The Most Real World Survival & Outdoor Challenge

 

SERE CHALLENGE ON IMDb

The SERE Challenge, initially known as the "Survival Games," was established in 2021 as a unique, real-world survival and evasion competition. Here's a comprehensive summary of its evolution through the seasons: 

Season 1 (2021): Concept: The first season was straightforward, focusing on evasion. Coleman Outdoors and Stokermatic, two experienced outdoorsmen, competed to see who could evade an enemy and reach an extraction point first. The winner was determined by either being the first to reach extraction or by not getting captured. Notable Features: This season set a high standard for authenticity in survival shows, eschewing a Hollywood budget or production crew, emphasizing real-world scenarios. The competition featured no staged content, with contestants having no prior knowledge of what they would face. 

Season 2 (2022): Evolution: Season 2 expanded the original concept by introducing the full SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape) elements. New Components: Captivity Phase: Each contestant was initially captured, subjected to below-freezing temperatures, uncomfortable positions, and interrogations for up to six hours before escaping. Evasion Phase: Post-escape, contestants had to navigate to an extraction point using limited equipment and guidance, making the challenge more intense. Outcome: The season highlighted the physical and mental demands of SERE training with contestants like Brent (Brent0331) and Jared (2 Alpha Solutions) competing under these new, harsher conditions. 

Season 3 (2023-2024): Increased Difficulty: Season 3 escalated the challenge by introducing a 24-hour real-world training scenario followed by another 24-hour captivity phase, making it the most demanding season yet. The Crisis: A scenario-based mission was added, simulating a real-world crisis to test the contestants' ability to operate under extended stress and uncertainty. Authenticity and Funding: Like previous seasons, this one maintained its grassroots approach, with limited funding from viewers and sponsors, ensuring the event's authenticity remained high. 

Season 4 (2025): Anticipated Challenges: Extended Duration: There's an indication that the challenges might extend beyond previous time frames, possibly incorporating longer evasion or survival segments. Enhanced Scenarios: Building on "The Crisis," Season 4 might introduce even more complex and dynamic scenarios, potentially involving multi-day operations or varied environments to test adaptability and endurance. Technological Integration: Given the trend in survival shows to incorporate technology, Season 4 might see the use of advanced survival gadgets or tech for navigation or communication, making the challenge about using technology wisely in survival situations. Team Dynamics: There's a possibility that team-based challenges could be introduced, focusing on cooperation under stress, perhaps mirroring real-world SERE team scenarios where collective survival is key. While exact details for Season 4 are speculative based on the progression of past seasons, the SERE Challenge continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of what survival and evasion training can look like in a competition format. The focus remains on realism, skill application, and the psychological endurance of participants, making it a standout event in the landscape of survival competitions. 

WATCH THE SERE CHALLENGE

Combat Field Training Exercises for Prepared Citizens

All across the country Americans are yearning for training. Tactics, field craft, communications, and basic field operations: people want knowledge and experience! Many American men have also realized the un-matched value of training with like-minded individuals. This article discusses the many aspects to the Small Unit Tactics Courses offered by Grunt Proof.

Just a few of the topics covered in the Grunt Proof SUT Course:

• Mission Analysis, ASCOPE & Leadership 
• SOP & Unit Training Development 
• Map Reading, Route Planning & Tactical Navigation 
• Communications 
• Planning & Security Patrolling: Reconnaissance/Combat | Patrol Bases & OPs 
• Intelligence Collection & Reporting 
• Battle Drills and Small Unit Tactics 
• Camouflage, & Field Craft
• Logistics & Sustainment 
• Combat Fitness & Readiness 
• TCCC & Field Aid

    

    The course begins with a simple 5-Paragraph Operations Order (OPORD), except it is broken down to the smaller unit level, which is usually known as the "5Ws." Who, what, when, where, and why. Instead of a lengthy OPORD, students are quickly given the down and dirty on what their mission is for the exercise.

