[ANC] What are you doing to get ready?

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So, in interest of keeping things interesting(lol), I wanted to start a thread to give people ideas(maybe some going overboard), conversation and anything to keep everyone still excited about getting into the ANC(Army Nurse Corps) and maybe help us all prepare. I think my time in the Army has had some lasting effects on the way I prepare (which is always prepare way too much).

I will just post some things, than myself and my wife(the wife is joining and was selected, I am only there to add stress to her on preparednesslol).

Physical: She is PT'ing everyday. Some things we do are; 40lb ruck foot marching, 40lb ruck running with sprints, distance running both outside and treadmill, muscle failure pushups and sit ups, tons of flutter kicks(to exercise those abs and hip flexors), PT test once a week which we keep a graph of scores.

Knowledge: We study military history, also printed out the Army Study Guide http://www.armystudyguide.com/, make flash cards with army knowledge, read and study many of the FM's that will be useful in BOLC ie FM 3-25.26(land nav) FM3-21.5 (drill and ceremony), also study the Soldiers Creed, the Officers creed, the Army Song, The general orders and a few more things.

these are a few things we are doing(really more than actually needed). This can be overkill, but how I see it, and have pushed into her head is, the more she already knows, the less of a learning curve she will have, the more she can put into honing her skills while there and be the best Officer/Nurse/Soldier she can be.

So what are some things you all are doing, to get prepared. Hopefully you can all help one another and be the best BOLC class the Army has ever seen lol.

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I am active but am in Nursing school in Houston so I am remotely attached to a unit in San Antonio which means I am under the radar. Since I'm out here by my self I pretty much have to train on my own. I will be done in MAY so maybe in BOLC by fall 2013? What I'm doing is signing up for a bunch of mud runs in my local area's. They are fun, full body, and give me small goals to keep my training up. I guess this could keep you in good running shape and more agile for obstacles but really it's more for fun.

As you know the Army is all about repetitive stress (not a whole lot of variety to PT). If you doubt that check with any Army physical therapist and ask what are the most common injuries that they see. On this what ever your doing just make sure that you change it up. Don't run all the time either with or without weight. Bike, swim, or any other non-impact activities will be a good supplement in your training program. I never run more than 3 times in a row without throwing a bike or something like that to give the joints a good rest. Throwing a pack on and doing some timed marches though is a great way to get ready.

CrossFit is another great way to get in shape. That or another program like it. I spent 4 years at Ft Belvoir and the post hired some instructors to come and do "functional training". Did for about 2 years, was great and kept me in all around good shape both strength and cardio.

Just remember that your knee's need to last you your whole career. I don't have knee issues but a prophylactic approach is to get some inserts. I made and appointment and had my feet scanned to get orthotic inserts cause I DON"T want issues. Army will give you two pairs. I keep one in my boots and one in my running shoes. I have been in for 8 years and this principle has done me fine, hope it will last me the next 12...

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As you know the Army is all about repetitive stress (not a whole lot of variety to PT). If you doubt that check with any Army physical therapist and ask what are the most common injuries that they see. On this what ever your doing just make sure that you change it up. Don't run all the time either with or without weight. Bike, swim, or any other non-impact activities will be a good supplement in your training program. I never run more than 3 times in a row without throwing a bike or something like that to give the joints a good rest. Throwing a pack on and doing some timed marches though is a great way to get ready.

CrossFit is another great way to get in shape. That or another program like it. I spent 4 years at Ft Belvoir and the post hired some instructors to come and do "functional training". Did for about 2 years, was great and kept me in all around good shape both strength and cardio.

Just remember that your knee's need to last you your whole career. I don't have knee issues but a prophylactic approach is to get some inserts. I made and appointment and had my feet scanned to get orthotic inserts cause I DON"T want issues. Army will give you two pairs. I keep one in my boots and one in my running shoes. I have been in for 8 years and this principle has done me fine, hope it will last me the next 12...

We try to keep it mixed up for sure, including biking, and eliptical training(mostly to minimize impact.

I am kinda just putting her through a rough PT blitz, similar to what I did on a daily basis in a combat arms unit, she really wants to do really really well on the PT test. Best way(until they change the !PT test) to max the test, is to practice PU, SU, 2mile ALOT lol. Her change from where she started is amazing. Her first two mile run was a wopping 29.5 minutes. She has dropped more than 1 minutes so far, starting around September. She was able to do a wopping 1 correct pushup, when she started, and can now knock out 25 text book pushups before pausing. her situps went from around 25 in 2 minutes to a little over 60(i think that was the last time she tried was a little over 60).

