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

An Indiana Guardsman completes the plank portion of the Army combat fitness test at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, during the Best Warrior Competition.

The Exercises You Should Be Doing for a Strong Core

When most people think of core exercises, they think crunches and sit-ups – possibly because the tactical professions have...

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...

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Most Popular Military News

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., left, confronts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Federal Government Shutdown Grinds into a Second Week as Tempers Flare at the Capitol

As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Trump Targets Blumenthal, Calling for Investigation into Senator's Vietnam Service Claims

President Donald Trump is targeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal again after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S...

Pvt. Paul Douglas, age 50, performs a rifle inspection with his drill instructor aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot S.C., 1942. Douglas, at age 50 was the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island, and went on to become a purple heart recipient and Chicago senator (DVIDS).

At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

When 50-year-old Paul Douglas showed up at Marine Corps boot camp in 1942, the white-haired economics professor looked more...

Pack and transport platoon of the Russian army. Southern Military District. Ministry of Defense of Russia (Wikimedia Commons).

Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Cavalry Troops in Rare 21st-Century Encounter

A short video circulating online this month appears to show a Russian mounted patrol being struck by a Ukrainian drone near...

When The Government Can Afford Everything Except The Essentials

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as “essential.” Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into...

Troops Will Miss Paychecks Next Week Without Action on the Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families, because those in uniform...

Latest Military Videos

Trump Doubts Ukraine Will Win War with Russia, Expects a 'Fair Deal' with China

President Donald Trump pulled back Monday on his previous assertion that Ukraine could win back all territory from Russia...

Trump Considering Tomahawks' Request from Zelenskyy, Vance Says

The United States is considering a request by Ukraine for long-range Tomahawk missiles, US Vice President JD Vance has...

US Vice President JD Vance Discusses Renewed Violence in Gaza

US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said there would be “fits and starts” in the truce between Israel...

Children Among the Killed and Injured by Israeli Strikes Arrive at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis

Children were among the killed and injured by Israeli strikes on Sunday, and arrived at Nasser hospital in Khan...

Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

U.S. Army soldiers launch a drone at Yakima Training Center, Washington, July 2025. The Army is creating specialized multifunctional reconnaissance companies that integrate drones, electronic warfare systems, and traditional reconnaissance capabilities. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon)

How Ukraine’s Drone War Is Forcing the U.S. Army to Rewrite Its Battle Doctrine

The Army is overhauling how it fights in combat based on lessons from Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where drones have become...

Thousands of U.S. Government E-mails Exposed on the Dark Web — Including White House and Pentagon Accounts

NordVPN says thousands of U.S. government email addresses, including some tied to the White House, State Department and...

Navy News

Firing Artillery Over Interstate 5 Considered Unusual for Camp Pendleton, Some Experts Say

A simulated beach assault in which artillery was fired from the sand toward the interior of the sprawling base was intended...

Trump Backs Retired Navy SEAL in His Quest to Oust Kentucky Rep. Massie in Republican Primary

Retired Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein has not entered the race, but he said he would reveal his plans soon while praising President...

Air Force News

GOP Lawmaker With Furloughed Military Spouse Calls Firing of Federal Workers 'Mixed Bag'

Threats to fire federal workers have occurred as the government shutdown could soon become the second longest ever unless a...

Special Charlie Kirk Honorary Recognition Withdrawn by Air Force Academy Board

Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September and his death has resulted in some to honor him posthumously in myriad ways.

Space Force News

U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rachel Harmon and Master Sgt. Tom Anderson, weapons loaders assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, checks an inert GBU 12 laser guided missile on an MQ-9 Reaper at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base in Springfield, Ohio.

Two Space Force Units Bring the 'Invisible Front Line' to Ohio

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned for Friday for the Space Intelligence Production Cell at the Springfield-Beckley Air...

A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Clearing The Orbits: Space Force Partnerships In Orbital Cleanup

The growing congestion of Earth orbit has raised risks to satellites, space stations, and long-term space sustainability. The...

Marine Corps News

Firing Artillery Over Interstate 5 Considered Unusual for Camp Pendleton, Some Experts Say

A simulated beach assault in which artillery was fired from the sand toward the interior of the sprawling base was intended...

Artillery Round Explodes Over I-5 During Marine Demo at Camp Pendleton

Vice President JD Vance was on base earlier for the event but was not in danger following an artillery round explosion during...

Coast Guard News

A Coast Guardsman stands on the forward deck of a 45-foot response boat-medium and prepares to handle line on a channel marker buoy outside of the Honolulu harbor entrance.

Coast Guard’s Pacific Mission Continues to Expand

As tensions with China continue to simmer and drug war operations ramp up in the Americas, the Coast Guard’s duties continue...

Russian-made military vehicles on display in Caracas during a 2014 commemoration. Venezuela continues to rely heavily on Russian military equipment, including tanks, armored vehicles and air defense systems now positioned to counter U.S. forces in the Caribbean. (Cancillería del Ecuador/Wikimedia Commons)

What U.S. Forces Face as Venezuela Puts Russian-Armed Military on Wartime Alert

The 10,000 U.S. troops now operating in the Caribbean were sent to interdict drug boats. But Venezuelan President Nicolás...