BCT

[shipssuck]

First post here, I'm currently in the fleet at the moment, an OS2, sar swimmer. I have orders to BCT in April. I can't explain how excited I am to get off the ship and into training, I've been following the 12 weeks to bud/s program put out by Stew Smith, and I have a couple questions as far as training goes, In my current workout all the swimming is done without boots and cammies, should i encorporate alot of swimming with boots and cammies or just continue to swim without? Another question is I need a new pair of boots for disl coming up next week, i figure i might as well get the same thing as i'll need in BCT, so i was wondering if anyone knew what kind of boots students wear in BCT? And thats all I have at the moment, although I really don't know alot about the training other than what is on this website and a couple others, so any tips would be great. Thanks.

[Kinnikinik]

If you are a SAR swimmer you should already know the techniques you need to pass. I don't think you need to train in boots and cammies. Just get yourself in shape for swimming and the boots and utes won't be that big of a deal. The key to swimming in boots and utes is that you have to really concentrate on the streamline. Because you have so much drag, you really want to present the most hydrodynamic shape you can. If you can, get friends to evaluate your side stroke technique and get it perfected. Work on getting the fewest number of strokes that you can per length. You can do all this without boots and utes. You will eventually be using fins at BCT, but I wouldn't get used to using them. You will be better off if you can swim extremely efficiently in a swim suit without fins than if you are swimming all geared up. You will get plently of time to get used to that at BCT.

As for boots, get some Bates Lites. Those are what you are issued in training and they are just a damned good pair of boots. They should have them at the exchange. Get the ones without steel toes.

The Stew Smith book is good. Just make sure you are having fun with your workouts. For example, if you are supposed to do a run and a pyramid during a day, run to a park to do the pyramid, then run back... or even swim back if you live near the ocean. Just go out about 25 yards so you can't touch the bottom and swim along shore.

One more thing... don't completely cut out sprints. In running and swimming you want to do sprints to keep your speed up. If you are doing distance all the time you will just get slower and slower, even though you can do more and more.

I hope that helps.

K

[sk8m99]

Always practice as hard if not harder than you are going to play. Boots and cammies is a whole other game. Mostly mental. Be prepared for everything. By the way, in BCT there is only swimming with boots and cammies. It would make sense to train in the before hand. I'd reccomend buying a weight belt and swimming the side stroke with it. You can also use it as weight if you go on a run with a ruck. Being a warrior is a state of mind. Its about training harder that others do, training in ways the people haven't thought of.

[IT_GUY]

Ships Dont suck that much! Congrats on your orders. I just got "notified" That I will be classing up in April as well. Still waiting for my orders though but the detailer said they will be here in the next few days! Guess I will see you there!