest!

semper fi,
jchristin

[jenrmurray]

Bear_Grunt- check out a sporting goods store like sports authority. My husband and I picked up a pull-up bar there for about fifteen dollars. We mounted it in the kitchen doorway; anytime we walk into the kitchen, we also do a little upper body work. Having a bar in your home makes it SO much easier to work on your strength. I've made a lot of improvement in my flexed arm hang time since we installed the bar.


Good luck! :)

[GoldBar06]

MillRatUSMC, all I can say about that is OOrah!, and "Once a Marine..." Its motivating to hear that the Corps is still a big part of your life, I hope some day i can do what you're doing, taking my experiences and using it to help others seeking to serve their country the best way possible.

[jdewiii]

Today we had our weekly PT session down at the recruiting office in Newark, DE. I must say, that today, I had the most intense PT session while in the DEP program, and ya know what? Even though I was pushing and hoping it would end, I've come to appreciate the fact that no matter what, our recruiters know that if they keep pushing us, we'll suck it up and take it and better ourselves. I look forward to my motivational Sat. mornings at 0900 because I know I am going to be challenged. It's sick how motivated our recruiters are, and in return how motivated they make us. I love it.