Physical Conditioning for Beast Barracks

patentesq

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My DS is busy preparing for R-Day and exercising regularly. I have searched the forum to see whether there is a discussion on the level of physical conditioning needed CBT. The most I've been able to find are vague statements to the effect that the cadet should "be in the best physical condition of their life" to avoid being harassed, etc.

The problem is that my DS has other time commitments, so my question is this: If a cadet meets the average standards for run, pushups, and situps in the CFA, is s/he in for a rude awakening at CBT? Of course, if he has extra time, my DS will work to max out each event as well as practicing carrying a rucksack, etc.

Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated. He will use this information to balance his time between PT, academics, and ECs. Many thanks.
 
I'm in class, so I'll post a longer response later, but the short answer is yes. It can never hurt to be in better shape. As leaders, you have to be able to lead from the front, which is hard if you are in the back of the pack sucking wind. That being said, you don't need to drop everything and start training like an Olympic gymnast. The admissions site has a prep workout, but it is pretty basic/simple, so I would recommend a different workout. I'll post what I am currently doing at Valley Forge to prep

Anyone who has been through beast, insight please?
 
My cadet would advise NCs (acronym alert!! - New Cadets) to run hills. Not little puny hills in your neighborhood.....HILLS! And running on an incline on a treadmill does not come close to simulating a West Point hill. As cadets say, at West Point, you run uphill both ways.

My cadet was lucky that he was used to extreme humidity but cadets who were not really felt it. The other thing that is hard to prepare for that affects your physical performance during Beast is the constant mental exhaustion.

Forget being harassed-----it is imperative to be in the best physical condition of your life just to keep up.

One other word of advice: please make sure you have been fitted for a top-notch, quality running shoe by a professional. Do not go to the big-box sporting goods store and have a teenage kid working after school advise you in running shoes----hit the running shoes stores where real runners shop. You do not want to be in the sports medicine doctor's office 2 months before Beast being diagnosed with shin splits. You cannot show up at Beast injured.
 
Anyone who has been through beast, insight please?

I don't know if admissions has sent out their workout yet, but if your DS can do what they prescribe, he should be well off. Everyone improves during Beast though. People who came out of shape and failed the diagnostic APFT were able to pass at the end, and people who passed the diagnostic were able to max or super-max it.

And yes, run hills. During Beast, run groups will run anywhere from 2.5 to 5 miles at paces ranging from 10 min/mile to sub 6 min/mile in fairly hilly terrain (usually 1 or 2 big hills with smaller ones).

You can never be too ready, though. As our wise Regimental Tactical Officer said (paraphrase), "Always look at the glass as half-empty. There is always room for improvement. Never be complacent with where you're at".
 
practice road marches to toughten your feet.

You could do sub 6 minute mile, but it you got blisters no way.
 
My DS is busy preparing for R-Day and exercising regularly. I have searched the forum to see whether there is a discussion on the level of physical conditioning needed CBT. The most I've been able to find are vague statements to the effect that the cadet should "be in the best physical condition of their life" to avoid being harassed, etc.

The problem is that my DS has other time commitments, so my question is this: If a cadet meets the average standards for run, pushups, and situps in the CFA, is s/he in for a rude awakening at CBT? Of course, if he has extra time, my DS will work to max out each event as well as practicing carrying a rucksack, etc.

Any thoughts on this subject would be greatly appreciated. He will use this information to balance his time between PT, academics, and ECs. Many thanks.

He doesn't have to be in top physical fitness but should be above average. That being said, the more fit he is the better his Beast experience will be. I strongly suggest running hills along with upper body endurance exercises as the top priorities. He will have many time commitments next year and still be expected to maintain physical fitness so he should start his time management now to ensure he has time to prepare physically for Beast.
 
I'm concerned about not being able to practice running hills. I live in Florida and there are not any hills where I live. At all.
 
I'm concerned about not being able to practice running hills. I live in Florida and there are not any hills where I live. At all.

I'm from AZ, which is pretty flat too. I ended up going to local parks and running the hills there. If you haven't looked into it yet, that could work. Running stairs works also.
 
