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The Marine Force Recon Workout: Fitness Tests And Selection Process Info Worth Knowing
Being a Marine requires a level of fitness the average military member does not have. The fitness tests are more difficult and the training is challenging, requiring Marines to stay in above-average condition to perform their jobs.
The Marine Physical Fitness Test (PFT), for instance, consists of pull-ups, a plank and three-mile run. The run is 1-1.5 miles longer than the other services, and pull-ups are the toughest calisthenics exercise tested in the U.S. Military. Then, there is the Marine Corps Combat Fitness Test (CFT), a more intense and job-related version of a test that requires a fast 800-meter run, a series of agility movements carrying gear, dragging people, moving ammo cans and throwing grenades (for accuracy). The Marine Corps obstacle course is another test Marines have to master as well -- and this is just to be a Marine.
The Marine Force Recon standards and testing are a level greater. Just to get accepted and complete Recon training, you should prepare yourself for two fitness tests:
The RTAP is the selection program you are working so hard to enter. If you do not pass this course and the tests throughout, you will not be eligible for the Basic Reconnaisance Course (BRC) to become a Recon Marine. The RPAT and the RTAP test are next-level fitness tests as they add more exercises, swimming and rucking to the standard Marine fitness tests. If you do not pass the RPAT, your Recon journey ends before it even starts, so get good at the following events of the RPAT:
This test has minimum standards, but none of these minimum scores and times should be your final goal. Exceeding the standard is the standard if you want to do more than just get selected to attend any spec ops training.
The minimums for the RPAT are mainly to confirm that you have the basic ability to be accepted into the program and can handle the high volume of physical activity that will increase quickly during the next phase of the Basic Recon Course:
*The scores in parentheses are my recommendations for above-average spec ops fitness performance.
The RTAP (Recon Training and Assessment Program test) will be conducted during the five-week program to assess whether you can continue. Here are the events included on the RTAP:
Once a Marine passes the physical evaluation, interviews and psychological evaluations will follow.
Marine Force Recon Selection Course DetailsThe five-week Recon Training and Assessment Program helps students quickly learn and review many of the events performed in the Basic Recon Course and beyond -- basic knowledge in mountaineering, land navigation, basic knots, water survival/treading, rucking and more.
Like most special ops-related courses, there are extensive teachings through lectures, classroom discussion, demonstration and practical application of new skills. There are also written and tactical skills tests required of students, so the challenges are much more than purely physical. Most have challenges with the pool skills portions, and this course is both instruction and selection for these Marines striving toward Recon training.
All future Recon students must complete infantry training first, then attend RTAP. The RTAP is five weeks long and is where most of the Recon attrition occurs. Consider this your spec ops selection program, not a pre-training course. Be prepared for hard-core runs, rucks, PT, swimming and challenging treading drills.
After the above testing and assessment, you can attend the Basic Recon Course. See more about the Recon mission and history.
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. Visit his Fitness eBook store if you're looking to start a workout program to create a healthy lifestyle. Send your fitness questions to stew@stewsmith.Com.
Want to Learn More About Military Life?Whether you're thinking of joining the military, looking for fitness and basic training tips, or keeping up with military life and benefits, Military.Com has you covered. Subscribe to Military.Com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox.
Story ContinuesWhere Things Went Wrong For Trey Lance And The 49ers
The selection of Trey Lance third overall in 2021 was supposed to represent the future for the San Francisco 49ers at their most important position. That future ended on Wednesday when reports surfaced that Kyle Shanahan had selected Sam Darnold, not Lance, to serve as the number two quarterback to Brock Purdy.
San Francisco's use of three first round picks and a third-round pick will go down as one of the worst in franchise history. On a side note, what keeps it from being the worst is the 1978 trade for O.J. Simpson which cost the 49ers their second and third round picks in 1978, their first and fourth round picks in 1979 and a second rounder in 1980.
Let's try to unpack where all of this went wrong.
