Thread: Bodybuilding combined with Army

at first no you will not be able to eat and train the way you would like . you will probably lose weight in boot camp . however after bootcamp when you go to your tech school or A school your time should be a little more flexible for you to get back into your routine.

I was in the Army, you can forget about bodybuiding for about 6 months, you will get 3 meals during basic and that is it period. Once you get to your AIT station things get more flexable but it is still hard to be in any type of eating/training routine.

i don't get it though, why don't they encourage a lifting routine, and provide proper nutrition...don't they want soldiers to be strong and things of that nature?

Oh you will do PT Army style! Running, push-ups and sit-ups, but highly doubtful you will have access to weights in Basic, and doubtful you would have time in AIT.

Originally Posted by nmuriqi

i don't get it though, why don't they encourage a lifting routine, and provide proper nutrition...don't they want soldiers to be strong and things of that nature?

Cause you only need to be stong enough to carry a weapon and a pack, and be fit enough to chase and catch the enemy.

I'm comming up on my last 5 months in the Marines and things get a bit more flexible when you get to your 1st permenant duty station and get through the "hey boot do this then do that" phase. But the 6 month quote by Robert is pretty acurate. As far as them encouraging a lifting routine, well slim said it pretty well, they emphasize greatly on cardio, and when I got to my grunt unit it actually became mandatory on a weekly basis durring PT to stop at one of the gyms on base and do a leg routine....made for a REALLY long 2nd half of a run!

Join the Air Force or the Navy. I had 2 month's of Basic where my time was filled at all times and I ate when my squad ate. After that I spent a few hours in class during A school and had the rest of the time to myself. I went to the gym often and even trained with the SEALs for a while, I was able to eat anytime I wanted since we had breaks during school and the mess hall was right next to my barracks. When you get to your permanent station it'll be like a regular job except for when you get deployed. My in port schedule went
7:30am muster,
8-9:30 walk around with a clipboard pretending to be running over a checklist of things while stopping to chat with friends,
9:30 - 10:00 take a shit or pretend to in 15 minute intervals at 2 different restrooms,
10:00 - 11:00 take care of whatever work you were supposed to have done by lunch
11:01am - 1:30pm gym/lunch/nap
1:30 - 3:00 hang around your workcenter begging your supervisor to let everyone off early.
3:00pm to 7:30am the next morning: clubbing, drinking, sex, etc.

Originally Posted by maniclion

Join the Air Force or the Navy. I had 2 month's of Basic where my time was filled at all times and I ate when my squad ate. After that I spent a few hours in class during A school and had the rest of the time to myself. I went to the gym often and even trained with the SEALs for a while, I was able to eat anytime I wanted since we had breaks during school and the mess hall was right next to my barracks. When you get to your permanent station it'll be like a regular job except for when you get deployed. My in port schedule went
7:30am muster,
8-9:30 walk around with a clipboard pretending to be running over a checklist of things while stopping to chat with friends,
9:30 - 10:00 take a shit or pretend to in 15 minute intervals at 2 different restrooms,
10:00 - 11:00 take care of whatever work you were supposed to have done by lunch
11:01am - 1:30pm gym/lunch/nap
1:30 - 3:00 hang around your workcenter begging your supervisor to let everyone off early.
3:00pm to 7:30am the next morning: clubbing, drinking, sex, etc.

Damn I should have joined the Navy....
Well in a sense I guess I did.......
The bastard step child division!

I was going to suggest the same thing. Join the AF or Navy, though I suggest the former. You have a short basic training cycle and you'll have less time in the field and more time to lift weights. Not to mention, ask any soldier or marine who's been to an AF base who gets the best equipment and comforts of living...

If you want to be a soldier you're going to be spending half your term in Iraq or Afghanistan so consider that. You'll be subsisting heavily on MREs for nutrition and often won't have the luxuries of a well equipped gym.

Lastly, the AF and Navy are cutting recruitment quotas and even allowing experienced people to volunteer for early release to cut their terms short because they are over-staffed and the Pentagon is shifting more troops strength and assets to the Army and Marines because they have the opposite problem. So it may be tougher to get into the AF or Navy right now.

Originally Posted by DamnHardGainer

Not to mention, ask any soldier or marine who's been to an AF base who gets the best equipment and comforts of living...

I'll agree with that, especially since our "new" equipment is mostly made up of Army "hand me downs", but I don't have any regrets. But also in my opinion if you're looking for an easy military career to skate through so you can pick up some college cash (just speculating) and have that extra time for weight lifting you need to look in the mirror long and hard cause your joining for the wrong reasons, well actually those could be reasons but they should be at the bottom of the list. I'm only 26 but my beliefs are a little traditional when it comes to military. Just my two cents.