If your stairs are tiny like mine then if your school has a stadium so go run some stadiums then do lots of plyometrics.. Power and endurance
 
With regards to Beast Barracks, its everything everyone said here and more. There is more to Beast than just being in top physcial condition which you better be. You had better be in top mental condition. Be ready to get up at two in the morning and go on a ten mile ruck march in the rain. And anyone that tells you they don't harrass is being kind. They need to see what you are made of and excately what you can withstand. They are building the leaders of tomorrow.

Additionally your cadre has a lot to do with how things go. If it were easy you would not have new cadets quitting in the first three weeks. But if you stick with it you will be much better for the experience. Suggestion break in your boots, get the best running shoes, run five to seven miles a day, get your stamna up and get ready to experence a workout lkie you have never had before. But when you finsih and A day comes you will know you have completed the start of something special. Now the tough work come Classes.
Good luck
 
I have lots of really big hills around my school and they all are made of sand. I'm guessing this is a good thing but I am at a loss of what to do for the humidity. It hits about 115 degrees here during the season, but being in the middle of the desert I have no idea what to expect for humidity. Is there any way to try and get used to the humid heat of West Point in the middle of the desert?
 
I have lots of really big hills around my school and they all are made of sand. I'm guessing this is a good thing but I am at a loss of what to do for the humidity. It hits about 115 degrees here during the season, but being in the middle of the desert I have no idea what to expect for humidity. Is there any way to try and get used to the humid heat of West Point in the middle of the desert?

Not that I know of. You can prepare by getting used to drinking water (and a lot of it). Hopefully y'all won't have to force hydrate.
 
I live in Savannah, GA and there are no hills here, even at parks haha. But I run on the cross country and track teams so we improvise. We run on bridges. You have to know the traffic though so you can run it when the traffic flow is the least.
 
She switch each morning between running or during MSE (muscular strength and endurance). Advise her to do a lot of push ups. And, yeah, get her used to drinking a lot of water. It will really help her in the long run- too many cadets end up dehydrated, or worse, because they're not used to drinking enough water.
 
I've lived in New Mexico before and can attest that 4 years of dry heat there did not prep me for the incredible humidity of a New York summer. Like the others said, pre-hydrate, and be in your best physical condition.

However, if where you live has high elevation you will have a bit of an edge at West Point since your body can process oxygen much better.
 
Plenty of humidity during the summer here. I didn't feel a difference from the airport here with the air upon arrival in Newark. We can send some your way, if you want:biggrin:
 
Try being in NYC in the summer when its hot and humid. There is smog everywhere. You will get sweaty and wet from doing nothing.
 
In shape for Beast

It is a no brainer to get in the best possible physical shape you can be in for R-Day. The last thing want is to be worried about finishing a run or in agony in a run. West Point is very very hilly. Also the first focus by the officers leading Beast will be to really try and understand why someone would show up for Beast in less than top shape. Do you wish to be considered in that light or for other topics?

Go out of your way to be in top physical shape for R-Day.

If you want to edge this, then this is a very bad sign in how you are currently considering your effort for the rest of your army career.

Another way to look at it is your admission is the most valuable asset you now possess. Honor it.
 
Don't be the girl that showed up here unable to perform a single full sit up or push up on her diagnostic APFT...really, it happened.

That being said, understand it is not necessary for you to be #1 at every aspect fo physical fitness. Your squad will have people good at running, strong in the upper body, agile, ect. You will help each other excel in your weaker areas over the course of the summer and utilize each other's strengths and weaknesses.
 
You can prepare by getting used to drinking water (and a lot of it). Hopefully y'all won't have to force hydrate.

Thank you all! Several of you have raised the issue of drinking water. The Immunization Record Form Instructions state: "Lastly, it is important to pre-hydrate for summer training by drinking 2 liters of water daily for as many weeks as possible before reporting."

What I don't understand is:

1. What is the purpose of pre-hydration -- is it just about getting mentally accustomed to drinking a lot of water, or do your cells actually store up this water to be drawn upon when you need it during the summer (which seems weird to me)?

2. What do they mean by "as many weeks as possible"? Do they really mean now? (R-Day is 5 months away!).
 
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