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I teach high school physical education. Every year we have a group of boys who want to join the Marine Corps. They ask us to help them get ready for boot camp. What can we do to help these fellows?

Fitness preparation for the military is a good idea. This can help reduce the number and severity of injuries during boot camp. It could also decrease the number of dropouts during training.

According to a recent study, upper body strength is the best predictor of those who will succeed in boot camp. Pull-ups, abdominal crunches, and running three miles are common activities required in boot camp. Pull-ups are the best measure of overall fitness level.

They should do well if you concentrate on these three activities with an emphasis on upper body strength.

Reference: 

Donna J. Riley, et al. Use of Self-Assessed Fitness and Exercise Parameters to Predict Objective Fitness. In Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. May 2005. Vol. 37. No. 5. Pp. 827-831.

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