She did get a chance to do some training with the M9 (beretta 9mm pistol) and for her first time ever firing a gun she actually shot as well if not better than myself. I was very proud of her. And she did that without her corrective lenses on. She was very timid about shooting at first, but now she is in love with it. Though the double action of a beretta sucks for her tiny hands. the first shot can get away from her for that reason.

Thanks for the tips on the cross training SGT, Our hectic life kinda prevents us from signing up for mud runs but we are able to get out to the parks and get some decent outside training. I am starting to hear people are getting scrolled so hopefully we find something out pretty soon.

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Looks like your training is paying off for her. I think she will be way ahead of most others going in with no experience. I have been going on little shuffles in my combat boots to get my feet use to them again. Will start putting on some weight soon and build up.

Just the fact that she is shooting a beretta will put her in a good position. I'm not sure if we do both the M16/9 at BOLC or just one.

Good luck on the training and make sure she is getting her rest too. I am tentatively slotted for the 15 JUL date so I am more concerned about the heat than the actual training. I did enlisted basic at Knox during JUL/AUG, sucked!

Well, we will see. Who know's, I might even been in the same class as her.

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yes, you do both m9/m16. I feel ya on basic training in the summe months. I did basic at FT Sill in june-oct. sucked so damn bad lol.

She has to do alot more shooting to be ahead of the curve on BRM but she actually loves doing it. My cousin is a Marine and a weapons instructor and he teaches her. She really is doing PT very well for someone that has never been that sort of person at all.

Good luck SGT, and I hope your career shapes out to be awesome.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Informatics.

I need this thread lol

has anyone here ever used p90x or insanity as part of their workout regimen?

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.
yes, you do both m9/m16.

True true ... but we didn't fire to qualify, but just for familiarization. Still fun, though. :)

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I need this thread lol

has anyone here ever used p90x or insanity as part of their workout regimen?

p90x will kick your but and is a great full body and cardio workout. But always remember focus on PU/SU/2mile run. The best way to score great on a pt test is to plain out kill those three exercises. Impact on your joints sucks, and you can help it by mixing it up with other things, but you have to do well in those three.

Lunah,

I never got to go to an m9 range that blew. It isnt a pistol I love, I personally carry a G23gen4 clock, but woulda been fun to shoot while in the army.

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Leekun,

I was the special emphsis pt instructor (PT for MEDDAC Soldiers who did not meet standard) for 2 years at my last duty station and I incorporated P90X constantly in my PT regimine. I even once gave PT to the whole hospital in preperation for a PT test and took them through the ab ripper, it was well recieved.

I tried insanity when I got to my current location cause I'm attached remotely and have to do PT on my own. I did it consitantly for about 2 weeks and then had to back off because of all the plyometrics got my knee all inflammed. I enjoyed it but way to much jumping and I was conditioned before I started... If you want to start a PT routine Insanity is not the way to start but is something that you can pick up after you have had some good conditioning. P90X is good right off the bat. Either way though you need crazy amounts of personal motivation to stick to any at home program.

It's easy to blow off home routines, finding a local gig and meeting up with people is a lot better in my opinion because you have a support system to keep you motivated. Just my opinion.

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Specializes in ER, ICU.

Wow, go army!

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Informatics.
Leekun,

I was the special emphsis pt instructor (PT for MEDDAC Soldiers who did not meet standard) for 2 years at my last duty station and I incorporated P90X constantly in my PT regimine. I even once gave PT to the whole hospital in preperation for a PT test and took them through the ab ripper, it was well recieved.

I tried insanity when I got to my current location cause I'm attached remotely and have to do PT on my own. I did it consitantly for about 2 weeks and then had to back off because of all the plyometrics got my knee all inflammed. I enjoyed it but way to much jumping and I was conditioned before I started... If you want to start a PT routine Insanity is not the way to start but is something that you can pick up after you have had some good conditioning. P90X is good right off the bat. Either way though you need crazy amounts of personal motivation to stick to any at home program.

It's easy to blow off home routines, finding a local gig and meeting up with people is a lot better in my opinion because you have a support system to keep you motivated. Just my opinion.

thank you very much!

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