Have you been preparing intensely for military basic training, running and doing push-ups until you can barely breathe? Well, let me be the first to tell you - STOP!

Almost every recruit I talk to is preparing for basic training incorrectly. There are two ways to prepare for drill sergeants, the hard way and the easy way. I am going to show you how to prepare for the easy way for basic training for any branch of the military. Of course, there are dozens more tips in my book, The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook, Tips Trick and Tactics for Boot Camp Survival. Below are 5 advanced tips you can use to prepare for basic training:

Memorize - In every branch of the military, you will get some reading material when you arrive at basic training. In the Army, that reading material is called a SmartBook. These books contain many pages of drab reading material you will have to memorize quickly. The memorization material includes ranks, chain of commands, your service’s creed and other important information. Yes, your drill sergeants or company commanders will be quizzing you, and if you don’t get the answer right, they will be testing your fitness level (if you know what I mean). You can get research material online before you get to basic. I suggest memorizing as much as you can, so you are well prepared before you have to strap on your combat boots.

Go Shopping -Before you arrive at basic training, you need a phone card, but not just any phone card. Test out the phone cards before you leave. You want to buy a card in which the operator talks very little (regardless of the cost). You will get a limited amount of time to talk on the phone; you don’t want to waste that time with an operator giving you instructions on how to dial a phone number.

Workout with the Roosters - Too many recruits prepare for basic training with an afternoon or evening workout. Your goal is to prepare for basic training as if you were already there. Military workouts are in the early morning hours. Instead of working out after work or school, I suggest setting your alarm for 5:00am and get your workout completed early. This workout schedule takes discipline but it is an essential part of preparing your mind and body for basic training.

Push-Ups, Sit-Ups and…? – Many would-be recruits sadly incorporate only push-ups and sit-ups in their workout routine. When you do this, you’re not preparing your body for the dozens of other exercises your body will need to endure. You need to train your muscles for donkey kicks, ski jumpers, flutter kicks, planks, leg spreaders, mountain climbers, and many more. A full description of these exercises is in The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook.

Run Efficiently - You can go out and run 4 miles if you want, but to most people who don’t know how to run properly, 4 miles equals 6 miles of effort. Do some research on proper running techniques; you will be surprised how efficiently you can run when applying a few simple techniques

Michael Volkin is the author of the best-selling book: The Ultimate Basic Training Guidebook. His book is available at www.UltimateBasicTraining.com and is available in paperback, e-book and audio book format