Tactical P.E. Lesson 1 Train Like You Fight

 

LESSON BRIEF

Your life, and the lives of others, depends on how well you've prepared for the unexpected.

You can't train one way and compete another.

Doing your squats and deadlifts in the gym is great for general fitness. But if you're a tactical operator, be sure to put your gear on. When you are kitted up for an operation, your gear could weigh 40 to 70 pounds. And sometimes much more. (Continued below....)

(...Continued....)That's why it makes sense to train like you fight and wear your kit during some workouts.

What's the likelihood of you having to grab a downed victim, or a fellow tactical operator? In a real-world situation, you'll need the power, strength, and endurance to move yourself plus the injured.

A smart tactical operator also sets his kit up in a way to minimize operational friction. In other words, anything that slows you down in the battlespace. If you position your rifle magazines in a spot that forces you to take your eyes off of the target, the results could be fatal.

So build your kit to your mission. Your gear should fit your body, reduce friction under stress, and allow you to access the tools you need. Equipment setup and load stabilization is critical for tactical athletic success.

LESSON FAQ

QUESTION : How should I adjust my backpack for a perfect fit?

ANSWER : Follow the steps below to ensure comfortable carrying no matter what you're doing.

1. Load some weight into the backpack so you can get a good feel of how it will fit while it's packed. Then loosen all of the straps and put it on with all of the straps loose.

2. Tighten the hip belt. To do this, you'll want the padded hipbelts covering the iliac crest, or the very top of your hip bones. Tighten the straps until they are snug but not too tight.

3. Tighten the shoulder straps by pulling the straps straight down. Again, don't pull it too tight, you want to make sure your shoulders aren't carrying most of the weight.

4. Tighten the "load lifter" straps. The load lifters help pull the weight of your gear closer to your body. Pull the load lifters until the straps are at about a 45° angle to the backpack's body.

5. Next, fasten and tighten the sternum strap. The sternum strap pulls the shoulder straps together to relieve some of the stress on your shoulders. Keep your sternum strap about an inch below your collarbones.

6. Now that everything is tight, you can loosen the shoulder straps a bit. you should be able to feel the weight of the backpack ease onto your hips. Ideally, about 65% of the weight will ride on your hips.

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