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 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 airman Edgar Grimaldo takes a drink of water at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

How to Recover Properly from Intense Military Fitness Workouts

Here is a list of things you can do to ensure you are on the proper training/recovery program balance for your goal of better...

5 Easy Tips for Fat Loss from a Navy SEAL

Because of myths, falsehoods and all the various ways people have lost weight, fat loss can appear complicated to anyone...

U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Peter D. Huntley, commander, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, conducts a fireman’s carry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The Most Challenging Leg Workout for Military Fitness

This is a classic method for working the legs, glutes and hips, along with cardio events between resistance training.

How to Make Healthy Breakfast Choices While Eating Out

Many retirees eat out for breakfast daily as a social activity, but making the right food choices for general health...

Cursing Like a Sailor May Help You with Your Next PT Test

Science has linked cursing to physical fitness test improvements, which is particularly helpful if you are in the Navy, as...

Navy divers assigned to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 are lowered into the water on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek during a Mk-16 underwater breathing apparatus training dive in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

How to Structure Swim Workouts for Navy Diver Training

Preparing for future military swimming and diving training requires spending several days a week in the pool.

Sailors swim for the Navy Physical Screening Test held by Naval Special Warfare Assessment Command at Naval Air Station Sigonella.

How to Select the Best Swim Stroke for the Navy Physical Screening Test

When taking the Navy Physical Screening Test -- the common fitness test for jobs in the Navy that require swimming and diving...

Army Reserve drill sergeant candidates motivate future soldiers.

What to Consider When Picking Which Military Service Branch to Join

A high school student is considering joining the Army or Marine Corps and asks Stew Smith, Military.com's tactical fitness...

U.S. Army Pfc. Logan Moore, West Virginia Army National Guard, completes pull-ups in Umm Salal Muhammed, Qatar.

The Best Fitness Workouts When You Are Pressed for Time

If you only have 20-30 minutes or less to get in a workout for the day, keep it simple with a few exercises done in as many...

Beale’s walking group walks around the track Sept. 10, 2021, at Beale Air Force Base, California.

The Benefits of Including Walking in Your Fitness Regimen

Walking more can be helpful for weight loss and mental health and help reduce the risks of chronic diseases.

Why You Want to Build Muscle at Any Age and Work to Never Lose It

It is easier to build muscle while we’re young, but keeping muscle mass gets more difficult as we age.

1st Lt. Lindsey Boughter demonstrates proper deadlifting techniques to Staff Sgt. Zane Craig.

The Best Exercises to Pair with Deadlifts for Military Fitness Training

Exercises such as deadlifts and squats are foundational to load-bearing strength and transfer well into military activities...

Marines with Marine Forces Special Operations Command push a zodiac into the water during the Gung Ho portion of Raider Week at Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Age Ranges for Joining US Military Special Operations Programs

You have many options that may or may not require an age waiver. It's time to get to work on that dream job.

Military News

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Most Popular Military News

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Mujuni Menani, a senior drill instructor with Fox Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment, recites the drill instructor creed on Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., Jan. 31, 2026. These drill instructors will be responsible for training and mentoring their recruits during the 13 weeks of recruit training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Jordy Morales)

The Recruiting Surge Was Engineered. Can It Last in a War with Iran?

The military’s recruiting surge didn’t happen by accident. New programs drove gains, but as the war with Iran grows...

New recruits take the oath of enlistment at the Advocate Center for the Eleventh Annual Chicago Bulls Special Recruit Division Enlistment Ceremony in Chicago. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Camilo Fernan)

Could the US Bring Back the Draft? Who Would Be Called First — and Who Qualifies

Could the U.S. bring back the draft? Here’s how Selective Service works today, who would be called first and why only about...

A U.S. Army armored vehicle equipped with advanced targeting and air defense systems maneuvers through a training range, reflecting the service’s push to integrate AI-driven capabilities and rapidly field combat-ready technology. (U.S. Army Materiel Command)

Army Speeds AI Warfighting Push as US Troops are in Active Combat

An Army test used AI tools to hit 15 targets in one hour, signaling a rapid shift in how battlefield decisions are made and...

