Navy SEAL Candidates

The Most Common Training Mistakes

ByDave

The Rand Corporation analyzed Air Force A&S for opportunities to improve candidate outcomes.

I’ve pulled together 13 key findings from the 135-page document.

Here are the most important two for candidates:

1) Students prepare for the test (IFT) but not the training

Researchers found that the IFT is a significant predictor of success, but candidates came in overwhelmingly underprepared for water confidence.

Air Force Pararescue Selection Rates

2) Water confidence is a training requirement for PJs, CCTs, and SRs candidates but is not effectively evaluated on the IFT

When adding the Basic Water Skills Test, a timed tread without using hands, a test max distance underwater, and a timed repeated snorkel clearing drill to the IFT, it resulted in a notable increase in predictive power.

Takeaway:

Selection is not the IFT, APFT, or PST. You will be tested on much more. So your training should reflect what you will do at selection, not just the entrance test.

I'm a coach with a passion for helping athletes dominate the toughest selection courses in the world. Over the years, I've trained well over 100 athletes for Special Operations selection courses, including SFAS, RASP, Air Force A&S, BORTAC, SWAT, and MARSOC A&S. My mission is to bridge the gap between traditional performance training and the unique demands of tactical and military athletes.

I got my start coaching hybrid athletes, blending strength, endurance, and hypertrophy training to achieve peak performance. As I worked with more tactical and military athletes, I realized there was a need for a specialized approach tailored to the grueling physical and mental challenges of SOF selections. This realization drove me to focus on prepping SOF candidates for success, combining cutting-edge research, proven training methodologies, and real-world experience.

Whether you're preparing for selection, seeking to level up your fitness, or simply curious about what it takes to thrive in these elite environments, I hope you'll find the information I share helpful.