What are you currently doing to prep for SFAS or SFRE

[upchuck]

I received a question via PM, thought I would post it here too. Everybody has different feet but this has worked for me and a few guys at my SFRE events. I'm also thinking that helping a buddy out that has some foot issues might really help on those peer evals.

Originally Posted by JD18

Hi upchuck,

I was curious if you could enlighten me on some of your small adjustments made to your foot conditioning that you read in the fixing your feet book.

Thanks, JD18

It taught me how to pre-tape my feet. I tape the back of my heels.

1) Clean area with soap and water (optional, but tape won't stick well to dirty feet.)

2) Cut tape to length (about 4-5 inches)

3) Cut the tape so that there are no non-round edges.

4) Apply Tincture of Benzoin to area where you are taping, wait for it to get tacky.

5) Apply the tape so there are no wrinkles while pulling on your toes to make your Achilles stretch to its full length.

6) Rub the tape with your hand (heat helps the adhesive adhere)

7) Rub foot powder around the edges of the tape. This keeps it from sticking to your sock.

8) Apply your favorite foot powder, being careful to make sure you have full coverage to the area where you applied the tincture of benzoin. The tackiness might cause some problems.

That entire process can be done in about 3 min. Unlike mole skin this should stay on your feet through water, sweat, etc if you do it correctly. You can usually get 2 days or more before you have to tape again.

I use the following tape.

http://www.amazon.com/Kinesio-Tex-Go...2152748&sr=8-2


It is stretchy, which makes a major difference. Normal medical tape will not work well.

If you already have a blister where you are going to apply the tape you need to apply a thin coat of vasoline or some triple antibiotic on the blister before you tape over it, other wise it will just rip more skin off when you remove the tape. (You will also want to drain the blister with some thread and needle)

I would really suggest getting the book. It is only $12 or so

http://www.amazon.com/Fixing-Your-Fe...2152960&sr=1-1

There is no one way that will work for everyone. I just had to put the ruck on and try several methods and combinations of techniques until I found what worked for me.

[ZonieDiver]

Jeez, I'm glad I did what I did when I did it!

Originally Posted by Shockershot87

Be careful not to overtrain. I'm running into that problem right now. I just hurt my back doing deadlifts at CrossFit. Make sure what you're doing is giving yourself enough down time to recover.

Napping during the lunch hour was one of my favorite past times. Do student still carry back packs around? I bought a medium Alice just for books, paper, pens, food, (trail mix), socks, knife, 2 qrt. water, goose down stuffed nylon camp pillow and (1) well worn soft poncho liner, faded green.

You gotta eat, so eat, but make it quick - catching a few zzzzz's helps the mind to rest as well.

During the MOS portion of the "Q", get lots of nap time. The information will better stick in the brain cavity that way, or so I'm told.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by mpower

Its a proven fact that power naps are very efficient versus sleeping an hour or more when its not "bed time."

Is there a lot of death by powerpoint when going through the MOS portion of the Q, very hands on, or a mixture of both?

mpower, I'm begining to think you consider "prep" as posting here.

If you do get to finish SFAS you'll find out posting don't equal performance.

And I don't consider your "first shot" a first shot since you didn't even sign in.

And as a side note - some of the fastest ruckers I've ever seen were short guys. Suckers could move them short little legs at a range walk for 12 miles. Looked like two blurs under the green tick. Us tall guys could hit that 13.5/14 minute mile at a long easy stride and go all day, but man, shorten stride and speed up the steep wore us out.

Originally Posted by mpower

Its a proven fact that power naps are very efficient versus sleeping an hour or more when its not "bed time."

Is there a lot of death by powerpoint when going through the MOS portion of the Q, very hands on, or a mixture of both?

Power Pointing in the "Q", (back in the day), was a salty SFC/MSG using his index finger and "pointing" at either the chalk board, or a student with a raised hand. Training in that environment is much more effienct, questions and answers come quicker with deep enriched explanations.

Training aids, be it, weapons, radios, inert blocks, maps, diagrams, medical are remembered when hands, (device, instructions, and brain), meet.

A great instructor will keep it on point when "threads" take right and left hand turns to quickly.

[CDG]

I cut back on the amount of training I was doing as prep. Working full time and taking several classes was making it difficult to train, do everything else that needs doing, and try to get a decent amount of sleep. I realized I'm better off training fewer days per week and being able to put more intensity into each workout and fully recover afterwards. I was going for awhile with little sleep telling myself that I would have to deal with it at SFAS, and should I be selected, the Q Course and following time with a Team. Then I realized that trying to recreate those conditions was futile, and an inefficient way to train. When I have to deal with it, I will. But until then I feel I am better off maximizing my recovery time between workouts.

Also, I am taking some Land Navigation courses through a tracking school and will be working with a POSE running coach on improving my running/rucking efficiency.

[Callsign]

Gotta be honest, I've been preparing since November. Coming from 0 athletic ability to about a 230 APFT as of now.