Well, you have to have that outlook as a marine, it's part of what keeps you alive. The AF is a completely different animal in that it's the only service where the officers are the ones who do the fighting; 99% of every other airman is in a support role to make that possible. Aside from the drills, uniforms, customs and courtesies, long hours, and other typical traits of military life, the AF job specialties aren't far removed from their civilian counterparts in most fields. So that's why for example when comparing the marines and AF, the two services attract different people for very different reasons. Most AF folks join for professional reasons rather than patriotism, though that may be a factor as well.

Myself, I joined the AF to get some job experience and college money so I could make up for stupidly dropping out of college earlier. I got out last year after 6 years in and now have my degree. It was worth it though...I'm a Kosovo vet by the way; still proud of that effort. I give total props to the soldiers and marines in Afghanistan and Iraq right now...they're making all the sacrifices.

I've decided not to go in the Army, bodybuilding is pretty important for me, but not as important as a job ofcourse, so i'm currently doing a 1 year education that gives me some diploma for going in the security area, maybe i'm gonnan be a bodygaurd or something.

Originally Posted by DamnHardGainer

Well, you have to have that outlook as a marine, it's part of what keeps you alive. The AF is a completely different animal in that it's the only service where the officers are the ones who do the fighting; 99% of every other airman is in a support role to make that possible. Aside from the drills, uniforms, customs and courtesies, long hours, and other typical traits of military life, the AF job specialties aren't far removed from their civilian counterparts in most fields. So that's why for example when comparing the marines and AF, the two services attract different people for very different reasons. Most AF folks join for professional reasons rather than patriotism, though that may be a factor as well.

Myself, I joined the AF to get some job experience and college money so I could make up for stupidly dropping out of college earlier. I got out last year after 6 years in and now have my degree. It was worth it though...I'm a Kosovo vet by the way; still proud of that effort. I give total props to the soldiers and marines in Afghanistan and Iraq right now...they're making all the sacrifices.

I didn't want to come off as disrespecting you, I'm not one of those "my branch of service is better than yours" type guys I respect all who wear a uniform no matter what branch. Didn't know the details of the airforce you mentioned, I guess it is quite different. I guess you learn somthing every day! And obviously I was speaking from a Marine point of view, just running accross my thoughts of all the problem Marines in companies/platoons I was in all coincidently had patriotism at the bottom of their "motivation list" for wearing the uniform; well not all but the majority of them a lot of the problem children were just there to do their 4 and collect any financial bennefits.
Again no disrespect intended.

Originally Posted by Balic

I've decided not to go in the Army, bodybuilding is pretty important for me, but not as important as a job ofcourse, so i'm currently doing a 1 year education that gives me some diploma for going in the security area, maybe i'm gonnan be a bodygaurd or something.

Every thought about doing reserves? Granted there would still be some time where lifting would be back burnered but when the boot camp/schools were over you'd be back home and you could still do your schooling as mentioned above....just a thought

im joining the army but once the basic training is over there are loads of gyms i can use to keep my routine going, and will be doing alot of physical work in basic training anyway.

Originally Posted by Curlingcadys

Every thought about doing reserves? Granted there would still be some time where lifting would be back burnered but when the boot camp/schools were over you'd be back home and you could still do your schooling as mentioned above....just a thought

Problem is, the army reserves IS basically active duty these days. 40% of the forces in Iraq and Afghanistan today are reservists and national guardsmen. Maybe he should consider coast guard or something. How about being a police officer.

Btw, I never bought into that branches rivalry crap either.

Originally Posted by DamnHardGainer

Problem is, the army reserves IS basically active duty these days. 40% of the forces in Iraq and Afghanistan today are reservists and national guardsmen.

Good point didn't really think about that.....

And I don't live in the US, but basic training in my country is almost the same and if I go in the Army I want to work with the Cavalry, and we don't have Cavalry in our reserves

Originally Posted by SlimShady

Cause you only need to be stong enough to carry a weapon and a pack, and be fit enough to chase and catch the enemy.

what about ripping your enemies head off with your bare hands and putting it on a stick!

I was thinking that during A school at night I'd have time for a local gym, I joined the Navy n my A school is in pensecola, I leave in 50 days. Even though I havent experienced much except Meps, from friends and research I think the Navy is deffinately a great way to go. I heard a guy ab my age who just joined the army talkin shit ab the Navy hard callin us gay, and tryin to use his just joining the army to hit on the waitress.He was makin shit up like tellin her they were sendin him to Bahgdad for bootcamp so he could get hands on training. I let him have it, and then cockblocked him hard It was very nice.