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- Get in shape. Yes, this post is about mental preparation; however, you will struggle if you show up to boot camp out of shape. You will begin behind everyone else; this will affect your mental outlook and confidence, as well as your class standing, your ability to engage in the training, and others’ perception of you.
- Get your body ready. I’ve already mentioned the need to get in shape. Likewise, your body needs to be ready not to have caffeine, nicotine, and workout supplements, and to expect reduced sugars and carbs.
- Learn as much as you can about what happens at boot camp before you go. Going into any situation with realistic expectations will help you more easily navigate that situation.
- Practice spending time without your phone. Plan on having no access to your cell phone at boot camp, though, depending on the service, you may get limited privileges at times.
- Be well-prepared for the test. Do not start "studying" (exercising) for the PFT a week or two before the test. Fitness is a daily habit that needs to be developed 4-6 times a week (see article archive for ideas).
- Test yourself; take the PFT once a week. It is the stopwatch that causes most of your anxiety, so train with the stopwatch when doing push-ups, sit-ups, running, etc.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eat more fruits and vegetables than fast foods, sleep regular hours, drink more water and exercise 4-6 times per week.
- PFT-taking meals. On the evening before the PFT, drink water, eat more fruits and vegetables, and lean forms of protein like fish and chicken. Pasta is a prerace favorite among runners and swimmers.
Jul 29, 2024 · Sleep hygiene and anxiety reduction: Poor sleep can worsen anxiety symptoms, creating a vicious cycle. Anxiety boot camps often address sleep hygiene, providing strategies for improving sleep quality and duration.
It's normal. Just relax, enjoy what time you have as civilian and spend time with those who matter to you before you leave. If you eventually choose not to go, then make that decision but until then, attend whatever your recruiter has you do in the dep and dont give up on yourself.
- The Minimum Isn't Going to Cut It
- Pay Your Bills
- Study Ahead of Time
- Channel Your Mental Anxiety and Fear
- Prepare Your Body For Something Different
- Define Your Personal 'Mission'
- Get Your Body Into The Correct Sleep Cycle
- Learn The Fundamentals
- Brief Your Family About Your Limited Communication
- Interested in Joining The Military?
Many recruits I speak with assure me they are ready for the physical aspect of basic training. However, I soon discover that their idea of being ready is to perform the minimal sit-ups, push-ups and run time required by the military. Aiming for the minimum standards is not the way to ensure you will succeed. When physically preparing for basic trai...
Just because you're in basic training, far away from home, doesn't mean the world stops spinning. Believe it or not, your bills for your cellphone, internet, rent and car still need to be made when you're at basic training. If you neglect any bills, they most likely will go to collections. Many jobs in the military require a secret security clearan...
When you arrive at basic training, you will be required to learn a massive amount of information within a short amount of time. Each military branch has its own unique rank structure and other information you will be required to memorize such as general orders, current chain of command, etc. Within the first couple of weeks of basic training, you w...
Mental toughness is a huge battle that must be won. If your mind breaks down, it doesn't matter how ready your body is for basic. Eliminate fear and anxiety with understanding and preparation. Understand that the point of basic training is to break down previous belief systems and build you back up with new ones that align with your team, and prepa...
If you arrive fit, then the physical demands of boot camp will be a release of stress and not a mental hurdle. You will be tested on push-ups, sit-ups, and run time (some branches even do pull-ups and swimming). Most of the stress and anxiety comes from being timed under these conditions so when practicing before basic training, time your workouts....
My personal "life mission" is to serve others. It doesn't matter if I'm scrubbing toilets or conducting a fitness class, my philosophy enables me to do it with passion. Whether you joined to protect and serve, be the first in battle or improve your family's position in life, you always can refer back to your personal mission to keep your head and h...
Getting your body into the correct sleep cycle before you leave will help you adjust to long days and short nights at basic training. One thing most boot-camp graduates agree on is the importance of getting your sleep cycle in sync with the time zone at your basic training location. Your body already will be fatigued due to the sudden change in tim...
By far, the most important thing that you can do before basic training is to learn a few military fundamentals. Much of your time in basic training will be spent with your face in the soldier's manual. If you prepare yourself now by learning the below items, you'll concentrate on the task at hand and will fly under the radar of the drill sergeants....
Time will be very limited while you are in basic training. Prepare your family members by informing them you will not communicate with them frequently. When you have a chance to make a phone call, you can bet a drill sergeant will time your conversation to no more than a few minutes. Explain to your family that it may be a few weeks before they hea...
We can put you in touch with recruiters from the different military branches. Learn about the benefits of serving your country, paying for school, military career paths and more: sign up nowand hear from a recruiter near you.
You have nothing to worry about if it was only a couple times. I'm not a marine, but I do have a bad anxiety disorder. Just remember to slow down, breath deep, and exercise often. And make sure to get enough sleep. If I can survive a couple attacks a week, you'll do fine. And don't worry about having an attack, as that can cause one.
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Jul 2, 2014 · Other related boot-camp articles: Are You Fit to Serve? Prepare Yourself for Boot Camp; No Weights at Boot Camp; Pre-Boot Camp Training; Physical Fitness Test Anxiety