Raw Talent
Saying Trey Lance was a raw player coming out of North Dakota State is an understatement. This was a quarterback who had thrown just 99 passes in high school. Lance then made 318 attempts over three years in college, losing 2020 due to Covid and deciding to enter the NFL draft early.
Despite knowing Lance would be a project, the 49ers pulled the trigger.
San Francisco tried to take the pressure off Lance as a rookie by saying publicly there would not be a quarterback competition. There was.
As 49ers general manager John Lynch said before the 2021 preseason opener against Kansas City, Lance had started strong and was "pushing Jimmy Garoppolo." During joint practices with the Chargers the following week Lance was given his first extended snaps with the starting offense. The rookie then split series with Jimmy Garoppolo to open the game.
Neither quarterback played well, and Lance was unable to take advantage of the opportunity to show he was the better option.
During practices the following week the 49ers worked on using a two-quarterback system. This carried over to the final preseason game against the Raiders. They did it again in week two against Detroit with Lance replacing Garoppolo on the team's opening drive and throwing a touchdown to Trent Sherfield for the first score of the season.
Apart from one snap against Green Bay a couple weeks later, the two-quarterback system was shelved for the remainder of the season.
Injuries
During the 2021 regular season finale at Levi's Stadium, Lance fracture the index finger on his throwing hand when he hit it on the helmet of a Raiders defender.
Although he didn't miss a game as a result, the injury had lingering effects for Lance.
"And I think the finger, for me, was the biggest thing just as far as throwing the ball," said Lance during the 2022 offseason. "I kind of had to learn to throw the ball differently without kind of using my pointer finger, I guess because of just where it was at throughout the year. But now, I feel like I'm in a great spot, health-wise, and throwing the ball well, and feeling really good."
An injury to Jimmy Garoppolo in week four opened the door for Lance to make his first career start the following week against Arizona. The rookie was predictably up and down throughout the game, but the bigger issue would come in the form of a knee injury. The injury forced San Francisco to rush back Jimmy Garoppolo instead of being able to give Lance another start two weeks later against Indianapolis.
Lance was given the keys to the offense for 2022.
The second-year quarterback was up and down during his first training camp as a starter. In the season opener at Chicago, his third career start, the skies opened, and conditions were far from ideal. Lance made some good and bad plays, just as he did during camp. An interception in the fourth quarter led to Chicago taking a two-score lead, a downpour ensued, and the game was over.
In week two against Seattle, Lance led a scoring drive to open the game. After getting into field goal range on the following possession, Lance took off on a run over the right side and suffered a broken ankle when he was tackled.
Lance's season was over less than five quarters after it started.
For a quarterback who needed time to play, in both games and practice, the injury was devastating.
Brock Purdy
From the moment Purdy took over after Jimmy Garoppolo went down with an injury at the end of the 49ers first possession against Miami, it was clear he was different.
The final pick in the 2022 draft went out and did what the 49ers had hoped Lance would do, blow everyone away with his play and leave no doubt who the best quarterback was on the roster. Purdy did this repeatedly, including two playoff wins to reach the NFC championship game.
Purdy's emergence changed everything.
What's next?
San Francisco see's Lance as an asset and the quarterback just had the best offseason and training camp of his time in San Francisco. According to reports, the 49ers were offered a fifth-round pick for Lance before the draft.
Speaking with KNBR Thursday morning, 49ers general manager John Lynch said, "I think that's the most likely option is that he's here. If we can find a landing spot for Trey that is a really good one for him and works for us that's not something we'd turn a blind eye to, but that's not where our focus is right now."
If this sounds familiar to you, it should. San Francisco spent nearly the entire offseason in 2022 saying this about Jimmy Garoppolo before eventually keeping the veteran on the roster with a restructured deal.
With teams across the league unlikely to offer anything better than the fifth-round pick San Francisco already turned down, Lance sticking with the team could happen.
Posted in Inside the 49ersWhich Team Will Win The Region 5 Football Crown In 2023? Make Your Pick In This Poll.
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