We’ve written a ton of different Selection preparation articles and, being creatures of habit, stuck with the tried and true methods that got us from point A to point B. And truth be told, there is no substitute for learning to navigate and carrying a rucksack. Because when a candidate is in his Selection course, regardless of service or specialty, he/she is going to have to know how to navigate and tote the big pain pill. 

However, we’re always looking for better ways to prepare ourselves. And for several years, I’ve been intrigued by the work of Alex Guerrero. If you don’t know who that is, we’ll get to that in just a second, but the people who work closely with Alex absolutely swear by his methods and his entire performance and recovery program. 

Guerrero had worked with several NFL players and his methods got them better prepared for the rigor of playing a very physical game. He has also helped them minimize injuries and has enabled them to recover faster. After working with a couple of members of the New England Patriots, one of the players (Willie McGinest) introduced Guerrero to Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady in the early 2000s. 

In 2004 Brady had elbow tendonitis so severe that it was affecting his play and threatening his career. He had been getting massages, cold treatments, hot treatments, ultrasound, electrostimulation treatments, ART, chiropractic work, stretching, and everything else in between. But Guerrero talked to him about a different method⁠ — muscle pliability. Brady’s elbow responded positively to the work Guerrero performed. “I could feel a difference in my elbow,” Brady said. “Forty-eight hours later, after two more treatments, the improvement was even more noticeable.” In time, the pain would completely subside.