    Next, based on the OPORD, the students go directly into planning their mission. Instead of the standard, boring classroom philosophy, followed by some field work, this course understands that men learn BY DOING. Small sections of specific lessons are taught, followed by an immediate execution of that lesson. The lessons and executions stack up quickly, building up to a massive wealth of knowledge fairly quickly. This efficient modality of teaching allows for the most amount of information taught, in the shortest time possible. Each lesson builds on the previous one, so the students can quickly grasp the big picture of how to run operations. The scenario then builds up to the students moving out to complete their mission. They will be in the field for the remainder of the course.

    Map Reconnaissance, Troop Leading Procedures, utilizing METTTC and OAKOC for mission planning, brings the students to the point of stepping off for their mission. Each team leader conducts a final Pre Combat Check (PCC), and the cadre assists with their own Pre Combat Inspection (PCI). Once everyone is good to go, the teams roll out. At this point, the students have only been on site for just a few hours, and will no longer return to their comfortable cots in a heated tent. 

    En route to their AO, the students learn team formations, tactical land navigation, actions during halts, implementing communications plans, battle drills, and numerous other crucial tasks. By the time the teams reach their first Check Point (CP), they are already fairly proficient in those tasks. The teams eventually occupy Patrol Bases, where they learn even more tactical skills, all while out in the field. The next three days will be physically and mentally demanding for everyone involved. The students will cover the entire 3,000 acre training area, they will sleep just a few hours per night, they will conduct raids and ambushes, they will learn medical and logistics, and they will be tested on every skill they have learned in a very short time. By the end of the exercise, the students will know everything about operations from planning and through execution. From there, the students can return to their own groups being stewards of all the information they learned.

    Considering the price vs what the students receive, the Grunt Proof SUT Course is the most in-depth, most intense, and most budget-friendly tactics course on the market. The extreme efficiency of the course offers the most information to be shared, in the shortest time possible, while not sacrificing the quality of the lessons learned. Everyone wants to train - few people have either the time or the money to leave their families for long periods, spending thousands of dollars on training. Put out the most amount of information, in the shortest amount of time, with the most budget-friendly course: that is the goal of the course.

    The Grunt Proof Crew is working hard to establish consistent training areas for this course so that we can host as many courses throughout the year as possible. Slots open to the public have already been selling quickly. Be sure to get registered before they're all gone. 

I WANT TO TRAIN! 

Testimonials

"I've done private FTXs with Randall and crew and the experience is unbelievable. I felt like I was actually deployed for 3 whole days. By the end I felt confident to bring everything I learned back to my local training group and improve our own operations."

- Adam

"I participated in a private recon FTX with the grunts near the Sierras. I thought I was good in the woods but this event taught me so many things. I had no idea how much detail actually went into running operations. I will definitely pay for the full course."

- Jesse

"I did the Grunt Proof online course seminars and if the field portion is half as good, I'm there."

- Levi

"We signed up for the November Mountain course based on our experience with the online courses. Putting it all together in the field will be epic!"

- Nunya

The Combat Fitness Study

    

 In collaboration with experts in the field of Strength & Conditioning, LEOs, Active Duty Military, and members of the Forestry Fire Department, The Combat Fitness Study successfully proved that, by improving one's strength, all other crucial components to operate in the field, under load, will also improve.

Read the full study results HERE

Major Highlights

• Improving strength alone resulted in better run times
• Strength training, along with a weekly Ruck program is an exceptional modality to improve one's "combat fitness" and overall capability to operate under load in the field
• Testing strength for combat fitness is more important in demonstrating readiness than testing for cardiovascular endurance alone
• Great runners struggled with the strength tests - very strong people struggled with the pull-ups and endurance portion - all participants approved across the board with the Combat Fitness Training Program, which included compound lifts for strength, and 1 weekly Ruck

RANDALL'S WINTER CAMPING PACKING LIST

For the newbies, these are all the basic items you need to get along in the winter. Experiment and have fun with it! 

