Coach Rusty Whitt from Tulane University joins us for an incredible episode. We dive into his unique journey from college football player to seasoned strength coach, and his transformative experiences serving as a Green Beret. Rusty shares powerful insights into the early evolution of strength and conditioning, the driving force behind his enlistment after 9/11, and the core philosophies that shape his coaching today. This one’s a deep look into leadership, service, and the long game of athlete development.

This week, we’re flying solo. Travis and I dive into the roots of tactical strength & conditioning—from collegiate programs to special operations. We talk lessons learned through trial, error, and evolution, and the importance of sharing real-world application over theory. We break down the differences between coaching in SOF vs. conventional units, reflect on launching the original H2F pilot, and—true to form—go off on a few solid tangents along the way.

Get ready for a masterclass in coaching leadership. This week we welcome Tex McQuilkin from Captains and Coaches. He breaks down his journey as a strength coach and his philosophy leadership within the profession. This is a must listen for up and coming coaches and veterans alike.

This week, we’re joined by Mark Christiani for a powerhouse conversation! We dive into minimal dose training—what it is, why it works, and how to apply it—plus Mark shares insights from his hands-on experience working with the tactical population, both in active duty and the reserves. From training philosophy to real-world application, Mark brings sharp perspective, practical wisdom, and plenty of takeaways.

In this episode, we welcome our first official guests, David and Isaiah, to discuss their innovative approach to organizing training for tactical athletes. They introduce the "Zone Method"—a practical strategy that helps coaches efficiently schedule large groups of service members by equitably distributing time and resources. When reverse cycles or alternate PT times aren’t feasible, the Zone Method offers a flexible and effective solution for maintaining high-quality training across the force.

In today’s conversation, we reflect on our firsthand experiences as infantrymen—both in the intensity of combat and the grind of training. Drawing from these insights, we shift perspectives to that of strength and conditioning coaches, examining how performance-based training can be strategically applied to enhance operational readiness and support the demands of the modern battlefield.

We discuss or views on train the trainer courses, specifically those aimed at training military members to execute physical fitness training.

Yup, we dive into running. Mainly we discuss why we should run, the volume of running we believe is beneficial, and simple approach to running for the tactical population. We even get into a small discussion on "humping" or "rucking" for the non-Marines. (Also it's not a short one... my bad)

We started this with intent of providing real examples that we have implemented. Today we discuss the scheduling and methods we used to train our entire Battalion in a day. You can find our article in the NSCA TSAC Report Issue 61 Page 8.

In this episode we build on a bit on what was discussed in episode 2 but more focused on the friction points we experience on the job with compliance. We give real world examples and cover a few thoughts on how to improve our actions as coaches in order to foster buy in.