The Marine Corps is creating a new fitness job to pad their ranks and protect Marines from injury via prevention, something we’ve enjoyed in SOF. It made a huge difference to me. I think this is a great new trend in the conventional ranks.

What’s your fran time? What’s your bench? These are couple of my favorite of my crossfit and meathead questions. They aren’t really relevant to performance on the field. A high bench press hasn’t helped anyone in selection for a Special Mission Unit.

But, your ability to bench press your own body weight ten times does say something about your overall fitness. As does your front and back squat compared to your body weight. Your ability to row and run and at what level matters, too. You’re ability to carry weight and traverse distance is paramount.

THOR3, Tactical Human Optimization Rapid Recovery and Rehabilitation, which I’ve written of in the past – is a great resource in Special Forces Groups. For me, once I tapped into it – it changed my experience at Group. It did a lot for me. It gave me a sense of support, and community.

My favorite was that I could have deep fitness discussions. Most important, they kept me healthy and my training in line with sanity.

Many of us in SF tend to overdo things, whatever it is. That might be why I endorse and enjoy training under the tutelage of Rob Shaul. He began Military Athlete, which has blossomed into Mountain Tactical Institute. It requires a lot of time, even more effort – but well worth if you have the time and inclination.

I eventually migrated from Military Athlete to our trainers at THOR3 for a few reasons. Our trainers were professional, had trained professional athletes, and were there at my disposal. Their careers were tied to the unit and they did believe in what we did. They were there to help. I both appreciate and respect it. They also reeled me in and stressed a foundation that kept me healthy. I was able to discover similar results as I did under Rob Shaul – but in a differently measured and scientific way. We also used state of the art equipment.

The Marine Corps is adding a similar function and job speciality to their ranks. In the same way THOR3 kept me in a more balanced approach – the Marine Corps intends to do the same for their units.