Beast Barracks Question

West Point

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I have a question about the Beast Barracks. I understand that it will be demanding physically and mentally but what i am wondering is what the stages are. like i know at some point the new cadets go to fort buckner and at that point it is mainly feld training. my question is at about what time does the yelling and mental abuse stop or become not as much and the field training begin. Is it once the cadet's leave west point for the last few weeks? or when
 
Beast is split into two details, each is three weeks long. First detail is more introductory stuff like learning how to march, drill, etc and the second detail is more field training (road marches, marksmanship, etc.)
 
Once second detail begins your leadership will change and the focus is shifted more towards training as you begin field work. By then you will also be making far less mistakes and give the cadre less reason to yell.
 
Regarding basic training...would benching be one appropriate way of preparing for it?
 
Regarding basic training...would benching be one appropriate way of preparing for it?

During Beast most of what we did consisted of pushups, situps, pull ups, dips, flutter kicks, and over head arm claps. I would focus more on repetitions of those exercises. I wouldn't really recommend benching, the thing you have to work out the most is stamina. Of course it also is beneficial to be well rounded but benching should not be but a small portion of your work out routine if at all included seeing as so many more important things exist.
 
During Beast most of what we did consisted of pushups, situps, pull ups, dips, flutter kicks, and over head arm claps. I would focus more on repetitions of those exercises. I wouldn't really recommend benching, the thing you have to work out the most is stamina. Of course it also is beneficial to be well rounded but benching should not be but a small portion of your work out routine if at all included seeing as so many more important things exist.

Oh, well I was pretty intent on benching to prepare for CBT, assuming that I do get accepted. I'm not that muscular, so wouldn't it be a good idea to bench to build body mass? I know it definitely wouldnt help much with training endurance but to get more raw strength...
 
Oh, well I was pretty intent on benching to prepare for CBT, assuming that I do get accepted. I'm not that muscular, so wouldn't it be a good idea to bench to build body mass? I know it definitely wouldnt help much with training endurance but to get more raw strength...

Ultimately its up to you. My suggestion based on my experience in Beast is endurance will be the most beneficial. You can be as strong as you want but Beast wasn't about strength, it was about how long you could last. The exercises I mentioned will build up body mass with muscle which will last longer than if you focus on benching. If you have more endurance, Beast will be easier and you will be at a far greater advantage than strength.

Keep in mind, you will be waking up at 0500 to run or do the exercises I mentioned. You will not be doing common workouts were you will need to do any heavy lifting.
 
Oh, well I was pretty intent on benching to prepare for CBT, assuming that I do get accepted. I'm not that muscular, so wouldn't it be a good idea to bench to build body mass? I know it definitely wouldnt help much with training endurance but to get more raw strength...

Remember too, that when you bulk up, that oftentimes makes it more difficult to do some more cardiovascular activities, because then you're just carrying that much more weight. That's why runners, for example, are typically very lean, because more muscle mass would merely inhibit them. I wouldn't focus specifically on bulking up, but rather having the strength and endurance to complete activities expected of you -- pushups, situps, pull ups, dips, flutter kicks, and over head arm claps, as mentioned by America's Finest.

Personally, if I get accepted (and even if I don't), I am going to focus first on running, then push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups, along with my normal swim practice. Then, when I have the time, I'll add in a mix of other exercises, such as the dips, flutter kicks, etc.
 
During New Cadet Training (Beast Barracks) two Army Physical Fitness Tests (APFT) are administered. The APFT includes pushups, situps and a two mile run.

The first test (strictly diagnostic) is given during the first week of Beast. This year 41% of the entering New Cadets failed this first APFT. By the end of Beast, when the New Cadets were given the APFT for record scoring, 95% of the class passed. The 5% not passing are required to participate in a special program with the Department of Physical Education and must past the APFT to remain cadets.

FYI. This year 51 of the 1304 new cadets separated during Beast Barracks.
 
During New Cadet Training (Beast Barracks) two Army Physical Fitness Tests (APFT) are administered. The APFT includes pushups, situps and a two mile run.

