I challenge all candidates to achieve these minimum benchmarks before getting to OCS, and using them as training goals. This will put you in decent standing, but not the top of your class if these are your max sets. MALE Pullups: Max set 18 Pushups: Max set 65 Run: 21:00 3-mile Run: 880 meter sprint in 3:15 in boots (2:45 running shoes) Flutterkicks: Max set 60 … Continue reading One Easy Cheat Sheet to See if You’re Physically Ready for OCS
Candidates, we are running a series of small posts which answer specific candidate’s questions. Feel free to submit questions as blog comments. If the information could help others, the question may be answered as a blog post under the Q&A category. A Sailor’s Question: I am currently enlisted in the Navy and have three and a half years left in my contract. My first question … Continue reading A Candidate’s Question: Prior Navy to OCS?
Candidates, there are so many motivators out there who bother me every day with questions like, “What more can I do to prepare for OCS?” that I am debuting a new series of posts. This summer’s posts will give you plenty of ways to use up all your time before OCS to get ready or motivated for your future Marine Corps life. The Commandant’s Professional … Continue reading Recommended Motivation: Are You Reading?
Anyone who has ever attempted to complete the Marine Corps PFT will tell you that it is no easy task. Completing the test is challenging enough by itself, let alone attempting to earn a perfect 300 PFT score.
To earn a perfect score, a Marine must execute 20 dead hang pull-ups/chin-ups, 100 crunches in 2 minutes or less, and a 3-mile run in 18 minutes or less. Anyone that could achieve 300 points on this test is a true warrior-athlete. It is a balance between upper body strength and cardiovascular strength.
The Army PFT is different and challenging as well. The APFT consists of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 2-mile run. A Soldier maxes it by executing 75 push-ups in 2 minutes or less, 80 sit-ups in 2 minutes or less, and a 2-mile run in 13:00 minutes or less.
These standards are relative to the age group they belong in, in this case 21-26 year olds.
Now that we have a basic overview of each PFT, let’s take a look at how well they stack up against each other. As you read on I want to pose the following questions. Which PFT is more challenging? If you earn a 300 on one, would you able to earn the same score on the other? Which one produces the better warrior-athlete?
Once you can do between 10 and 20 deadhangs, do this work out! An important piece of equipment that you might want to buy, if your gym doesn’t have one, is a dip belt. It looks like a weight-lifting belt with a long chain attached to it. Set #1 – Do 5 slow warm-up pull-ups! Take a short rest, 1-2 minutes! Set #2 – Using the dip-belt add … Continue reading A Simple Pull Up Program To Get Over 20
To do a correct Marine Corps crunch, lay on your back with your feet flat on the deck, and your butt close to your heels.  Your arms should be crossed on your chest or your stomach.  They cannot come off of your chest/stomach during the PFT. To do a correct crunch, raise your upper body off of the deck until your forearms touch your thighs.  Go back down … Continue reading Quick N Easy PFT Crunches
Do you know how to climb a rope? Â If not, you will have to learn in a high-stress environment while dog-tired, with DIs yelling at you the whole time at OCS. Â Learning how to climb a rope before OCS will help you on the obstacle courses, and help mentally prepare you for the training. Â You can see a Marine demonstrate great form here: Rope Climbing … Continue reading OCS Rope Climbing
I don’t remember where I got this, but a friend emailed me this great list.  I hope it helps you out! It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the following “do’s and dont’s,” but don’t get too bogged down in the specifics of them. You will pick them up quickly once at OCS. The important thing is to get in the mindset of … Continue reading Do’s and Dont’s of USMC OCS
How are you doing in preparation for the PFT? This site has a great, simple calculator to give you a PFT score: USMC.PFTcalculator.com. Â I know it helped motivate me to work out to see how much one extra pullup or a few seconds off my run would help my score. Â Set some goals to help you work out! It also includes a link to the … Continue reading PFT Calculator
