The Any Given Day Podcast

Every soldier is a soldier just like every Marine is a rifleman. “Combat” oriented physical training gets a bad rap because it’s neither combat nor physical training; however, I build a bit of a case supporting its occasional inclusion as a PT session. Randomness can be detrimental to progress when it’s all you do but beneficial as a check on fitness. There are also several pros to combat PT beyond the x’s and o’s of strength and conditioning. 

Former Army Ranger and Special Operations Human Performance Coach, Nate Palin, offers a reality based approach to coaching the warfighter on how to shoot, move, and communicate more effectively on the front lines and the home front. I reconcile high performance ideals with an often volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous reality faced by the warfighter - so you can focus your effort where it matters most.  

Episode Topics

You’re either an asset or a liability.

Non combat arms professions still need to maintain a minimum level of combat proficiency and physicality. Traditional strength and conditioning should be the primary means of physical development but not necessarily the only means of physical development. The military has less an issue with how physical fitness training is conducted and more an issue with it not being conducted at all. Regardless of whether it’s helping initiate or elevate PT, “combat “focused” physical training has as much a  place as traditional training approaches - Less as a substitute and more as an additional option. 

The Pros of Combat PT:

• Face Validity - soldiers buy in because it looks like soldiering
• Leader Led - leaders take responsibility because it’s within their comfort zones
• Teamwork - nobody wants to be the weak link
• Skill Opportunities (tactics & techniques) - touch on infrequently trained skills while under physical duress
• Equipment aka Gear - test out gear in a safe but feedback rich environment 
• Check on Fitness - ensure raw physicality supports mission relevant demands 
• Ergonomic Unfriendliness - picking up a barbell and a body are not the same 
• Terrain - the weight room is built for safety while the world is less forgiving 
• Weather - if it aint raining you aint training 
• Cognitive Elements - physicality’s value is in how it supports more cognitive demanding tasks

= Beneficial Randomness

Resources

Valued Physicality Blog

Visit the Any Given Day website HERE.

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“Don’t train for the test” CAN be decent advice for some warfighters some of the time but I’m more often in favor of training for the test, especially when it’s a decent test - Not to be confused with training WITH the test. This episode builds a case in favor of training to improve at the Army Combat Fitness Test. 

Former Army Ranger and Special Operations Human Performance Coach, Nate Palin, offers a reality based approach to coaching the warfighter on how to shoot, move, and communicate more effectively on the front lines and the home front. I reconcile high performance ideals with an often volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous reality faced by the warfighter - so you can focus your effort where it matters most.  

Episode Topics

Job Simulation Test vs Fitness Test

• Ranger Physical Assessment Test
• Army Combat Fitness Test 
• Face validity vs twice removed from the job

APFT vs ACFT

• Events - Pushup, Situp, 2-Mile Run, Deadlift, Standing Power Throw, Hand Release Pushup, Leg Tuck, Plank, Sprint Drag Carry 
• Components of Fitness Tested - Narrow vs well-rounded 

A Case for Training WITH the Test

• Familiarization
• Confidence
• Short window for improvement 

A Case for Training FOR the Test

1. When you need something to train for - provides purpose: Inspiration, motivation, gauge of progress
2. When your programming knowledge is low - provides structure (ideal vs enough to move the needle)
3. When the assessed qualities align with physical job demands - enhancing assessed qualities = improving at the job 

Assessed Qualities by Event 

• Deadlift - Grip, Lower Body Strength
• Standing Power Throw - Total Body Power (Force and Velocity)
• Hand Release Push-Up - Upper Body Pushing Endurance 
• Spring Drag Carry - Output & Capacity, Multidirectional Movement, Load Carriage, Change of Direction, Deceleration, Acceleration, etc. 
• Leg Tuck - Upper Body Pulling Strength, Core Strength
• 2-Mile Run - Capacity

More important than HOW you train is THAT you train.

Resources

ACFT Landing Page

Unofficial RPAT Description

ACFT Preparation Book

Visit the Any Given Day website HERE.

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Slow and silent vs fast and violent represent two ends of the spectrum when it comes to movement. Military professionals are best served bringing both intention and attention to slower and faster elements of their physical training. 

Former Army Ranger and Special Operations Human Performance Coach, Nate Palin, offers a reality based approach to coaching the warfighter on how shoot, move, and communicate more effectively on the front lines and the home front. I reconcile high performance ideals with an often volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous reality faced by the warfighter.

Episode Topics

Slow & Silent Movements 

• Mobility and dynamic stability emphasis 
• Coordination development 
• Eccentric component of compound lifts
• Muscular endurance and hypertrophy 
• Single joint exercises that target supporting musculature 

Fast & Violent Movements (Explosive)

• Sprints
• Sled Work
• Plyometrics
• Weightlifting & Variations / Alternatives
• Concentric component of compound lifts 

... And the pitfalls of the apathetic middle ground.


Resources

Weightlifting vs Powerlifting Squats Video

Visit the Any Given Day website HERE.

Follow AGD on Social Media: Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | YouTube