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

A soldier in a PT uniform swings a kettlebell.

Pull-Leg Combo Workout Adds a Fun Component to Fitness Routines

Whether you are looking to switch up your training or target your posterior muscle chain more effectively, this approach is...

A woman's silhouette looking out from the side of a volcano to the sunrise over the ocean.

How to Make Your ‘Spring Forward’ Workout Week Productive and High-Energy

Avoid the post-daylight saving time, end-of-the-week, beatdown feeling. This week does not have to be a slog. Proactively...

Ask Stew: What’s Better? Working Out Once vs. Multiple Times Per Day

Use spread-out exercise sets to build capacity (total daily reps), and use single-session workouts to test that capacity.

Quick Workouts in Groups Can Help With Depression and Anxiety

If you need to unwind from a stressful day, or if you struggle with depression and anxiety, the “go hard or go home” approach...

Close-up shot of Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Powder jar in person hands.(Image via:Shutterstock)

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...

It’s Almost Spring: Let’s Get Ready for the Murph!

As with any fitness goal, a logical progression is needed to accomplish the Murph. Here is how to add in Murph prep training...

A Marine swimming in scuba gear holds a fin out of the water.

Ask Stew: Swimming with Fin Pain and Other Issues

When swimming with scuba fins, especially the type that the military issues, Rocket or Jet Fins, you may find a learning...

Marines and sailors in blue shirts do pushups in scraggly brown grass.

The Power of the Pushup: Health Improvements Across the Board

While pushups alone won’t save your life, they will always be a solid marker of fitness, health and wellness, and they can...

A soldier does a sandbag lunge while another looks on.

3 Full-Body Sandbag Circuits

Here are three versions of a circuit workout we did last week that simulates load-bearing, equipment carry, and log PT. All...

Ask Stew: How to Gain Pool Skills for Dive School or Rescue Swimmer Prep

Here is a question from a future Navy diver or rescue swimmer who is considering his options and working on becoming better...

Soldiers sprint across an indoor football field.

3 Running Workouts to Help Ace Your Next Fitness Test

Combining Zone 2 running, goal pace running and sprinting in your weekly training plan can be ideal for developing aerobic...

Marines perform kettlebell swings in a gym.

Try This 20-Minute Upper Body Blitz

If you're looking for a fast, effective way to condition your upper body and core, this 20-minute blitz circuit is designed...

Special Forces candidates walk on a dusty road with backpacks and guns.

Ask Stew: Should I Prepare for Military Training Alone or With a Group?

I am joining the Army with the goal of becoming a Special Forces officer. How does training alone differ from training with...

How Tactical Fitness Compares to the GPP/SPP Exercise Models

While GPP/SPP and tactical fitness and strength aim to build a capable athlete, they differ largely in their “why” and “how.”...

Four U.S. soldiers wearing Army PT gear do squats on a soccer field at night.

Leg-Day Workout With Weights, Sandbags and Calisthenics

By stacking variations of the same movement, the squat, with different loading implements, you can target your lower body...

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Most Popular Military News

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)

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The U.S. Navy has reached a Cold War-era milestone in the Arctic, deploying two Virginia-class submarines beneath the polar...

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...

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Latest Military Videos

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US Military Refueling Plane Crashes in Iraq

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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

Army Sergeant Wants to Plead Guilty in Georgia Base Shootings that Injured 5

An Army sergeant accused of shooting and wounding five co-workers at a southeast Georgia base last summer is seeking to plead...

Army National Guard 'Disasterville' training for students simulates disasters (Army National Guard).

Army National Guard 'Disasterville' Training for Students Simulates Real-World Disasters

An Army National Guard program blends recruiting and disaster training, letting students use AI-powered Google glasses in a...

Navy News

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...

US Navy Sends Submarines Under Arctic Ice for 100th Time in Milestone Exercise

The U.S. Navy has reached a Cold War-era milestone in the Arctic, deploying two Virginia-class submarines beneath the polar...

Air Force News

A US Military Refueling Plane Crashed in Iraq, Killing 4. Here's What to Know

The U.S. military says a KC-135 refueling aircraft supporting operations against Iran crashed in western Iraq, killing four...

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...

Space Force News

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...

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...

Marine Corps News

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...

Mississippi Jury Acquits Engineer Accused of Lying about 2017 Military Plane Crash

A federal jury in Mississippi has acquitted a former military aircraft engineer of lying and obstruction of justice following...

Coast Guard News

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) crew members observe the cutter from a 26-foot Cutter Boat-Large (CB-L) in the Ross Sea during Operation Deep Freeze 2026, Feb. 21, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum)

GOP Senators Approve Coast Guard Commander Promotion Despite Whistleblower Retaliation

A Coast Guard commander was found in 2018 to have violated the Military Whistleblower Protection Act but may still get a...

U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Tyler Jaggers

A Wedding Proposal and a Promotion Honored a Coast Guardsman Before He Died of Injuries From Mission

The Coast Guard awarded Tyler Jaggers the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest military awards for heroism.

Stew Smith, CSCS®

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