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

An airman lateral pulldowns during a back and biceps workout at the fitness center on Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea.

Why Grip Strength and Leg Strength Are Key Indicators for Longevity

Strong hands and legs make you an asset in many tactical and life-or-death situations. Moreover, the ability to maintain...

Staff Sgt. Jason Preston, an infantry soldier with 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, starts his morning with 100 triceps dips on an improvised bar at his unit's tactical operations center in Jordan on Aug. 31, 2019.

This Calisthenics and Cardio Workout Will Prepare You for Any Military Fitness Test

Calisthenics and cardio exercises can be arranged in several ways to improve running times and overall fitness test scores...

Traveling? This Hotel Room Workout Will Keep You Active

If you need a rest, take it. But, if you need to be at the top of your game, be well-rested and well-tested.

A U.S. Air Force pararescueman assigned to the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron recovers a simulated patient during a joint training with the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (VMM-161) in Djibouti, Aug. 4, 2025. As part of the 449th Air Expeditionary Group, the 82nd ERQS serves as the task force responsible for conducting personnel recovery operations in East Africa.

The Best Fitness Strategy to Prepare to Serve in Military Special Operations

Being selected for military special operations programs requires a layered approach to fitness.

What to Know About Creatine and Why the Military Regulates it for Special Forces

Creatine's reputation is built on decades of scientific research and practical results, making it a common addition to sports...

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Mauricio Varonmoncayo and fellow classmates use fins to race during a Scout Swimmers Course at the Camp Hansen Aquatics Center, Okinawa, Japan.

The Essential Swim Workout for Military Special Operations Candidates

Building a requisite level of swimming conditioning and water confidence takes time, patience and consistent time in the...

Combat rescue officer candidates perform flutter-kicks.

Air Force Combat Rescue Officer (CRO)

The United States Air Force combat rescue officer (CRO) is an officer career field added because of the importance of joint...

Runners take off at the start of the Yokohama North Dock Running Festival, held Nov. 4 on the installation at U.S. Army Garrison-Japan. The event, which returned to the installation for the first time in four years, drew nearly 1,000 competitors for its 5K, 10K and half-marathon races.

How to Improve Your Cardio Fitness Safely

While running is an effective form of cardio, it is not always the best option for heavier athletes, especially those with...

A screen from the 2013 movie 'Cliffy,' about an Australian potato farmer named Cliff Young who won a 544-mile ultramarathon in 1983.

How an Australian Potato Farmer Changed Running Forever

Released in 2013, the movie “Cliffy” chronicles Australian Cliff Young’s rise from a potato farmer to an ultramarathoner and...

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Marcella Quinonez, an aircraft armament systems specialist from the 57th Maintenance Group, performs a sandbag front carry during the fitness portion of the 4th quarter weapons standardization team load crew competition at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Try This Military Fitness Workout to Improve Leg Strength and Endurance

Leg days in military preparation training require two components: strength training with weights and movement training with...

Lt. Marylou Proano, a Navy nurse from New York, rides a stationary bike during a Morale, Wellness, Recreation event aboard the USNS Comfort (T-AH 20).

6 Biking Options to Replace Running if You Are Injured

If you are dealing with common running injuries such as shin splints, stress fractures or persistent foot and knee pain...

How Recruits Can Build Core Fitness

Many combat veterans reportedly are adding sprints, agility drills and core exercises to build a better-equipped combat...

New Army PRT and CRT

For decades, the Army has assessed physical fitness through the standard fitness test that many branches of the military and...

Air Force Senior Airman Brandon Stout, 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, does pull-ups during a workout at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia.

Circuit to Improve Pull-Ups: First Strength, Then Muscle Stamina

Many people struggle with pull-ups at first, but with practice, this exercise can be rewarding and can build upper body...

Military.com fitness writer and former Navy SEAL Stew Smith demonstrates a deep squat.

Why Improved Flexibility and Mobility Is Crucial for Tactical Service Members

When it comes to tactical fitness, being more flexible and mobile can make the difference between peak performance and...

Military News

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Most Popular Military News

A view of the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y.

Portrait of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee with Slave Rehung at West Point

The reinstallation marks the latest effort by the Trump administration to reverse the work of a congressionally mandated...

USS Falcon crewmen suit up 2 Navy divers during the rescue operation following the sinking of the USS Squalus.

How the Men on a Navy Submarine Survived After Sinking 240 Feet in the Atlantic

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All Services Now Issue Form DD214-1 to Departing Reservists

The military's reserve components now issue departing reservists a new record that summarizes their periods of active and...

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Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, Naval Aviator and Corrupt Appropriator, Dies at 83

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Navy officers walk through the tunnels of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.

2 Civilians Indicted for Their Role in a Pearl Harbor Fuel Spill That Sickened 6,000 People in 2021

The indictments are the first to result from the fuel spill that angered Hawaii residents, lawmakers and military service...

Latest Military Videos

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President Donald Trump says the U.S. has carried out a strike in the southern Caribbean against a drug-carrying vessel...

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Activists and lawyers gathered in Chicago, saying President Donald Trump's push for more deployments in Democratic-led cities "will have...

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In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Trump Says He Will Order Federal Intervention in Chicago and Baltimore Despite Local Opposition

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Federal agents stage at MacArthur Park in Los Angeles.

The 150-Year-Old Law that Governs Military's Role in Local Law Enforcement

President Donald Trump’s recent actions have sparked debate over the Posse Comitatus Act, a law from 1878 that limits...

Navy News

President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

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Air Force News

Micki Witthoeft, mother of Ashli Babbitt

Jan. 6 Rioter Fatally Shot by Police Approved for Military Funeral Honors by Air Force

Ashli Babbitt, who served as a senior airman, was among a group of rioters attempting to smash through barricaded doors...

B-52 bomber from in a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair

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These close calls were just the latest incidents to raise questions about aviation safety in the wake of January’s midair...

Space Force News

The flag of the U.S. Space Command is unfurled at the White House

Trump Says Space Command Is Moving to Alabama, Reversing a Biden-Era Decision

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Family and friends pin Officer Training Course badges on graduating U.S. Space Force Guardians

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The Space Force celebrated the first graduating class of its new Officer Training Course, marking a new approach to training...

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The sign at the entrance at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Camp Pendleton Officer, Wife Sue Military Housing Company over Crash That Killed 8-Year-Old Son

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