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

U.S. Marines are hit by waves while low crawling at Fort Hase Beach during a training exercise.

Ask Stew: How to Prepare for the Shock of BUD/S

Handling a new culture is part of growing up and moving away from home. This is a part of BUD/S.

Officer Training School trainees run during an Air Force physical fitness test.

Ask Stew: How to Organize Your Military Fitness Training Program

These questions are typical of someone who wants to train for something, but struggles with all the training options...

Seabees ride stationary bikes in the gym at Camp Natasha, Afghanistan.

Ask Stew: How to Keep Working Out Despite a Sprained Ankle

Ankle pain during swimming with fins is common and happens to everyone, especially if your ankle mobility is negligible.

Why Growth Never Happens in Your Comfort Zone

Personal growth is never easy.

Here's How to Maximize Your Performance on Critical PT Tests

Sometimes fitness tests have consequences.

The Science Behind Whether Late-Night Workouts Affect Sleep

More than 80% of people who exercise tend to sleep better than those who do not exercise, according to a poll by the National...

Delayed Entry Program recruits stand at attention as they take the oath of enlistment on the field during a Sacramento River Cats minor-league baseball game against the Tucson Padres during Sacramento Navy Week.

Ask Stew: Avoid Setting an Artificial Deadline to Meet a Military Recruiter

Do not set a deadline in your head to enlist. You do not have to see a recruiter immediately after high school. Wait until...

A Hawaii National Guardsman distributes milk to children in Thailand.

National Dairy Council Explains the Benefits of Milk

Regarding the best beverages to drink, we asked the folks who are in the business of dairy, the National Dairy Council.

A sailor dons swim fins during a man overboard drill.

Ask Stew: Finding the Right Fit for SCUBA Fins for SAR School

There are a lot of lessons learned when it comes to swimming with fins. Here is a good question from a future search-and...

A community college student bobs to the surface of a pool during water confidence training at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

Ask Stew: How to Prepare for Air Force PJ Training

Being an athlete without much running or swimming background might require more time in training to prepare properly.

Staff Sgt. Brian Lecates, 436th Force Support Squadron Airmen Leadership School instructor, competes in the 436th Security Forces Squadron 17th Annual Korean War Ruck March Feb. 27, 2016, at Dover Air Force Base, Del. (Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Morris/U.S. Air Force photo)

5 Ways that You Can Become a Better Military Recruit

If you plan to enter the military, you need to prepare or else face a rude awakening that includes severe discomfort, pain...

A sailor does TRX push-ups during a functional fitness class.

Ask Stew: How TRX Can Enhance Your Military Fitness Training Program

How does the health of a generation affects recruiting practices and eligible numbers of qualified applicants?

An Army soldier swims during the modern pentathlon at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Ask Stew: How to Work Out on a Tight Schedule

How does the health of a generation affects recruiting practices and eligible numbers of qualified applicants?

A Marine completes push-ups during a physical training session.

Ask Stew: The Value of a Consistent Fitness Plan and Reward Days

Here is a typical former military member who found a civilian job, got out of shape and injured himself when trying to take...

A service member finishes the run portion of his Air Force physical fitness test.

Ask Stew: Still Running. Almost 60. What is Next?

Working out into your 50s and 60s (and beyond) is a goal we all should strive for, but it requires some adjustments to your...

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Most Popular Military News

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Latest Military Videos

Stationary Lunge

Military.com fitness writer Stew Smith demonstrates the proper form for a stationary lunge. (Sept. 12) Military.com

Side-Step Squats

Military.com fitness writer Stew Smith demonstrates the proper form for side-step squats. (Sept. 12) Military.com

Isolated Shoulder Side Bend

Military.com fitness writer Stew Smith demonstrates the proper form for an isolated shoulder side bend. (Sept. 12) Military.com

Sit-Up

Military.com fitness writer Stew Smith demonstrates the proper form for sit-ups. (Sept. 12) Military.com

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

US Army reveals Typhon missile system in Japan as tensions rise with China

The U.S. Army has revealed its mid-range missile system, Typhon, at one of its bases in Japan for the first time

Vietnam War veteran John L. Smith is shown at Essex County College.

Black Vietnam Veteran’s Story Reveals War’s Harsh Realities 50 Years Later

It was May 1970, deep in the jungles of Vietnam, and 19-year-old infantryman John Smith stepped to the edge of a hill to...

Navy News

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Air Force News

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Space Force News

Col. Edward Segura, director of manpower, personnel and services, Air Force Reserve Command, speaks

Space Force Opens Applications for Air Force Reservists to Sign Up for Part-Time Service

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Marine Corps News

The sign at the entrance at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Camp Pendleton Officer, Wife Sue Military Housing Company over Crash That Killed 8-Year-Old Son

A Marine Corps family whose 8-year-old son died last year after he was struck by a vehicle while riding his bicycle on Camp...

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Coast Guard News

A retail services specialist 3rd class, assigned to the USS Gerald R. Ford’s (CVN 78) supply department, conducts a command fitness class in the hangar bay.

Fitness at Sea: Workouts You Can Do on a Ship and Ace the Navy Fitness Test

Staying fit in tight spaces with little to no equipment is always a challenge, whether you are in a hotel room or living and...

A Military Approach to Drug Busts Upends US Efforts and Raises Legal Questions

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