Physically Fit For The Army National Guard Basic Training?

Question

I am 8 pounds over my weight for the army. This is not a big deal at all to me because I can drop the weight easily.

However I am not in shape, I am working out, running, sit ups, push ups etc. Although honestly I can't do many push ups and I am lacking in the running. So this is a question for all recent military members. Should this stop me? I am worried I will not make it throught basic training, I have studied, read and overlooked all I can about basic training. I want to go in soon but I feel like I should get into shap which will take more time.

How many of you could not do your required amount of push ups, sit ups, etc. How well did you do? This is the one thing holding me back from signing and going on in. Any thoughts? I am looking for some serious help, not just someone wanting points.

Thanks in advance for all help.

I am required to do 53 push ups, honestly I can barely do 10, 43 Sit ups, I am around 20. What do I do? Wait and get in shape or just go for it??????

Answer 1

during your first day of basic training they see what level your on than give you more or less say if your lacking in running they give you less than the former track star and they will slowly build as you get better i say go in as early as possible to get it over sooner  

Answer 2

First of all, National Guard Basic is the same as Regular Army Basic.  Everyone goes to the same place and trains together.  While you are in training, the cadre make no distinctions between the two.

And do not worry about not being in shape.  Many people do not arrive in shape and most will go on to graduate.  If you do not make it through BCT, it would not be because you are not in good enough shape, but just that your heart wasn't in it.  The only people who can legitimately claim physical failure are those that were injured during the course.

When I began, I was lucky if I could run 2 miles in 2 hours... but by the end of it, I was running 2 miles in about 14 minutes.  As for pushups, I had rarely done any all my life up until I went there.  I could barely manage 20 when it started, but worked my way up to maxing by graduation and the same for situps.

Trust me, they will get you in shape.  If you are overweight for your gender, age, and height, they will do what is called taping you.  This measures your body fat percentage so that even if you are overweight, they can determine if it is muscle or fat.

You should sign up if you want to, but use the time between now and when you ship to exercise, start eating healthy, and just overall preparing yourself.  You do not need to go in looking like Hulk Hogan, but the better shape you are in when you ship, the easier the transition will be.  But, even if you go out of shape, you will quickly get there.

Answer 3

It is literally impossible to fail BCT.  When I went through BCT in 2005, I had people in my platoon that were overweight and seriously did NO EXERCISING before coming to basic.  They couldn't run far at all and were barely able to do a few sit ups and push ups.  They ended up drastically improving and graduated with the rest of us.  BCT isn't physically hard, it is much more mentally draining.

Answer 4

i was the same as you plus 40lb over weight  and by the end of basic i could do it.  youll be alright.  plus if you cant do it they put you in a week by week program where youll stay until you can pass a pt test.  i lost 45 lb in 8 weeks.  they get you in shape dont worry.  go for it.  

Answer 5

It is possible you won't make it, but more than likely you will be fine.  You may get recycled.  This means you will end finishing basic training with a different company, one that is a month or so behind.  It is also possible to get recycled more than once, although there is a limit to the army's patience.  Basically, if you can do enough pushups, situps, and run fast enough to get into basic training, they will probably be able to get you into good enough shape to finish it, but it may mean that you will do 4 months of basic instead of 2.  

It might be better to give yourself an extra month or two to get ready, but keep in mnd that unless you have already signed up and have a basic training date, you will not be able to go right away, and you will have the option of doing a delayed enlistment.  In any event, if you start working out seriously now and give yourself a month or two, you should be able to get in good enough shape.  Start running 5 or 6 days a week day (1.5 miles as fast as you can on tuesday, thursday, and saturday and long endurance runs on monday, wednesday and friday).  On your long runs work up to 5 or 6 miles, if you can.  Also, road march (speed walk) 3 to 6 miles one to two times per week, with 35-50 lbs. on your back.  If you cannot run at least 12 miles per week, do 2 additional miles of road marching or 3 miles of bike ridng for every running mile you are short.  As far as pushups go, do as many sets of pushup and as many sets of situps or other abdominal exercises as possible all day long or two or three times per day 5 or 6 days per week.