ESSENTIALS 

[ ] Large pack: >35 liters 

[ ] Water proofing (WW bag, ziplocks, etc) 

[ ] Shelter (tough enough for high winds, snow) 

[ ] 20° bag or warmer (start with 10° above expected temps) 

[ ] >R4 sleep mat / hammock: minimum 20° under-blanket 

[ ] Long johns/thermals and extra top layer for in camp 

[ ] Extra socks or booties to sleep in 

[ ] Hats, gloves, balaclava or shemagh 

[ ] Good pillow or wrap spare layers in shemagh 

[ ] Rain gear that fits over all layers 

[ ] Food (I start with min 2600 Kcal/per day + snacks) 

[ ] Stove, gas, spoon, trash bag, coffee, electrolytes, cleaning rag 

[ ]  Water and filtration, purification. Check map and possibly camp near water source (I start with min 3 liters) 

[ ] Fire starting stuff, extra Bic lighter, fire "cheats" 

[ ] Small repair kit: 

• Needle 
• Strong tape 
• Super glue 
• 1 or two buttons 
• Strong thread 
• Sleep mat patch 

[ ] Small medical kit: 

• Medical tape 
• Band-Aids 
• Anti-bacterial ointment 
• Anti-diarrheal pills 
• Pain killers 
• Extra electrolytes 

[ ] Hygiene: Wet wipes, foot powder, small/light shovel 

[ ] Spare batteries and charger 

[ ] Compass 

[ ] Personal Locator Beacon or Garmin In-Reach, or radio that you know hits repeaters 

[ ] Headlamp or flashlight 

COMFORTS 

[ ] Extra, small, light tarp for around the fire or packing up in the rain 

[ ] Small sit pad, stool, or UL hammock for hanging around (I use a square cut from an old 1/2" foam mat)

Is "Farm Strong" Really Good Enough?

    The Strength and Conditioning world has been meeting a lot of resistance from self-proclaimed tough guys lately. Here's the argument: "I can't squat or bench, but I can sure sling bricks and lumber around with the boys. That's all I need."

    While there is a great deal of ignorance in this statement, it seems to be a mantra that is regurgitated by many. My first question is, why would any man be against getting stronger? Do they not realize that, especially if they have an active job, getting stronger would just make their job a lot easier? Does a 10-brick Tong not feel lighter if you are stronger? Does climbing a ladder on the job site all day not feel easier if your squat numbers are up? If you are moving furniture all day, who do you think will perform better, with more ease: the guy who never lifts, or the guy who has a decent deadlift? One more: when you have to move 65 wheelbarrows of concrete that day, which person do you think will have an easier time: the bigger, stronger guy, who has big squat and deadlift numbers? Or, the skinny guy who is only "worker strong?" How simple logic goes over the heads of so many is simply beyond us in this field.

I believe these anti-strength arguments come from two places:

1. The 1970s myth of "if you lift weights, you'll become big and bulky."

2. Instead of admitting that they are embarrassingly weak, most of these men would rather hide behind these cult-like statements because it sounds cooler than going to the gym and putting in actual work.

    The first argument is easily destroyed after anyone attempts to get big and bulky for a few months, or even a few years. As it turns out, even the most genetically gifted, drug-using pro bodybuilders must still put in decades of work. For many, they will spend 10+ years working hard, doing all the drugs, but are still never big enough to even step on stage. Despite what your aerobics-loving mom told you, just lifting a few weights does not make you big and bulky. In fact, if anyone could benefit from getting stronger, it would be both you and your mom.

    The second argument seems to stem from whatever is trendy online. A decade ago, Crossfit helped demonize actual strength training and got most people on board with performing highly technical lifts, to failure. It seemed cool because it was different, the "athletes" (who are also on drugs) looked normal. It also mocked anyone who performed basic strength training. You know the type: the average guy who performs the compound lifts year-round, eats right, and actually has the physique you have been pursuing for years. Yea, screw that guy; he doesn't know anything. Another version of this "farmer strong" argument comes from the rough and tough workers, or at least the men who think they are rough and tough. Then the younger kids get ahold of that, and it goes on and on...

