USMC PFT Scores and Requirements

The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, or PFT, evaluates stamina and physical conditioning. It includes 3 parts: pull-ups or push-ups, crunches or plank pose, and a 3-mile timed run. Pull-ups and push-ups are essential to building the upper body strength necessary to win battles. Crunches and planks are critical to maintaining a strong core and being battle-ready at a moment’s notice. Males must complete the … Continue reading USMC PFT Scores and Requirements

3 Tips to be stronger for OCS

The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, or PFT The Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, or PFT, evaluates stamina and physical conditioning. It includes 3 parts: pull-ups or push-ups, crunches or plank pose, and a 3-mile timed run. Pull-ups and push-ups are essential to building the upper body strength necessary to win battles. Crunches and planks are critical to maintaining a strong core and being battle-ready … Continue reading 3 Tips to be stronger for OCS

What a Professional Dietitian Wants You to Know About Eating Before Running

Thank you to OCS blog contributor, registered dietitian and Marine spouse Cortney Berling, MPH, RD, CDE. Sign Up for her OCS Prep Nutrition Program here to improve your fitness and knowledge with live group coaching (limited availability) Pre-Run Nutrition  What you’re eating before running can make a significant difference in your training and PFT score.  Every athlete is different, therefore pre-run nutrition choices should be … Continue reading What a Professional Dietitian Wants You to Know About Eating Before Running

USMC-OCS-PFT-Pullups

How to Train Before OCS to Minimize Your Injury Risk

How can you prevent injuries and stay out of medical while at OCS? One of the many questions that you might have before stepping onto Brown Field is in regards to injury prevention and staying out of medical during your time at OCS. My name is 2ndLt Aegerter and I graduated from OCS in the summer of 2019. In addition to going through OCS myself, … Continue reading How to Train Before OCS to Minimize Your Injury Risk

Hikes At PLC Juniors

We’ve been getting great questions about OCS through our email campaign. We will share some of the best ones, updated with information for 2018 on the blog. Marine hikes are often one of the most challenging PT events for candidates. Question  Hello, Skipper. I was OCC-99 (1976). My son has been selected for his 1st summer PLC this coming May 2018. I was going to … Continue reading Hikes At PLC Juniors

Test Your Physical Fitness With This PFT Benchmark Workout

Thanks to Candidate X who graduated in the summer of 2016 for this benchmark PFT workout. “There was a MARSOC Captain I met after graduating OCS and he took my OSS through, what he called, a good Benchmark PFT. I would have to agree. It’s very simple, but the cumulative loading effect is what makes this difficult.” Benchmark PFT 5 pull-ups (kip when you can … Continue reading Test Your Physical Fitness With This PFT Benchmark Workout

Training with Mother Nature

Thanks to Caleb Baker, experienced trainer and founder of DynamicU for authoring this post on training with Mother Nature. Coach Baker has trained military personnel from every branch, professional/collegiate athletes, general population, including people suffering from chronic diseases like MS. It’s that time of year again- where the cream rises to the top: the fitness cream. The next few months will either make or break you, and … Continue reading Training with Mother Nature

MEC

Test Your Physical Limits with the Muscular Endurance Course (MEC)

The Muscular Endurance Course (MEC) is a workout candidates will complete 2-3 times during their time at OCS. Many other PT sessions will be similar to the MEC. Complete the circuit twice. Max effort. 1 min 30 seconds per exercise Mountain Climbers 100 Yard Sprint Push Ups 25 Yard Sprint Situps 50 Yard Sprint Lunges 25 Yard Sprint Overhead Press (should be close to 35 … Continue reading Test Your Physical Limits with the Muscular Endurance Course (MEC)

Humps (Hikes) at OCS

Hikes (known as humps) at OCS are one of the more difficult training evolutions that candidates will face on Brown Field. Preparation There are a few ways that candidates can help themselves prepare for humps. Most humps will occur before a major evaluation such as the Leadership Reaction Course or Small Unit Leadership Evaluation. You will spend the night in the field before the training evolution … Continue reading Humps (Hikes) at OCS

The Wall: A Distance Runner’s Perspective on Mental Toughness

By Kristen Schafer Let’s talk about Mental Toughness and running. If you’ve ever trained for a running event then you have probably heard of it before. At the Boston Marathon it is known as “heartbreak hill”, at the 25k national road racing championships it’s called “the green monster”, at the biggest road race in the U.S., Bloomsday, it’s called “Doomsday hill”, but most runners just … Continue reading The Wall: A Distance Runner’s Perspective on Mental Toughness