Stew Smith, CSCS®

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle, check out his Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive on Military.com. Contact Stew with your comments and questions at stew@stewsmith.com.

Latest Articles

Staff Sgt. Christian Gabelmann performs a 150-pound farmer’s walk carry as part of the maximum strength test during the 4th Infantry Division Best Ranger Competition at Fort Carson, Colo.

Should You Do Farmer’s Walks with Weight in One or Both Hands?

Farmer’s walks improve your overall strength and grip strength, as well as your balance and core muscles.

A variety of healthy ingredients were used to prepare the meals for the Healthy Barbecue Cooking Class held outside the Bayview Restaurant aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

What You Should Know About Carb Loading for Military Fitness Tests and Training

A highly active person requires carbohydrates, proteins and fats to provide energy for and support recovery from physically...

A retail services specialist 3rd class, assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) supply department, conducts a command fitness class in the hangar bay.

Fitness at Sea: Workouts You Can Do on a Ship and Ace the Navy Fitness Test

Staying fit in tight spaces with little to no equipment is always a challenge, whether you are in a hotel room or living and...

Staff Sgt. Jason Preston, an infantry soldier with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, starts his morning with 100 triceps dips on an improvised bar at his unit's tactical operations center in Jordan on Aug. 31, 2019.

This Calisthenics and Cardio Workout Will Prepare You for Any Military Fitness Test

Calisthenics and cardio exercises can be arranged in several ways to improve running times and overall fitness test scores...

Traveling? This Hotel Room Workout Will Keep You Active

If you need a rest, take it. But, if you need to be at the top of your game, be well-rested and well-tested.

(Cpl. Kenneth Trotter Jr./U.S. Marine Corps photo)

The Best Nutrition Tips Right Before a Military Fitness Test

When you're preparing for a fitness test, what you eat the night before can play a big role in your performance the next...

A Coast Guard recruit from Company Oscar 188 does plank exercises during incentive training at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J.

How to Prepare for the Coast Guard’s Mandatory Physical Fitness Tests

The service announced this week that all military personnel will be required to undergo mandatory physical fitness tests, or...

An airman lateral pulldowns during a back and biceps workout at the fitness center on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Why Grip Strength and Leg Strength Are Key Indicators for Longevity

Strong hands and legs make you an asset in many tactical and life-or-death situations. Moreover, the ability to maintain...

A U.S. Air Force pararescueman assigned to the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron recovers a simulated patient during a joint training with the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (VMM-161) in Djibouti, Aug. 4, 2025. As part of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, the 82nd ERQS serves as the task force responsible for conducting personnel recovery operations in East Africa.

The Best Fitness Strategy to Prepare to Serve in Military Special Operations

Being selected for military special operations programs requires a layered approach to fitness.

What to Know About Creatine and Why the Military Regulates it for Special Forces

Creatine's reputation is built on decades of scientific research and practical results, making it a common addition to sports...

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Mauricio Varonmoncayo and fellow classmates use fins to race during a Scout Swimmers Course at the Camp Hansen Aquatics Center, Okinawa, Japan.

The Essential Swim Workout for Military Special Operations Candidates

Building a requisite level of swimming conditioning and water confidence takes time, patience and consistent time in the...

Combat rescue officer candidates perform flutter-kicks.

Air Force Combat Rescue Officer (CRO)

The United States Air Force combat rescue officer (CRO) is an officer career field added because of the importance of joint...

Runners take off at the start of the Yokohama North Dock Running Festival, held Nov. 4 on the installation at U.S. Army Garrison-Japan. The event, which returned to the installation for the first time in four years, drew nearly 1,000 competitors for its 5K, 10K and half-marathon races.

How to Improve Your Cardio Fitness Safely

While running is an effective form of cardio, it is not always the best option for heavier athletes, especially those with...

A screen from the 2013 movie 'Cliffy,' about an Australian potato farmer named Cliff Young who won a 544-mile ultramarathon in 1983.

How an Australian Potato Farmer Changed Running Forever

Released in 2013, the movie “Cliffy” chronicles Australian Cliff Young’s rise from a potato farmer to an ultramarathoner and...

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marcella Quinonez, an aircraft armament systems specialist from the 57th Maintenance Group, performs a sandbag front carry during the fitness portion of the 4th quarter weapons standardization team load crew competition at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Try This Military Fitness Workout to Improve Leg Strength and Endurance

Leg days in military preparation training require two components: strength training with weights and movement training with...

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Col. Edward Segura, director of manpower, personnel and services, Air Force Reserve Command, speaks

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