Ever wanted to be fit enough that you can actually be accepted into the Assessment And Selection Process (A&S) of the MARSOC? Now you can do that with this new mobile app that was released last month by the MARSOC to let Marines prepare in being a Marine Raider, which how MARSOC Operators will be called now following the renaming of MARSOC battalions into Marine Raider Battalions in homage to the Marine Raiders of World War II, the original special forces units of the United States.

Being a Marine Raider will require the operator to be physically and mentally prepared to "execute missions in the largely unstructured battlefields of today and the future" and that  "Critical skills operators are trained with renewal in mind, focusing on the resilience of the individual, unit, and family."

The MARSOC Fitness Preparation App is more focused on the physical fitness of the operator. This is an app that will help keep the Marine focused on "improving physical performance through training and nutrition. It provides photographs and descriptions of exercises used by MARSOC, and will help prepare candidates for the physical aspects of the Assessment and Selection process. Upon arriving at A&S, candidates are expected to have completed this 10-week program."

While this app was primarily developed for the Marine, this app is also freely downloadable via the Apple App Store for iOS devices and Google Play for Android devices (sorry, Windows mobile users, no version available for you yet).  This app was developed around the three pillars of the required physical fitness of the operator, swimming, ruck marching speed over distance (load bearing exercises), and upper body strength.

Just like the fitness apps that are available together with activity trackers, the MARSOC Fitness Preparation App also allows the user to share workout information among friends which usually spurs the rest to try and do better. But I usually caution anyone who will try to the program to consult a doctor before undergoing the 10-week program since they may have some underlying health conditions that may just worsen if they do this training. If the doc gives the all clear, then by all means, go for it if you think you do it.

For airsoft Milsimers, this might be an app that they want to try even if they are not applying for the MARSOC A&S. And if you want to go the old school way and would prefer a printed manual of the MARSOC Fitness preparation, you can click here to download and print out.