I did not fall out of any hikes at TBS, and I did not get injured. I do not know much of the science behind preventing stress fractures, but I do know that progressively adding weight will help your body adapt. Some of the hikes in this progression may seem too easy. Still do them! You need that gradual calcium build, and well as extra practice letting your body adapt to the flak. At TBS, you will be told that the program is designed to help you adapt to the hikes over time. This is true. We were told we were not supposed to hike on our own with our gear. Definitely don't go against anything the instructors said. Plenty of people did not do a hike progression on their own and made it out fine. This section is directed more towards people who get sent to Mike Company first (you will be given gear), and those that have PTAD in between OCS and TBS, or are MCEP. This section is also directed to anyone going to OCS and somehow finds this page.
If you do not have hiking gear, I recommend finding some. You can get a pack and flak for cheap on eBay, or your OSO may have some you can borrow. I can't give out the packing lists, but just try to remember what gear you used at OCS and find stuff that mimics it, like blankets and clothes. Use sand bags taped up for weight. To mimic the armor plates in the flak, make flattened packs of sand and place them in the slots.
Try to hike between 3.5-4.0 mph. Why this fast if the hikes are only 3 mph? Well, the 3 mph is an hour with a 10 minute rest built in, so in reality, your actual speed is 3.2 mph at least. Then, at times your company may slow down, then the CO will sometimes speed up. It's always better to over-prepare.
I make a crucial mistake when hiking on my own. I used an Apple Watch to pace myself, and I felt good when I would finish a hike within the allotted pace. What I didn't realize, was that even though I had an overall pace of 3.5 mph, this was only overall. I was naturally slowing down when I came to hills and then speeding up on flatter ground. Don't do this! When you hike on hills, push yourself (within reason), because when hiking with a group, the CO is not going to slow down for the hills.
All our hikes were on roads or trails that a vehicle could drive on. They were not like the e-course trails. Hike on dirt or gravel roads, some asphalt. But don't do trails that would be difficult to hike on without a pack.
The packing list weights includes everything, even the rifle and the clothes and boots you wear. So if the list says 70 lbs, that's not a 70 lb pack, that's 70 lbs, including your rifle, your flak, and your clothes. For the purpose of this hike progression, the weights will be pack and flak combined, not your clothes or rifle. This is to over prepare!
Each week will have TWO hikes. The first should be on level ground, just to get used to the weight and distance. The second should be on terrain with a few hills. These hikes go up to 6 miles and 70 lbs. Why not 15? The goal here is to improve yourself, not injure yourself. 6 miles with 70 lbs is a decent foundation that you can build upon once you go to TBS. Feel free to add more distance, but I wouldn't add more weight. Like I said, you will gradually build up to the weight at TBS. That's what Range Week (weeks!) is for
Week 1 - 3 miles, 30 lbs. This should be flak and assault pack.
Week 2 - 3 miles, 50 lbs. This should be flak and main pack
Week 3 - 3 miles, 70 lbs. This should be flak and main pack, but with more weight
Week 4 - 4 miles, 30 lbs.
Week 5 - 4 miles, 50 lbs
Week 6 - 4 miles, 70 lbs
Week 7 - 5 miles, 30 lbs.
Week 8 - 5 miles, 50 lbs
Week 9 - 5 miles, 70 lbs
Week 10 - 6 miles, 30 lbs.
Week 11 - 6 miles, 50 lbs
Week 12 - 6 miles, 70 lbs
If you want to do 8 weeks instead, do
Week 1 - 3 miles, 30 lbs.
3 miles, 50 lbs (easy terrain)
Week 2 - 3 miles, 50 lbs (more challenging terrain)
3 miles, 70 lbs (easy terrain)
Week 3 - 4 miles, 50 lbs (easy terrain)
4 miles, 50 lbs (more challenging terrain)
Week 4 - 4 miles, 70 lbs (easy terrain)
4 miles, 70 lbs (more challenging terrain)
Week 5 - 5 miles, 30 lbs
5 miles, 50 lbs (easy terrain)
Week 6 - 5 miles, 50 lbs (more challenging terrain)
5 miles, 70 lbs (easy terrain)
Week 7 - 6 miles, 50 lbs (easy terrain)
6 miles, 50 lbs (more challenging terrain)
Week 8 - 6 miles, 70 lbs (easy terrain)
6 miles, 70 lbs (more challenging terrain)
Tips:
If you think you're getting injured, REST. The goal is to make you stronger, not wear you out. Listen to your body. This is not an exact science.
If you get blisters, stop. Better to let those heal instead of making them worse and missing out in the long-run.
Use the boots you will use at TBS. I used Bates Heavy Duty at OCS and they were fine. I used Danner Reckonings at TBS and they were fine, though with the Reckonings you can feel the ground more, if that makes sense. A lot of people like Bates Lites for hiking, but do NOT use them on the o-course or e-course. They suck for rope climbing.
Adjust your nutrition accordingly. No point in trying to build up calcium and muscle if you aren't getting enough calcium and protein.
Bring a blue-tooth speaker for music :)
Check out the next page for packing tips.