    I could simply point out the logical error that if working on a farm or construction site made you jacked, we'd only see jacked tradesmen, and there would be no fat farmers or ranchers. We could also point to the actually jacked workers, who do train for strength, and mention their physique and job performance. You know that jacked pipe fitter on your crew? The guy y'all pick on for bringing eggs and protein to work? Yea, he's in much better shape than all of you. But why? Notice, after your 12 hour shift, you are crushed and only have the energy to hit the drive through and then your couch, in front of the TV. What about the jacked guy on your crew, the one you pick on for not joining in on poker night? He's drinking his pre-workout while walking to his truck, then he heads to the gym. Not only does the work day not crush him like it does you and your buddies, but he even has the energy to go train afterward. Is he crazy? Is he on drugs? Did the job make him this strong and energetic? Or, did him putting up some standard man numbers in the gym make him this way? 

    Don't get me wrong; a man who has an active job is much better off than someone with an office job. The problem is the ignorance that the active job makes someone strong. So, let's break it down in knuckle-dragger terms:

"Strength:" Overall force production. It is measured by force generated against the environment, or an object, i.e. - a barbell. How do we measure strength? Easy: we measure the weight on the bar.

    Now, some might argue the following: "I load 100, 75 lb bails of hay everyday. Let's see your average bodybuilder do that." A strong argument, but does it hold any weight? Of course, if you start that job completely fresh, moving such weights all day will absolutely break you off. You will be sore for a few days; maybe even a few weeks. However, after a while, your body adapts, and this job, that was once training, now has  simply become an activity. Unless you add an extra pound or two to each bail of hay each week, you will never get stronger doing this work. Of course, you are stronger than the average male who does nothing. You might even see the bodybuilder, the fake argument you have created, struggle in this environment. However, what you fail to recognize is that, once the bodybuilder adapts to this type of work, he will actually become better at it than you. As long as his strength numbers in the gym continue to improve, and he continues bailing hay, he will continue to out-perform you. Why? Because he is stronger!

    I could offer 100s of examples as above, but we don't have all day. The bottom line is that being stronger improves literally every aspect of one's life: performing at work, performing in the field, and performing in daily life. We all have to sit down and get back up eventually, right? We all carry groceries and load our trucks with equipment. We're not telling you to become obese and only care about a 600 lb deadlift. For some reason, that's what everyone jumps to: the mythical, obese power lifter. Here's a simple test for all of you. First, turn off the TV and stop watching other people live. Second, spend two months simply performing the compound lifts, progressively getting stronger in each. Then, observe how you feel doing literally anything afterward. As long as you train for strength and train properly, you should notice a drastic increase in performance, both on the job and in your personal life. Afterall, we do want to be strong, manly men, right? 

Give strength a chance

Carry on

Minuteman Combat Fitness Test

 

The Minuteman Combat Fitness Test

STRENGTH (1ST EVENT)

1. Barbell Squat: 1RM | 1.2x Body Weight

2. Bench Press: 1RM | Body Weight

3. Deadlift: 1RM | 1.4x Body Weight

4. 5 Strict-Form Pull-Ups

ENDURANCE 

1. 1-Mile Run:  < 9 Minutes*

2. 6-Mile Ruck:  < 1 Hour & 50 Minutes**

*Run is performed in PT clothes

**Ruck is performed in full patrol kit with weapon, pack, and in boots. Pack must weigh minimum 15%  of Body Weight. Route should have no more than 150 ft total elevation gain

