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

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...

Andrew Hutchinson, an Army veteran and director of camps and special programs for Team Red, White and Blue, leads a warm-up before a calisthenics session during a rock-climbing camp at Estes Park, Colo.

How Group Exercise Can Do More for Veterans Than Going Solo

For more than a decade, Team Red, White and Blue -- a nonprofit organization for veterans – has operated a unique program...

How Walking Backward Can Enhance Your Overall Fitness

What if taking a few steps back could propel your health forward?

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Keyon A. Simmons-Harwell conducts a pull-up during a battalion workout challenge at Camp Elmore, Norfolk, Virginia.

3 Keys When Doing Military Fitness Training Twice a Day

If you are preparing for challenging military training programs or selections, you must progress to advanced, well-rounded...

A Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) student participates in interval swim training in San Diego Bay.

How Navy SEAL and SWCC Training Is Alike and Different

Navy SEAL and Navy SWCC training share a foundation rooted in rigorous training, water competency and high fitness standards.

Military News

Get the Military Insider Newsletter

Get the latest on pay updates, benefit changes and award-winning military content. Right in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for subscribing!

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

One last step.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

Most Popular Military News

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., left, confronts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Federal Government Shutdown Grinds into a Second Week as Tempers Flare at the Capitol

As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Trump Targets Blumenthal, Calling for Investigation into Senator's Vietnam Service Claims

President Donald Trump is targeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal again after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S...

Pvt. Paul Douglas, age 50, performs a rifle inspection with his drill instructor aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot S.C., 1942. Douglas, at age 50 was the oldest recruit in the history of Parris Island, and went on to become a purple heart recipient and Chicago senator (DVIDS).

At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

When 50-year-old Paul Douglas showed up at Marine Corps boot camp in 1942, the white-haired economics professor looked more...

Pack and transport platoon of the Russian army. Southern Military District. Ministry of Defense of Russia (Wikimedia Commons).

Ukrainian Drones Attack Russian Cavalry Troops in Rare 21st-Century Encounter

A short video circulating online this month appears to show a Russian mounted patrol being struck by a Ukrainian drone near...

When The Government Can Afford Everything Except The Essentials

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as “essential.” Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into...

Troops Will Miss Paychecks Next Week Without Action on the Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families, because those in uniform...

Latest Military Videos

Putin Presents Awards to Russian Soldiers

Putin presents awards to Russian soldiers who have fought in Ukraine

Australia, US Ministers Embrace AUKUS' Go-Ahead Without Mentioning China

'Full steam ahead': Australia, US ministers embrace AUKUS' go-ahead without mentioning China

Syrians Celebrate First Anniversary Since Assad’s Fall

Syrians celebrate first anniversary since Assad’s fall, President al-Sharaa looks to the future

Ukraine Examines Ways to Launch More Complex Attacks

As sea drones force Russia to retreat, Ukraine examines ways to launch more complex attacks

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

Godfrey Wade with two of his three grandchildren. (Photo from 11Alive News)

Georgia Army Veteran Stuck in ICE Detention Center

Godfrey Wade, an Army veteran, has lived in the U.S. for over 50 years. He's spent the past three months in a detention...

A sign outside the main gate of Fort Stewart, Georgia. AP Photo: Russ Bynum

Fort Stewart Entered Lockdown After Reported Active Shooter Alert

Fort Stewart was placed under a shelter in place order Tuesday after reports of a possible active shooter in a residential...

Navy News

US Military Flies 2 Fighter Jets Over the Gulf of Venezuela as Scrutiny Grows

The U.S. military flew a pair of fighter jets over the Gulf of Venezuela in what appears to be the closest American warplanes...

Congressional Lawmakers Hear From Retiring Navy Admiral Overseeing Boat Strikes

The U.S. Navy admiral who is retiring early from command of the campaign to destroy vessels allegedly carrying drugs near...

Air Force News

Lindsay Gutierrez. (Photo from Pinups For Vets)

Double Organ Donor to Pin-Up Model, Air Force Veteran Keeps Changing Lives

Air Force veteran Lindsay Gutierrez, one of about 280 people in the U.S. who are living double organ donors, is again helping...

Air Force Pilot Safely Ejects Before F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in California Desert

Military officials say a fighter jet with the Air Force's Thunderbirds demonstration squadron has crashed in the Southern...

Space Force News

U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rachel Harmon and Master Sgt. Tom Anderson, weapons loaders assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, checks an inert GBU 12 laser guided missile on an MQ-9 Reaper at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base in Springfield, Ohio.

Two Space Force Units Bring the 'Invisible Front Line' to Ohio

A ceremonial ribbon-cutting is planned for Friday for the Space Intelligence Production Cell at the Springfield-Beckley Air...

A painting of a Defense Support Program satellite from the Air Force Art collection. DSP provides a variety of national security capabilities. Its flagship mission of launch detection was made famous during the Cold War. (U.S. Air Force image)

Clearing The Orbits: Space Force Partnerships In Orbital Cleanup

The growing congestion of Earth orbit has raised risks to satellites, space stations, and long-term space sustainability. The...

Marine Corps News

U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz stand at attention during a Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Tumon, Guam, Dec. 2, 2025 (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Ryan Little)

Christmas Across the Corps 2025: Top Community Events

Christmas Across the Corps 2025: Tree lightings, Santa photos, parades, and free festivals at Quantico, Lejeune, Pendleton...

Marine Dies in Training Exercise at Camp Pendleton

Authorities say a U.S. Marine has died during a training exercise at Southern California's Camp Pendleton.

Coast Guard News

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., arrives at the chamber.

Senators Want Answers From Coast Guard on How it Probes Displays of Swastikas or Other Hate Symbols

Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., warned that “relaxing policies aimed at fighting hate crimes not only sends the wrong message to...

Coast Guardsmen assigned to the Law Enforcement Detachment conduct small boat operations with sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Charleston during a southern border support mission in the Pacific Ocean, May 30, 2025. (Navy Seaman Joey Sitter, DoW).

Coast Guard Reverses Course on Policy to Call Swastikas and Nooses 'Potentially Divisive'

The U.S. Coast Guard has released a new, firmer policy addressing the display of hate symbols like swastikas and nooses just...