Would you rather have a bodybuilder or marathon runner with you in a combat zone patrol?

2020-07-30T08:42:40-04:00

Bodybuilder is Arnold Schwarzegger in his bodybuilding prime. Does no cardio. Only lifts

Marathon runner is any professional runner you can think of.

Who do you trust more to carry you out of enemy fire.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Jul 30 at 2020 8:44 AM

2020-07-30T08:44:05-04:00

Depends on how far they have to go...

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jul 30 at 2020 8:45 AM

2020-07-30T08:45:30-04:00

I'd go with Arnold Schwarzenegger, at least I know if I can't get out under my own power, I'd have someone that could tote me out.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2020 9:20 AM

2020-07-30T09:20:17-04:00

https://soflete.com/blogs/knowledge/why-tactical-athletes-are-the-hardest-to-train

Why Tactical Athletes Are the Hardest to Train

One of the first conversations coaches have with people is about their goals. To best do our jobs, we need to know what it is they out of their training program.

Response by LCDR Joshua Gillespie made Jul 30 at 2020 9:49 AM

2020-07-30T09:49:34-04:00

Neither...if they've never had any sort of training for combat.

Physical strength and endurance are both equally crucial to warfighting; have been since the dawn of time. However, a seventy-year-old who spent at least twenty years of the first half of their life as a combat infantryman is going to "know" things. He's going to know what it's like to be wet, cold, and tired... but have to keep on going. He's going to know the difference between fifty and two hundred and fifty yards... and how that impacts an engagement. He's going to know how to set up fields of fire, how to outflank, and how to move to contact. Because people like this usually end up doing things in the latter half of their life at least somewhat connected to the first... he's probably going to know how to weld, build, fix a truck, and skin a deer. He's going to be sneaky, practical, and depending on many variables... might not give a d@&n about much.

However... he's going to need some young, dumb, and headstrong people to back him up. Hopefully.. they have the sense to listen to him.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2020 9:51 AM

2020-07-30T09:51:14-04:00

Only because you are asking who I trust more to carry me out of enemy fire - Bodybuilder! I am heavy into weight training and I stand 6'0" @ 230lbs... I need a person that is going to be able to pick me up just as easily as I can pick them up. I tell my guys all the time, if you go down, I can carry you, but if I go down, just hand me ammo and take cover cause you ain't carrying my big ass! That why I love the fact that our PLT medic is the same size as me!

Response by SFC James Cameron made Jul 30 at 2020 11:15 AM

2020-07-30T11:15:28-04:00

This is where the old school metric of evaluation is so flawed. I’ve had guys run 18 minute 3 miles when I was in the Corps that couldn’t hump their way out of a paper bag. Same held true later I. The Army where I had Soldiers running sub-13 minute 2 miles but the moment weight got put on their backs they were useful as a wet noodle. Then there were the meat head gym rats that could lift a truck once but had zero endurance.

Gotta find a happy medium there. Personally I want someone I know can hump 12 miles with at least 70 pounds on their back and still be a functioning human.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2020 11:42 AM

2020-07-30T11:42:08-04:00

Endurance is what you need in a combat zone.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 30 at 2020 11:59 AM

2020-07-30T11:59:16-04:00

I think something like this is better for facebook.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Jul 30 at 2020 12:57 PM

2020-07-30T12:57:35-04:00

It all depends. Depends on if the bodybuilder works on their cardio. Depends if the runner has a strong core and enough body strength and mass to carry heavy loads under stress. My first duty station was at 8th and I and saw this scenario in action when observing the Body Bearers. They are massive in strength and size. But not all of them had solid cardio. Doesn't matter how much you lift if you can't dash 40 yards before you lift it. But having ran dozens of foot races (Half Marathons, 15k's, 10k's,5k's) I have seen a ton of professional runners who are practically speed skeletons with no defined muscles in their bis,tris, or thighs, etc. Just super thin speed demons who can run all day. But they are using ultra thin clothing and limited gear. Throw on cammies, gear, weapon, ammo, water, food they would be crushed under the weight.

It just depends on finding a happy medium because the extremes on either end would be non starters

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 30 at 2020 3:24 PM

2020-07-30T15:24:19-04:00

PO3 Gerald Mercado “Aerobics” by Dr Kenneth Cooper speaks highly of the higher cardio ability displayed by a devoted bicyclist rather than that of a weight lifter.

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Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made Jul 30 at 2020 3:50 PM

2020-07-30T15:50:31-04:00

Marathon Runner... Constant combat requires ridiculous levels of endurance against hundreds of opponents... Arnold would be gasping for breath after twenty fights back to back and there is still a hundred more to go

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Jul 30 at 2020 4:47 PM

2020-07-30T16:47:53-04:00

Neither damn one- Arnie is a house size target , and I'm never too interested in running for someone. I want a stealthy, sneaky, straight shooting SOB

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Jul 30 at 2020 10:20 PM

2020-07-30T22:20:41-04:00

Marathon runner all day, every day. We will chase you down and kill you. Provided of course the marathon runner takes to leadership. Otherwise bodybuilder all day, every day. If he can't cut it I would pt his sorry ass with Team Leaders in orbit until he's a marathon runner.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Aug 1 at 2020 9:07 AM

2020-08-01T09:07:08-04:00

You have to have both strength and stamina. Humping a heavy pack and your weapon at altitude in Afghanistan must be a bitch, you need endurance and the raw strength, what if you take casualties. Then your carrying more weight, it’s hard to train for that, I suppose you do the best you can do stateside then play yourself into shape under tough conditions. Not unlike football I suppose, there’s cardio shape then football shape that you play yourself into.

Response by SPC Richard Zacke made Aug 16 at 2020 7:18 AM

2020-08-16T07:18:14-04:00

PO3 Gerald Mercado I would want a well trained infantryman or a Recon Marine who knows what the hell their doing and will cover your six!!! Now if you recieve mortal wounds and need to be carried out go with bodybuilder and if your retreating go with the marathon runner.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Aug 16 at 2020 8:54 AM

2020-08-16T08:54:16-04:00

Endurance counts a lot. I’ll take the runner or better yet one of each.