BACKGROUND

    Strength, as measured by total force production (weight moved), is the foundation of all human activity. Without doing any other form of training, improving one's strength leads to an exceptional improvement in everything we do. This is especially true for men in a combat role. Carrying a 40-50 lb. kit, over varying terrain, for hours or days, is extremely demanding on the body. Patrolling in kit, as an example, is however a sub-maximal load. That means if an individual becomes stronger over time, all sub-maximal loads become even more so, meaning that those activities become easier to perform. By training for strength, we improve our efficiency in every activity we conduct. Also, an often over-looked benefit to improving one's strength is overall resilience: to the weather and variations, against sickness, as well as during times of extreme mental stress. This is why men must be strong, and we must test their strength. Be advised, however, that these numbers are minimum standards, and individuals should always strive to exceed them. Why squats, deadlift, and bench press? Why not the kettlebell or bodyweight exercises that the "functional fitness" gurus promote? The answer is fairly simple:

• These normal movement patterns can be progressively loaded over a long period of time. Neither KBs nor bodyweight exercises meet this criterion
• These exercises are the most objective displays of strength

    Cardio-vascular endurance, or "cardio," is also a critical during combat operations. Combined with strength, an individual with excellent endurance performs better in the field. Despite how Hollywood and video games portray combat operations, we should view this activity as a sport that's similar to baseball: a very long, mostly aerobic event, with inter-dispersed, short bursts of aerobic performance. One must be able to "go the distance," as well as perform an action, such as a 3-5 second rush or flanking maneuver, very quickly. Units must also be able to perform these actions repeatedly, over a long period of time. 

LEARN HOW TO TRAIN HERE

References & Background

This is a large collaboration with input from many different groups:

• Combat Veterans
• SOF Veterans
• Strength and Conditioning Experts
• Current civil defense group leaders
• SAR Members
• National Forest Firefighters
• LEOs

Starting Strength & Crew

Infantry Small Unit Mountain Operations

US Army Battle Focused Training (FM 7-1)

Physiology of Sport & Exercise, Kenney

Basics of Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

This is straight from the Joint Publication (JP) 3-31, Joint Land Operations: 

"The Army SOP is designed to standardize the way units operate, ensuring that tasks are performed consistently and efficiently. It is a critical component of the Army’s operational planning and execution process, as it provides a clear understanding of the procedures and protocols that must be followed in various situations." 

SOPs can be at any level, for any group, or any specific task. An SOP can also be different between different units for accomplishing the same task. Basically, imagine if you are 60 years old, and are writing a book about kicking ass in life. At some point you have figured out a few tasks that can be solved by using a simple problem solving approach. Your SOP might include planning stages, equipment requirements, what you are doing while out performing the job or activity, and maybe even a follow-up at the end. Your SOP might simply include basic procedures on how to navigate from point to another in your vehicle. Then, you'll make a separate SOP on that same trip but while on foot. Pretty simple, right? So what is the point of an SOP? 

While we may think everything we know and do are just "common sense," it may not be common sense to everyone you are leading or working with. But, the fact remains, you know the correct or most efficient way to accomplish a task, and you need your team to be able to do it your way. So what if you are sick or injured, or just not around? Can you trust your team to perform the task, by your standards, without you being there? Most likely not. You can, however, enable them to pull out the SOP for said task, and follow those instructions. As leaders, we cannot expect our team to know everything that we know, or to perform everything exactly like we can. However, we can teach them as much as possible and then, when you are not around and they become ignorant, the SOP will become their default. Lastly, SOPs can be used as assisting people through basic tasks during times of extreme stress. This is where unit training and battle drills come in to play. 

We build our tactics and battle drill SOPs by evaluating our unit capabilities, combined with analyzing the operational considerations of our environment (METT-TC). What is our job, and what are we capable of accomplishing? So first, we develop our SOPs. Next, we must test those SOPs. This is where training and sometimes, real-world testing comes into play. Hopefully we are testing our SOPs in training before the real-world does it for us, because that can suck. 

In summary, we should establish SOPs for basic tasks that we can expect our team to be able to accomplish. Can we conduct a reconnaissance patrol? If so, how do we actually do it? It could come down to a simple word document with task, conditions, and standards, or just a word doc with a step by step instruction. Many unit SOPs for radio communications and first aid applications will be step by step. However, when we are talking about battlefield tactics, the SOP will become lengthier and more complicated. The bottom line is that we have to build the SOPs in the first place, and then test them to improve them.

