10 Essential Items for Military Fitness Prep
10 Essential Items for Military Fitness Prep
If you're preparing to join the military, fitness is non-negotiable. Whether you're headed to Air Force Basic Training, Marine Boot Camp, Army BCT, or any other branch’s entry-level training, you need to show up ready to perform—and dominate the PT test.
Airman Vision has two powerful training programs to help you get there:
The Beginner Military Fitness Prep Program builds your aerobic base, improves muscular endurance, and gets you in consistent shape—perfect if you’re just starting out or getting back into training.
The Advanced Military Fitness Prep Program takes that foundation and sharpens it with Zone 2 and Zone 4 training, max-rep challenges, and progressive overload. It's designed to help you run faster, get stronger, and crush your PT test scores.
The gear below is recommended to get the most out of your training. Some of it will help you perform better. Some will help you recover faster. All of it will make your prep more effective.
1. Heart Rate Tracking Watch
Zone-based training is the foundation of both beginner and advanced prep plans, and a heart rate monitor is what makes that possible. Knowing which heart rate zone you're in helps you train smarter—not harder—and ensures you're building endurance efficiently without burning out.
2. Pull-Up Bar
Pull-ups are part of some military PT tests (especially Marines, Navy, and Army), and they're a great test of functional upper body strength. A doorway pull-up bar is an easy addition to your home setup and lets you build the strength needed to crush these tests.
3. Running Shoes
Running is a major part of military fitness tests and training. Proper shoes help prevent injuries, improve performance, and make your workouts more comfortable. Don’t skimp here—a solid pair of running shoes is worth the investment.
4. Resistance Bands
These are excellent for warmups, mobility, and adding resistance to bodyweight exercises without needing heavy equipment. Great for shoulder warmups, hip activation, or progressing bodyweight training like push-ups and squats.
5. Foam Roller
Mobility and recovery are key to staying injury-free. A foam roller helps release muscle tightness, improve blood flow, and reduce soreness after tough workouts or long runs.
6. Lacrosse Ball
Perfect for targeting tight spots in your back, glutes, and shoulders that a foam roller can't reach. It's a small but powerful recovery tool that takes up almost no space and offers huge relief.
7. Massage Gun
If you want to step up your recovery game, a massage gun provides deeper muscle relief and is great after heavy training sessions. It helps flush out soreness and keeps you feeling fresh throughout the week.
8. Yoga Mat
Even if you’re not into yoga, a non-slip mat is essential for floor-based workouts, stretching, and mobility work. It gives you a stable surface and helps protect your knees, elbows, and back during workouts.
9. Yoga Block
Yoga blocks are great for improving flexibility and maintaining good form during mobility drills. If you're tight in the hips or hamstrings (like most new recruits), these will help you hit deeper stretches safely.
10. Electrolyte Packets
Hydration isn't just about water. Electrolytes are essential for recovery and endurance. These single-serve packets are great for hot days, long runs, or high-intensity workouts to replenish what you lose in sweat.
