Stew Smith, CSCS®

Stew Smith is a former Navy SEAL and fitness author certified as a strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. If you are interested in starting a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle, check out his Fitness eBook store and the Stew Smith article archive on Military.com. Contact Stew with your comments and questions at stew@stewsmith.com.

Latest Articles

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ed Scherzer, with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, performs a demonstration on the dip bar on Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

How a Low-Cost Home Gym Can Produce Big Fitness Benefits

For less than a $200 investment, you can have a functional home gym capable of keeping you in top shape and even preparing...

Participants run through a series of drills and exercises at Fort Drum, New York.

The Best Strategy to Rebuild Your Mileage After Sustaining a Running Injury

Not all injuries are created equal, but when an injury prevents you from running for more than six months, you should build...

Chief Warrant Officer Greg Gransback uses an elliptical trainer at the gym on Camp Victory, Iraq.

How to Gauge Where to Begin a Fitness Program

What is a good workout for someone who is just starting a fitness plan?

1st Lt. Molly Reagan, assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, performs kettlebell front squats as part of the 'Strongest All American' weightlifting competition during All American Week 2024 at Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

How to Create a Military Fitness Workout on the Fly Despite Limited Resources

If you have only half the time you usually do to train, you can either skip working out or get something done during the time...

Individuals scheduled for boot camp complete a 1.5-mile run during a Marine Corps Recruiting Station Jacksonville pool function March 22, 2025, at Marine Corps Support Facility Blount Island in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Best Way to Increase Your Running Mileage to Prepare for Military Fitness Tests

Training to run faster is a common issue for people serving in the military.

Physical fitness training during Basic Combat Training

Are You Made for the Military? Traits That Predict Basic Training Success

While your natural tendencies may set the stage, your development during training plays a crucial role in your overall...

Update Your CPR Knowledge and Save a Life

Since 2000, international guidelines on CPR have changed three times, the latest in 2015.

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jeff Dee, commanding officer of Naval Operations Support Center at Offutt Air Force Base Neb., performs a weight-vest push-up inside the Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Field House gym.

How This Weight-Vest Calisthenics Workout Will Test Your Military Fitness Level

Once you have achieved a moderately high level of abilities with your body weight, the next option is to increase the weight...

A U.S. soldier assigned to the 20th Engineer Brigade powers through a bench-press attempt during the Castle Week powerlifting competition at Fort Bragg, N.C.

The Best Strategies to Recover from a Heavy Weightlifting Training Cycle

When training specifically to improve your performance, especially in the strength and power components of fitness, it can be...

U.S. Army battalion commanders from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, use resistance bands to complete a leg exercise at a special physical training session at Fort Polk, Louisiana.

6 Tips to Improve Your Fitness and Save Money

Many people assume their fitness journey must include pricey gym memberships or high-cost home equipment, but establishing a...

A U.S. Marine with Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic, Marine Forces Command, Marine Forces Northern Command, performs a pull-up during the Murph Challenge at Camp Elmore, Norfolk, Virginia.

The Full-Body Military Fitness Workout Adaptable to Any Situation

Whether you have full or limited equipment, this full-body circuit offers a time-efficient workout.

Should You Drink Milk Before Going to Bed?

While billions of people do not drink milk at all, billions do or consume dairy products, providing another option to obtain...

(U.S. Air Force/Airman 1st Class Natasha Ninete)

How Prolonged Sitting Undermines Your Health and What You Can Do About It

Research indicates that doing nothing will reduce blood flow and oxygen levels to the brain, negatively impacting cognitive...

Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard test their swimming confidence and survivability in water during the Combat Water Survival Test while attending the Ranger and Sapper Assessment Program at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. (U.S. Army/Maj. Travis Mueller)

Beginner Workouts for Passing Military Swimming Tests

For land athletes new to the water, passing and exceeding the standards for swimming require a combination of technique...

Stairmaster Workouts for Military Prep

Stairmasters can be an excellent tool for helping prepare the lungs and legs for the durability and strain of military...

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President Donald Trump greets troops at at Fort Bragg

Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance

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That Time the Army Gassed Veterans Protesting for Benefits

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National Guardsman stands watch in Eagle Pass, Texas.

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U.S. Army soldiers work on an M1 Abrams tank staged in West Potomac Park ahead of an upcoming military parade commemorating the Army's 250th anniversary and coinciding with Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

The Army Parade Poses Potential Pitfalls like a Tank Breakdown. Soldiers Say They're Prepared.

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Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS James E. Williams

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President Donald Trump boards Air Force One.

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Five of the Air and Space Force’s newest officers stand at attention during a University of New Mexico Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 510 Commissioning Ceremony at the New Mexico Veterans Memorial, N.M., May 16, 2025. During the ceremony, five of the Air and Space Force’s newest officers were sworn into service. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Spencer Kanar)

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U.S. Marines rehearse non-lethal tactics in Los Angeles

The Marines Are in Los Angeles

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the National Coast Guard Museum keel-laying ceremony

Construction of $150M Coast Guard Museum Set to Begin Next Month as Donations Rise

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smoke rises from cargo vessel Morning Midas approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska

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