A few examples of necessary SOPs:

1. TOC setup, organization, and duties

2. Small Unit Tactics: Patrolling, OPs, Reconnaissance, Battle Drills, etc

3. Unit training and planning

4. Communications and Radio Etiquette

5. Team structure and equipment (MTOE)

Simple Diet Advice For Everyone

Here's the crazy secret: every diet works for nearly everyone, always

Why? Why does everyone seem to have the magical secret, or "super food" that, not only allows them to easily burn through fat, but that diet also cures all their ailments? Also, there seems to be extreme polarization between dieters: Keto, Carnivore, Vegan, High-Carb, Low-Carb, Intermittent Fasting, Raw....If you look closely, all groups have multiple "science-based" claims and personal stories proving that they hold the secret to fat loss and godliness. The answer actually simple:

All these people, for the first time in their lives, have finally started to train or exercise, and are also paying attention to what goes into their mouths. That's all it is. These people went from being extremely inactive and eating everything, to moving around like a human, and simply trying to eat less. They don't understand that because of this, literally anything and everything they do will work....for a while.

NEWBIE GAINS: If you are a beginner, you can do literally any exercise program, and follow literally any diet, and it will 100% work.......for about 4-6 months.

That's the kicker: the great majority of these people never make it past the 6 month mark. We all know that one person in our circle who has been large for a long time yet, every few months they are yelling at everyone at the BBQ about the newest magical diet, and how everything everyone else is eating will make them obese and kill them. Meanwhile, the average-sized, semi-fit people at the party are all thinking the same thing: "dude, you're fat; you've always been fat: and every year you're on a different diet and seem to know the secret, but you never actually get fit or lean."

Even worse, the average large person seems to embrace conspiracies surrounding our food and lifestyles: plant seeds, chemicals in the water, carbs/sugar, fats, this fat, that fat, meat, beans....In the 90s, you could be shot for putting pure butter on someone's toast. Today, you would get the same treatment for giving someone toast bread. Why are people so easily convinced that everything else is the problem, except for themselves? That's the key. By over-complicating everything, and finding an enemy to blame, these people can easily remove the onus from themselves and their own choices. The classic victim mentality. They can eat and live however they want, because they will always be the victim of a major conspiracy that keeps them fat and weak. The most interesting aspect of this behavior, however, is that they never look around to see the millions of other people who somehow have been able to avoid the obesity-inducing demons. And if you were to point that out, they would have a preloaded argument: "well they have good genetics," or "they just train a lot more than usual." You can basically insert your own excuse here, because we've heard them all.

So, how does one rule out all the misinformation and straight up lies, keep things simple, and just get in shape and lose their fat? That's the point: keep it simple. The calories in, calories out formula is hated because it is deemed as "too simple." Many women prefer to reverse the formula, and simply starve themselves. All the while, they are all spending more time "researching" and being neurotic about things that don't actually matter, instead of just putting in the basic work. As Mark Rippetoe (Starting Strength) has stated numerous times, "stupid people love complexity." Instead of admitting that they actually don't follow the basics, people always revert back to their victimhood. What if we just expended more calories than we consumed? What if we focused on protein and, for the rest of our macros, we just ensured that they come from actual FOOD? What if we stayed active and trained properly? Sounds too easy, and it is. And, as far as training goes, people disagree on the forms as well. Of course, there has to be a hidden boogeyman involved there as well. 

The most barebones, simplified method for getting fit is below. Caution: this advice is not complicated; there is no hidden bad guy; it works for 99% of humans; it is agreed upon by all actual experts: Physiologists, Nutritionists, and coaches and trainers.

