A couple days ago one of the Machine Gunners I had been out on patrol with earlier in the day asked me how much I could bench.
 
The little gym at COP Reilly is sparse, but effective enough, especially when you consider that the guys are burning up a lot of energy on patrols and standing post. I haven't benched heavy since my surgery in January but thought I could get 295 at least once .  I got it a few more times than that.
 
The young guys, as they always do, attributed it up to Old Man Strength which is a real a phenomenon.
 
It may seem odd for infantrymen to workout while fighting a war, but it is a smart idea.  If all the acitivity you do is patrol and stand post, your body will adapt to that and your body will not have the extra reservoir of strength and conditioning for the fast moving gunfight or multi-day operation.
 
I'm in transit now to the next job, 60 days with Task Force Duke in the Eastern mountains around Khowst Province, so there will be lots of odd and informative articles and notes well into the Summer.

Please help! Hit the tip jar or buy a dvd.

---