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

Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard test their swimming confidence and survivability in water during the Combat Water Survival Test while attending the Ranger and Sapper Assessment Program at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. (U.S. Army/Maj. Travis Mueller)

Beginner Workouts for Passing Military Swimming Tests

For land athletes new to the water, passing and exceeding the standards for swimming require a combination of technique...

Stairmaster Workouts for Military Prep

Stairmasters can be an excellent tool for helping prepare the lungs and legs for the durability and strain of military...

5 Common Mistakes People Make When Starting a New Fitness Program and How to Avoid Them

When jumping into a training program that is not personally designed for your starting abilities, you may end up nursing...

Army ROTC cadets from Norwich University in Vermont complete the final steps of the SKEDCO drag carry during the Northern Warfare Challenge on Feb. 25 at Grandad Bluff in La Crosse, Wis.

3 Tips for Developing a Tougher Mindset While Working Out

By pushing outside of your comfort zone, you can slowly redefine your physical and mental resilience by making things a...

Poolees with U.S. Marine Corps Recruiting Station Raleigh in North Carolina participate in an initial strength test (IST) during a state-side pool function on May 13, 2023.

How a Non-Athletic Person Should Prepare to Join the Military

Countless people who worked on farms or other manual labor jobs throughout their formative years have a natural toughness...

Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric Clark performs a Romanian deadlift in the Camp Krutke Seabee Gym at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan.

Can Service Members Develop Mental Toughness?

Mental toughness has been a long-standing topic for generations, both within and outside the military.

Staff Sgt. Elyse Bailey, a U.S. Army Reserve military police soldier representing the 200th Military Police Command, recovers after running the 2-mile Army Combat Fitness Test during the 2020 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin.

The Best Running Workouts to Improve Your Time on Military Fitness Tests

If you want to ace a timed run over the 1.5- to three-mile distances used in most military running tests, the pacing strategy...

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy is said to help individuals process and resolve traumatic memories and other distressing experiences.

How Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Can Help Trauma Patients

If you have experienced trauma and aren't achieving the desired outcomes with your current treatment, you might consider...

Soldiers assigned to the 190th Engineer Battalion, 101st Troop Command, Puerto Rico Army National Guard, ruck with their night-vision goggle equipment during annual training at Camp Santiago Joint Training Center, Salinas, Puerto Rico.

Why the Time of Day You Work Out Matters

Recent insights, including from a Nature Portfolio study, reveal essential strategies to enhance recovery through effective...

Sleep is critical for heart health. Poor sleep habits have been linked to high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and obesity. (Jason W. Edwards/Department of Defense photo)

9 Self-Care Tips to Take Care of Yourself in 10 Minutes

Here is a list of self-care tips that take only minutes a day and can make a difference between truly taking care of yourself...

Staff Sgt. Aboubacar Kallo performs hand-release push-ups on Fort Liberty, N.C.

The Best Workouts to Prepare for the New Army Fitness Test

The Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) has dropped the medicine ball toss, removed the word “Combat” from its name, and...

10 Ways to Make Your Workout the Best You Can Do

It has often been said that the best workout you can do is the one you are not doing.

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Lucas Settle performs a fireman carry at Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

This Full-Body Military Fitness Workout Requires a Buddy

Workouts designed for teamwork can be a fun and effective way to push yourself while building camaraderie.

U.S. Air Force airman Edgar Grimaldo takes a drink of water at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

How to Recover Properly from Intense Military Fitness Workouts

Here is a list of things you can do to ensure you are on the proper training/recovery program balance for your goal of better...

5 Easy Tips for Fat Loss from a Navy SEAL

Because of myths, falsehoods and all the various ways people have lost weight, fat loss can appear complicated to anyone...

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Most Popular Military News

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Military Moves, School Enrollment and Spouse Employment Were Upended by Tuberville Promotions Blockade

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Deportation officer with Enforcement and Removal Operations

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A U.S. Army Stryker oversees the southern border

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A masted Mexican navy training ship, the Cuauhtémoc, sits stranded in New York City.

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Air Force News

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Then Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. James Slife

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