1. Expend more calories - not starve yourself because you never move

2. Strength Train (lower reps, heavier weights), minimum 2x per muscle group, per week. Everyone, at all ages, and both sexes should being trying to get strong

3. Get in your daily activity: anywhere from 8-12k steps per day. That is much easier and more efficient than sitting all day and then running a marathon once per week, or conducting brutal HIIT workouts to compensate. Act like a human: MOVE!

4. Emphasize protein:

Strength training and athletes = 1g per pound of bodyweight

Most people = minimum .5g per pound of bodyweight

5. For carbs and fats, just make sure they come from actual food (you know what "food" is, and you know it is not Taco Bell). Do any ratio you like and what feels better for you: low fat, low carbs, who cares? Just don't demonize any specific macro or source. 

*note: if you are strength training or are a serious athlete, a higher carb diet has been proven to be best for performance

6. BE CONSISTENT. Consistency has been proven time and time and again to be the most critical factor in driving long-term results. Remember the "newbie gains" fact? The great majority usually fall off the wagon within that 4-6 month window. Do your best to NOT be that guy

7. Don't have an "all or nothing attitude." Just because you miss a few workouts, that doesn't kill your entire plan. Remember that you're human, and things happen. If you usually train 3x per week but can only make one, that's fine. Get back to it as soon as possible

That's all there is to it. KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid. If you'd like to read more behind the nutrition and training, you can read that article HERE.

Get out there and make things happen!

Randall, Grunt Proof

Mission Analysis: Understanding the Local Terrain & Environment

 

OAKOC

    If you've watched the recent videos on tactics, you've probably seen this acronym pop up a few times. What hell is it, and why is it so important? Let's dig in! Land navigation is simply getting to one point from another. Tactical navigation, something we practice every time we step out of friendly territory, for any reason, brings in a whole other level of considerations. Now you have to think about bad guys, ambushes and dying. Dying is not good. So what considerations should we have when planning our routes and rally points? Where do we set up our Objective Rally Point (ORP)? Do we use roads? Is it all just METTT-TC? What about Observations Posts (OP)? How do we build one, and what considerations do we have when setting in a defensive position? 

ENTER OAKOC:

Observation 

Avenues of Approach 

Key & Decisive Terrain 

Obstacles 

Cover & Concealment 

    When planning for almost anything, this simple decision making aid can save you lots of headache and even death. Seriously, us Grunts use it for everything we do in the field. So, what does it all mean, and how can we use it? Let's take the OP and mission scenario: 

MISSION 

    You are a 9-man squad and must conduct a tactical movement to MB 1234 5678, establish an OP, observe vicinity MB 666 555 and report all activity to higher. We're going to follow the Troop Leading Procedures to get our guys moving, and start planning the mission. We need to know which routes to take and where to establish our OP. This is where OAKOC comes in. We'll make decisions based on our map reconnaissance. 

Become a channel member to start learning!  SIGN UP HERE

Why Bodybuilding is Gay

Bottom line up front:

• The only people who care about your abs and "striations" are other dudes
• Unless you are paid to step on stage and WIN, you are wasting your time and we are all short enough on time
• If you're in the gym for 2 hours every day, you're wasting your time
• Everyone, especially young men, are better off training for strength
• To add endurance, especially for the combat world, go Ruck

   

 I know, this will be hated by many, but it needs to be said. I remember getting into bodybuilding and caring about every little detail on my body. Hell, I was even that genius who was trying to train my calves directly. I know...pathetic. Like many, I had no idea that silly isolation workouts could do nothing against genetics. In addition, training any single-joint movement is a waste of time. So why aren't young men interested in getting stronger overall? Do they not know that strong people are harder to kill, and are generally more useful in life?

    The fitness industry has done nothing but sell abs and monster workouts, created by drug-using men, to young men. Little do these misled kids know that no one, especially women actually care about your abs. As a matter of fact, look at all the comments on literally any "physique" dude's Instagram or Youtube Channel. Will there be comments from women oohing and ahhing? Or will most of the comments be from other men? The latter is a lot more accurate. Those "men" in the comments will either be trolls hating on the dude in the picture, or they will be fanboys of that dude's abs or muscles. Being obsessed with another man's abs and muscles....are you sure you're actually straight?