The first test (strictly diagnostic) is given during the first week of Beast. This year 41% of the entering New Cadets failed this first APFT. By the end of Beast, when the New Cadets were given the APFT for record scoring, 95% of the class passed. The 5% not passing are required to participate in a special program with the Department of Physical Education and must past the APFT to remain cadets.

FYI. This year 51 of the 1304 new cadets separated during Beast Barracks.

That "special program" includes getting up at 0520 every weekday for mandatory workouts before breakfast. Your team leader will also have to go to these workouts with you. Needless to say he won't be very happy if he has to get up an hour earlier every day.

Make sure you can meet those minimums before you Beast starts.
 
My advice is run, run, run, run, run, run, run...you get the idea.
 
FYI. This year 51 of the 1304 new cadets separated during Beast Barracks.


Does anyone know the reasons for tehseparations -- how many were medical, how many were kids deciding they had taken the wrong path, etc.?
 
IF an injury or illness develops there are options:
1. Remain on post, recover and make up missed elements during another summer.
2. Turn back - this is for which an illness or injury has an excellent prognsis for full recovery. You go home, get better and return in the following class.
3. Separate.

Nos. 1 and 2 are by far the most common. To be separated is pretty rare. Sometimes, however a medical problem develops and the New Cadet decides to separate rather than accept option #1 or #2; and they are offered a medical separation.
IMO - most New Cadets who go home during Beast decide that the Army is not for them.

RE: the above conversation - if you are of very slight build and/or female then strongly consider weight training. Not to bulk up but to become stronger in the upper body so you can make the ruck marches with heavy packs.
 
I agree with Mom that most separations are those who just want out. I knew a kid back in the early 70's who bailed during CBT. Called home and said "come get me." He later attended ROTC at GT and served as a Marine officer.
 
IF an injury or illness develops there are options:
1. Remain on post, recover and make up missed elements during another summer.
2. Turn back - this is for which an illness or injury has an excellent prognosis for full recovery. You go home, get better and return in the following class.
3. Separate.

I have a friend who broke his knee during the first or second week of Beast, I believe, and he took option #2. He's attending a state college for a year, then going back next year. This is the whole reason why you need to have back-ups, even after you report, even if you're certain you won't decide civilian life is better for you. Anything could happen.

RE: the above conversation - if you are of very slight build and/or female then strongly consider weight training. Not to bulk up but to become stronger in the upper body so you can make the ruck marches with heavy packs.

I hadn't thought about that, but it makes sense; normal resistance training won't be as effective if you weigh less.
 
IF an injury or illness develops there are options:
1. Remain on post, recover and make up missed elements during another summer.
2. Turn back - this is for which an illness or injury has an excellent prognosis for full recovery. You go home, get better and return in the following class.
3. Separate.
Allow me to clairfy this - the option is chosen by the Academy. The Academy would present you with one of those options - if they present you with option #1 or #2, then you may choose to accept it or separate.
 
look....relax. when I was preparing for this, i expected a super physical, hard core experience. It really wasn't.

i maybe did a couple hundred pushups over the course of the entire summer--nothing---, my end of beast apft scores were WORSE than the diagnostic ones. If you are even remotely an athlete, you will be fine. if you still feel super hooah about training, just make sure you can do at least 60 pushups (2mins), 65 sittups (2mins), and a 14 min two mile. If you can manage that, then you'll be comfortable.

what people don't expect, is it really is a complete mind game. You're being run by rising cows, who may be doing their first REAL leadership detail. some are good, some really aren't, they're just people, sometimes as backwards as you are. you will do stuff, that seems to have no value (and may actually have no value) like taking out a knowledge book and putting it back ten times--because he said so. Beast isn't perfect, but that's part of the lesson.

don't expect some super hooah pre-ranger school, like all those videos seem to picture it as, expect a sampling of the bs you sometimes put up with in a government institution.... standing in formation for two hours. watching the Fifth powerpoint presentation on your insurance policy, getting yelled at for scratching your nose when you didn't ask permission, taking your stuff off, making it neat and then putting it back on...three times... until your pl liked the location for lunch.

on the flip side, you get to do some fun stuff, you play with machine guns, claymores, M4s, it's an experience.
 
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