Product Description

GET IN FIGHTING SHAPE WITH THE US MARINES
You want to get fit? Tell it to the Marines! This authentic, inside look at the physical fitness training programs of the United States Marine Corps is guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life. Whether you are a Marine, plan to be a Marine, or just want to be as tough as a Marine, you’ll discover how to get in top physical condition.

WITNESS THE LEATHERNECKS IN ACTION!
Come join us at Recruit Basic Training and Officer’s Candidate School as we experience firsthand the rigorous physical regimens that turn ordinary people into extraordinary Marines. From the obstacle courses, rifle PT, and running to Boot Camp and back, you’ll discover the fitness secrets that make the Marines the toughest fighting force in the world.

Over 200 pages and more than 300 action-packed photos, including the official Daily 16 and Rifle PT.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #402227 in Books
• Published on: 2004-02-20
• Released on: 2004-02-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Customer Reviews

Semper fit!
I got this book in the hopes of finding challenging but do-able workout. There are many books that capitalise on the idea of Marine Corps training, for good reason - Marines are tough! Fair warning -- this book is not by Marines. The author Andrew Flach is a fitness expert, joined by a well-known freelance photographer (Peter Field Peck). This book is part of the Five Star Fitness Series that looks at the kinds of workouts of all the branches of the military. My father was in the military, as are many close friends, and I have always admired their fitness achievements - thus it makes sense I might opt for a military-inspired fitness programme.

This book is not simply a workout book. It is an introduction to the Marine Corps. There is more to Corps fitness than just doing push-ups and log drills. When you are in boot camp the mind is shaped as much as the body. To help with this history and mindset, the authors consulted (according to the credits) officers from the Pentagon, Parris Island, Quantico, and a corporal from San Diego. The reader is introduced to the Mission of the Marine Corps.

In addition to the workouts listed here, there are pictures and essay snapshots of what recruits actually endure in training. This book also gives some basic history of the Marines, and also walks through arrival at boot camp, either Parris Island, South Carolina or San Diego, California, the two Marine Corps Recruit Depots (boot camps). Just like recruit training, the book starts with an Initial Strength Test: for men, Pull-ups - at least 2 ; Situps - at least 35 in two minutes; 1.5 mile run - in at least 13:30 minutes. For women, Flex-arm hang - at least 17 seconds; Situps - at least 35 in two minutes; 1 mile run - in at least 10:30 minutes.

The book talks about basic Recruit Physical Training, detailing formation runs, squad ability runs, rifle PT, log drills and like activities. The Circuit Course is shown here including steps with boxes, ropes, chin-ups, weight training. It isn't until half-way through the book that the reader actually gets to some exercises you can do. This section begins with the Daily 16, a combination of stretches and exercises. These are organized by cards, that are actual laminated cards the Drill Instructors carry around for leading. There is one warmup card, two stretching cards, and three exercise cards. These should be rotated over time for use. The exercises on the cards are described in words and pictures for the next 40 pages, and then there is an additional section on rifle PT. Readers without a rifle can use any longish bar or object.

One of the points of interest in this book are the highlights of individual Marines. Marines work as a team, but rarely shy from the limelight as individuals. Sergeants Joseph Simpson, Baldemar Benavidez, and Charles Rollins, Warrant Officer Andrew Burns of the British Royal Marines, Lieutenant Commander Dennis Rocheford of the US Navy (a Navy chaplain serving with the Marines), and Captain Gary Gonthier are all held up as examples of leadership, fitness and training.

The book has a section on nutrition (as every fitness book seems incomplete without at least a gloss of this topic), but this is rather thin here. The book even includes principles of leadership and a glossary of terms, some of the letter abbreviations Marines need to know, and also the sea-based language (windows are portholes, etc.).

Near the conclusion of the book is a specific plan for those the Delayed Entry Program, to get people ready to pass these tests - they have crash courses or more reasonable courses of up to 6-months. These, of course, are just the beginning level of fitness.