    Let's look at bodybuilding as a "sport." Guys like Reg Park and Arnold Schwarzenegger were probably the last "good looking" men in bodybuilding. These days, everyone who steps on stage is a walking big pharma commercial. And who even likes these physiques? Seriously, I need to know: who thinks this looks good? Regardless, men have been chasing those dreams for decades. The dream of stepping on stage wearing a man-thong, which is essentially just a beauty pageant for men. Why did we ever think this was a good use of time? What happened to learning about motors, homesteading, farming, and being self reliant? Does being a man require being able to step on stage in a man-thong, or should we be strong enough to pick up things and fight, as well as cover ground? Well, that's what this is all about.

    The term "functional fitness" has basically been applied to everything from yoga to people doing jump squats with 220 lbs on their back. As it turns out, in life, none of what you see in that world is truly functional. What is functional? Strength training, daily activity, rucking, and patrolling as you would on a mission. If we're talking about being a useful man in life, plus being useful on a team, you must be strong, and you must be able to move especially while wearing gear. That does not mean go running for miles in shorts and tennis shoes. While that is endurance "training," it does nothing to train us for what a warrior should be able to do. Read more about that HERE.

    Unlike bodybuilding, true strength training is actually useful. We don't do bulks and cuts; often, we don't even care about diet, so long as you are eating enough to recover. Instead of dieting like bodybuilders and women, we want to use food as a fuel for our workouts and activity. If you get too fat, then cut out some of the extras. Otherwise, we are eating to get bigger. Bigger and stronger - not bigger and fatter. In addition, unlike bodybuilding, we conduct simple strength training using the compound movements (squat, deadlift, overhead press, and bench) to use as much muscle as possible in one movement. We don't care about biceps or quads training. We don't have time to spend two hours in the gym, trying to "sculpt" our calves. Also, we are training for strength, that means implementing a lower rep range. 4-6 reps, shooting for 5 reps, or even the 5, 3, 1 method is the goal. What about 10-15 reps? Well, that's silly bodybuilding, and it's endurance training. Those rep ranges do not make men stronger. Sure, if you're just coming off the couch from doing nothing, any rep range, with any exercise will give you results. However, after your "newbie gains" phase (4-6 months) that progress will slow and completely halt. So why not train in the proper ranges in the beginning? "What about the jacked bodybuilders who do those rep ranges?" I'm glad you asked. If you're taking drugs (and all of them are) basically any kind of program, any exercise, and any rep range will work. On that note, are you a drugged up, competitive bodybuilder? No? Then why train like one? Train for strength, not for bikini poses.

    What about endurance? Shouldn't I run for that? We've already covered that HERE. For 99% of people, training strength 2-3x per week is more than enough of a fitness program. For people just beginning (the great majority), they see amazing results within a month, and will continue to see results over a year down the road. So, why do anything else, when you don't need to? If you like running and doing aerobics, and you are young enough to still be able to recover for your next strength training, then have at it. But if you complain about lack of time, then stop wasting your time and work on getting strong. Lastly, we have to address the warriors. If you have to perform a heavy physical job, then you made need some extra endurance training but, I let me ask: do you jog for miles in shorts and tennis shoes for your job? If not, then why "train" endurance that way? If you are a soldier, you should be rucking. Ruck at least once per week. That will be your sport-specific endurance training. Once you get out and do your combat training, such as battle drills and squad/platoon maneuvers, that will be a lot more specific in training than any jogging program you could do.

So, let's summarize:

• Train for true strength 2-3x per week
• Eat to fuel those demanding workouts and subsequent recovery
• Perform your actual sport on non-strength days for your specific training

GO TRAIN

SOURCES

Mark Rippetoe's Starting Strength

Nancy Clark's Sports Nutrition Guidebook

Brooks & Fahey Exercise Physiology

BMR Calculator