Military programs, such as the Army Weight Control Program, are exclusive to soldiers. You can take part in the military's various physical fitness and weight control programs by enlisting in one of the military branches. If, however, you don't aspire to be a soldier but merely want to lose weight, a number of former military personnel and fitness experts offer military-style boot camps around the country that focus on developing fitness and helping you reach your weight loss goals.
Objective
Military fitness programs are designed to prepare every soldier to be combat ready. That means the solider has to be healthy and physically fit. The programs outline specific weight standards that every soldier has to meet based on his height and weight. Weigh-ins occur at least once every six months. If a soldier fails to meet the program standards, he becomes ineligible for promotion, transfer or re-enlistment, as well as the chance to enroll at professional schools. While military-style boot camps for civilians won't keep you from getting a promotion at your job, the mindset of many boot camps is the same as that of real military programs. The objective is to get you into shape and help you lose weight.
Enlistment
Before you begin your weight-loss boot camp, most programs require that you go through an enlistment process. Here, you meet with drill instructors who provide an orientation of the program. You will also undergo a physical test for strength and endurance, and a physical assessment of your weight and body measurements. The enlistment process gives you and the instructors a chance to determine your current fitness level, as well as what your personal goals are for completing the program. Speak with your doctor before enlisting in a military-style weight-loss boot camp to ensure you are healthy enough for strenuous physical activity.
Course Classes
A weight-loss boot camp course can last from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. Typically, you will work out five days a week for at least one hour per day. In general, boot camps offer a range of classes, which can be held indoor or outdoor. Indoor classes tend to focus on strength development and include exercises such as pushups, leg crunches and situps. Partner-assisted exercises are also common and are a part of a team-building effort to help motivate everyone involved. Outdoor classes often consist of distance running and exercises that develop your aerobic fitness. Runs can incorporate hills, stairs, varied tempos and intervals, in addition to endurance running.
Training
Most boot camps mix up the types of activities you'll participate in. Every training day should offer something different and focus on a new part of the body. Some common activities you'll take part in include traditional military exercise drills, stair climbing, calisthenics, obstacle courses, track and field training, plyometrics, power yoga, palates, free weight strength training, abdominal and core training exercises, agility and power drills and jumping rope, one of the most effective aerobic exercises of them all. After you've completed the course successfully, a graduation ceremony is typically held.
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