VA Study: Ozempic, Other GLP-1 Drugs May Fight Addiction Across Every Major Substance

For the more than 48 million Americans with substance use disorders, including a disproportionate share of veterans, GLP-1...

Bonnie Carroll, founder of TAPS, hugging a survivor (Photo courtesy of TAPS).

After the Knock on the Door: How TAPS Supports Military Families for Life

After a service member dies, families face a lifetime of grief. TAPS founder Bonnie Carroll explains how the organization...

Latest Military Videos

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Astronauts Training for the Artemis Moon Mission

A behind-the-scenes look at astronauts training for the Artemis moon mission.

USS Massachusetts Joins the Navy Fleet Amid Ongoing War with Iran

USS Massachusetts joins the Navy fleet amid ongoing war with Iran.

UN Human Rights Chief Calls for Protection of Children After Strike on Iran School

UN human rights chief calls for protection of children after strike on Iran school.

Judge Weighs Whether Venezuela Can Pay Maduro's Legal Costs

Judge weighs whether Venezuela can pay Maduro's legal costs in US drug trafficking case.

Investigations and Features

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

Pictured is the Bell V-280 Valor developed for the Army's Joint Multi-Role Technical Demonstrator program as a pre-cursor to the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft. On 5 December 2022, Bell was chosen to develop the MV-75 FLRAA. Photo by Matthew Ryan. Source: DVIDS.

The MV-75: The Army’s New Aircraft and Future of Air Assault Warfare

The Army’s MV-75 tiltrotor aircraft will replace the Black Hawk, offering greater speed, range, and flexibility for modern...

The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael R. Weimer awarded eight meritorious service medals and two Purple Hearts to cadets from Old Dominion University Army ROTC during a private ceremony on March 22, 2026. The cadets from ODU were recognized for their bravery and sacrifice during the March 12 shooting incident in their ROTC classroom. U.S. Army photo by Ian Ives. Source: DVIDS.

Honor Under Fire: ODU Cadets Receive Army Recognition for Bravery and Sacrifice

Army ROTC cadets at Old Dominion stopped a campus shooter and later received Meritorious Service Medals and Purple Hearts for...

Navy News

First Submarine Named After Massachusetts Joins the Navy Fleet

The USS Massachusetts officially joined the Navy fleet after a commissioning ceremony, making it the first submarine named...

USS Ross Departs Naval Station Norfolk

The destroyer is part of the George H. W. Bush carrier strike group, which is likely relieving the overdue Gerald R. Ford’s...

Air Force News

Brother and Sister Are Charged After an Explosive Device Was Found Outside a Florida Air Force Base

A brother and sister have been charged after an explosive device was found outside a gate at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa.

Sydney Sweeney poses on the red carpet at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. (Photo by Josh Popov)

‘Euphoria’ Star Sydney Sweeney Reveals Brother’s Deployment Amid Iran Conflict

“Thinking of all our boys and girls overseas and sending my love! Thank you for your service." Sydney Sweeney reveals her...

Space Force News

This year's USO 2026 "Service Members of the Year." (USO)

'Exceptional Courage': USO Announces its 2026 Service Members of the Year

This year's crop of USO honorees saved motorcycle crash victims, rescued bodies underwater, saved civilians from a building...

How Nuclear Waste Can Save Military Satellites and Lunar Exploration

Russia and China can black out military satellites in seconds. A Latvian startup says nuclear-waste generators using 5x less...

Marine Corps News

D. R. Howe (Glencoe, MN) treats the wounds of Private First Class D. A. Crum (New Brighton, PA), Company H, 2nd Battalion, Fifth Marine Regiment, during Operation Hue City. (USMC Photo)

'Like Dante's Inferno': One Marine’s Experiences in Vietnam and the Battle of Hue

Cpl. Charles McMahon was on a convoy entering Hue when the NVA seized the city. He spent the next month fighting through it...

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina meets with U.S. service members during a visit at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, April 15, 2023. Graham visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to meet with Team PSAB service members and show support. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephani Barge)

Senator References Bloodiest Battle in USMC History While Urging Attack on Kharg Island

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., drew sharp criticism from fellow GOP lawmakers after invoking the Battle of Iwo Jima while...

Coast Guard News