I've been doing slow cardio/heart rate training when I should have implemented sprints/intervals a LONG time ago. I ship next month, and I find myself almost in a crunch to sprint my ass off to get those run times down.

So for anyone that is preparing and only doing cardio/heart rate, please heed the warning from other QP's and push the pace on your runs. My confidence is a bit shot going into OSUT next month, but I'm pushing myself 100% everyday now in hopes that OSUT might nudge my run times down.

Not your average success story, but an honest one. Time to hit the track!

[The Reaper]

With a 230 APFT, you will have to bust your ass to get in shape before you get to SFAS.

A few years as an infantryman may help with that before you return.

TR

[Surgicalcric]

230?

I was above 230 before I start the journey to become an SF soldier...you may want to consider another path in life if 230 is all you have attained. 11B OSUT will not get you in shape for SFAS; you should have started when you signed the contract.

I am not talking about pushups, situps, or running; I am talking about rucking.

Get on it...now!

[Shockershot87]

Originally Posted by wet dog

Napping during the lunch hour was one of my favorite past times. Do student still carry back packs around? I bought a medium Alice just for books, paper, pens, food, (trail mix), socks, knife, 2 qrt. water, goose down stuffed nylon camp pillow and (1) well worn soft poncho liner, faded green.

You gotta eat, so eat, but make it quick - catching a few zzzzz's helps the mind to rest as well.

During the MOS portion of the "Q", get lots of nap time. The information will better stick in the brain cavity that way, or so I'm told.

Roger that. Am not sure if this was in direct response to my post, but your sage advice is appreciated. 5 days til I leave for OSUT. One more large ruck march in this easter weekend, then rest and recover before I leave.

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by wet dog

Napping during the lunch hour was one of my favorite past times. Do student still carry back packs around? I bought a medium Alice just for books, paper, pens, food, (trail mix), socks, knife, 2 qrt. water, goose down stuffed nylon camp pillow and (1) well worn soft poncho liner, faded green.

You gotta eat, so eat, but make it quick - catching a few zzzzz's helps the mind to rest as well.

During the MOS portion of the "Q", get lots of nap time. The information will better stick in the brain cavity that way, or so I'm told.

Nap or play hacky-sack, right, WD?

[Surgicalcric]

Originally Posted by mpower

Currently my pt score is 275-280. I max pushups and situps. I don't plan on going until I ruck 20 miles at a 14 minute pace.

Is that a good goal to set gentlemen?

The average infantryman scores in the 270-290 range; you arent setting yourself apart there. They also randomly do 20 miles marches, again...nothing new.

How about developing some SA or knowing your operational environment and being able to work within it. That would be good goals to have. I would also start working on them as soon as possible as you are deficient in both.

In short you need to do a lot more reading and a lot less posting in threads such as these. You are not, as you have been counseled before, amongst peers and have a long way to go before you get there...

Having given TS info on a poser doesnt give you carte blanche here. check your azimuth and correct it.

Now, go do PT...

Crip

[Callsign]

Originally Posted by The Reaper

With a 230 APFT, you will have to bust your ass to get in shape before you get to SFAS.

A few years as an infantryman may help with that before you return.

TR

Originally Posted by Surgicalcric

230?

I was above 230 before I start the journey to become an SF soldier...you may want to consider another path in life if 230 is all you have attained. 11B OSUT will not get you in shape for SFAS; you should have started when you signed the contract.

I am not talking about pushups, situps, or running; I am talking about rucking.

Get on it...now!

Agreed, the old SF guy I live with said he will run me over with his truck if he catches me walking or jogging.

If that's not motivation...

Originally Posted by Dusty

Nap or play hacky-sack, right, WD?

Correct. Our AIMC class room was at the end of the block, just below the hill from the COSCOM DFAC. It sat comforatbly 60 students if memory serves me correctly.

Two doors down was the CSM office and accross the street the library. Outside the AIMC room, there was a concrete wall 4' high, a pull up bar, and a large enough area for a game of hacky-sack. Nothing better to get the blood moving after a 50 minute session of "dits and dahs" then inverted push-ups, pull-ups, hacky-sack.

Who was the black SGM from Jamaica/Trinidad, circa 1983-84, who played on his country's national soccer team? He could hacky-sack real well.

[The Reaper]

Originally Posted by wet dog

Correct. Our AIMC class room was at the end of the block, just below the hill from the COSCOM DFAC. It sat comforatbly 60 students if memory serves me correctly.

Two doors down was the CSM office and accross the street the library. Outside the AIMC room, there was a concrete wall 4' high, a pull up bar, and a large enough area for a game of hacky-sack. Nothing better to get the blood moving after a 50 minute session of "dits and dahs" then inverted push-ups, pull-ups, hacky-sack.

Who was the black SGM from Jamaica/Trinidad, circa 1983-84, who played on his country's national soccer team? He could hacky-sack real well.

1SG Leroy Atz.

We used to tell the students he was Haitian, and when they would ask him about Haiti, he would hit the roof. He was from Trinidad.

TR