Introducing powerlifting into organized PT

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:05:27 -0400

Most soldiering skills require core strength. Powerlifting when done correctly, is one of the best things a person can do to greatly increase that. Many soldiers lift on their own time, but they tend to stick to small muscle groups (arms, shoulders, hamstrings, etc.) Other soldiers attempt to do the 4 major lifts (squats, deadlifts, bench press, and power cleans) but end up getting hurt due to improper form.

I believe that with trained instructors, powerlifts can be taught safely for soldiers to incorporate into their personal PT sessions. This would increase the soldiers core strength, flexibility, bone density, and ability to conduct their tasks safer, and in a greater capacity.

Thoughts in incorporating powerlifting routines into morning PT sessions?

reference to a terrific powerlifting coach and mentor:
http://startingstrength.com/index.php/site/about

Mark Rippetoe has developed a comprehensive training program that is very easy to follow, and gives proven results. Read more to get the full idea.

Starting Strength

Starting Strength is a training system designed to safely and efficiently improve strength using barbell exercise - squat, press, deadlift, bench press, power clean.

Response by MAJ Steve Sheridan made Apr 24 at 2014 4:07 PM

MAJ Steve Sheridan — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:07:45 -0400

Any change up in the normal routine would be great. We already incorporate different exercises on different days.

Like any good idea, take the initiative and get some measureable results to show up through your chain of command.

Good luck!

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2014 4:11 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 16:11:42 -0400

As someone who has lifted for 25 years and who has a son now into weight training - I'm skeptical. Learning to lift RIGHT takes education. The Army is good at setting standards, but not so good at training on proper ways to meet those standards. I can imagine a lot of shoulder/back/knee/elbow injuries if this was added. You would always have some muscle head E-8 pushing the junior enlisted to their limits in weight, which is the very wrong way to lift.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2014 6:59 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Apr 2014 18:59:24 -0400

THOR3

Great program that the Army recognizes. It is used in the SOF community, but Im 99% sure you can email someone about it who is willing to help. Obviously they will probably not move a facility to your post, but you can get the nuts and bolts of it and implement some of the training yourself utilizing your local sources. You wont get the full spectrum baseline tests and such, but the workouts are top of the line and tailored to soldiers. All trainers are either Former Olympic trainers or Professional Sports Trainers with degrees in this field.

Linked an article below to give you an idea of what it is.

On a Mission to Save You

AMERICA IS 11 YEARS INTO THE LONGEST PERIOD OF WAR IN ITS HISTORY. THE MILITARY IS RELYING MORE ON ITS SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES TO CARRY THE FIGHT. In fact, Special Operations Command (SOCOM), which oversees units from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Army, sent 13,000 men to 75 countries in 2011.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2014 11:40 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 May 2014 11:40:57 -0400

I saw this post as a suggested post, so I'm sorry it's 23 days old.

But I don't agree with it and it has nothing to do with safety. The Army simply can't afford it.

My one car garage I turned into a gym for my wife and I. It has a power rack, two olympic 7ft bars, two preacher bars, an adjustable bench, dumb bells, a dumb bell rack, a weight tree, calf press, and associated weights and dumb bells and it easily cost us over $2500 - and that's the relatively cheaper stuff...like ordering online and waiting for it as opposed to buying locally.

How on earth would units be able to afford power lifting equipment for a company of say 175...or even a platoon of 30...when they barely (in some instances) can buy toilet paper, printer paper, toner cartridges, let alone even some kettle bells for PRT?

Believe me, I'd love to power lift for PT...but not have one person doing it and 15 people standing around watching.

Response by SGT James Elphick made Nov 6 at 2014 12:10 PM

SGT James Elphick — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:10:18 -0500

Mark Rippetoe did an interview with Ranger Up detailing how he would change PT for the Army. I think it's a pretty good idea

http://rhinoden.rangerup.com/are-you-strong-enough-an-interview-with-mark-rippetoe/

Are you Strong Enough? An interview with Mark Rippetoe

Mark Rippetoe is highly sought after strength coach and author. His books Starting Strength, Strong Enough?, and Practical Programming are great resources for anyone looking to become stronger. I recently had the great pleasure of speaking to Coach Rippetoe and he was kind enough to share his thoughts on military fitness with the RU community.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Jan 8 at 2015 4:30 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 16:30:08 -0500

The injury rate would seem to preclude this being a good idea. Powerlifting takes technique and time to master. Time that Joe Snuffy may not necessarily have or want to give. Besides there is no real combat application for being able to lift a truck. I'll take a guy that can lift his own weight and can still run 5 miles without needing a medevac over one built like a brickhouse but can't run without getting winded.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 10:08 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 10:08:47 -0500

Good idea in concept - but better kept to small group sessions. I'd say no larger than 4 Soldiers...which begs the question, how do you implement this when most gyms on post are already crowded (at least the ones at Ft. Stewart were and I know the gyms at Bragg get crowded) during PT hours? And if you keep it to small groups (4 or less) - do you rotate groups on a daily basis, does the whole PLT go to the gym?

Moments like this make me happy I'm in the land of small units...lol.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2015 11:25 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 11:25:48 -0500

Not a fan of the idea unless you have enough prison gyms on the PT field. We already have a bunch of jackwagons spending too much time in the gym looking in the mirror or talking about lifting instead of lifting.
This would not preclude you or others, as leaders, to take the time to put on PTs and provide a safety class on proper form each month. Put it on the training calendar and do it as an end-of-day event. How can any CDR turn down a team/squad/platoon doing extra PT every month or every two weeks?