The authors include the list of a 64-Day Boot Camp Workout, with each training day laid out. These are not all things that you can do at home (combat skills and obstacle courses are hard to come by).

The photographs are utilitarian and useful - black and white, not glossy and colourful; the point here is the exercise, not the subject exercising. According to the authors, part of the proceeds from this book goes to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Semper Fit!
I got this book in the hopes of finding challenging but do-able workout. There are many books that capitalise on the idea of Marine Corps training, for good reason - Marines are tough! Fair warning -- this book is not by Marines. The author Andrew Flach is a fitness expert, joined by a well-known freelance photographer (Peter Field Peck). This book is part of the Five Star Fitness Series that looks at the kinds of workouts of all the branches of the military. My father was in the military, as are many close friends, and I have always admired their fitness achievements - thus it makes sense I might opt for a military-inspired fitness programme.

This book is not simply a workout book. It is an introduction to the Marine Corps. There is more to Corps fitness than just doing push-ups and log drills. When you are in boot camp the mind is shaped as much as the body. To help with this history and mindset, the authors consulted (according to the credits) officers from the Pentagon, Parris Island, Quantico, and a corporal from San Diego. The reader is introduced to the Mission of the Marine Corps.

In addition to the workouts listed here, there are pictures and essay snapshots of what recruits actually endure in training. This book also gives some basic history of the Marines, and also walks through arrival at boot camp, either Parris Island, South Carolina or San Diego, California, the two Marine Corps Recruit Depots (boot camps). Just like recruit training, the book starts with an Initial Strength Test: for men, Pull-ups - at least 2 ; Situps - at least 35 in two minutes; 1.5 mile run - in at least 13:30 minutes. For women, Flex-arm hang - at least 17 seconds; Situps - at least 35 in two minutes; 1 mile run - in at least 10:30 minutes.

The book talks about basic Recruit Physical Training, detailing formation runs, squad ability runs, rifle PT, log drills and like activities. The Circuit Course is shown here including steps with boxes, ropes, chin-ups, weight training. It isn't until half-way through the book that the reader actually gets to some exercises you can do. This section begins with the Daily 16, a combination of stretches and exercises. These are organized by cards, that are actual laminated cards the Drill Instructors carry around for leading. There is one warmup card, two stretching cards, and three exercise cards. These should be rotated over time for use. The exercises on the cards are described in words and pictures for the next 40 pages, and then there is an additional section on rifle PT. Readers without a rifle can use any longish bar or object.

One of the points of interest in this book are the highlights of individual Marines. Marines work as a team, but rarely shy from the limelight as individuals. Sergeants Joseph Simpson, Baldemar Benavidez, and Charles Rollins, Warrant Officer Andrew Burns of the British Royal Marines, Lieutenant Commander Dennis Rocheford of the US Navy (a Navy chaplain serving with the Marines), and Captain Gary Gonthier are all held up as examples of leadership, fitness and training.

The book has a section on nutrition (as every fitness book seems incomplete without at least a gloss of this topic), but this is rather thin here. The book even includes principles of leadership and a glossary of terms, some of the letter abbreviations Marines need to know, and also the sea-based language (windows are portholes, etc.).

Near the conclusion of the book is a specific plan for those the Delayed Entry Program, to get people ready to pass these tests - they have crash courses or more reasonable courses of up to 6-months. These, of course, are just the beginning level of fitness.

The authors include the list of a 64-Day Boot Camp Workout, with each training day laid out. These are not all things that you can do at home (combat skills and obstacle courses are hard to come by).

The photographs are utilitarian and useful - black and white, not glossy and colourful; the point here is the exercise, not the subject exercising. According to the authors, part of the proceeds from this book goes to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society.

Cheap way to stay in shape
I checked this book out from my library about a week ago. I like how no equipment is needed for the daily 16, but the section on obstacle courses is useless to me. For the section on working out with an M-16, you could buy a weighted stick at a sporting good store to use.