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CelticFrost91 wrote:Hey everyone, hopefully, this can lead to some good discussion.

I'm currently preparing for the Marines TBS. Have gotten my strength back and then some after OCS running Operator and used Fighter and Green for OCS prep and saw great results.

I'm currently planning out the next block in my training and I am thinking about going over to Green before I head out to TBS (hopefully in August, but we will see).

Good. IMO, Fighter + Green is the obvious choice for your goals/situation. Hopefully structured in a way that incorporates the guidance you have from the schoolhouse (if any).

I'm debating including front squats over the back squat for this block. I'm curious if the front squat would be helpful or detrimental. My goals are to maintain a decent PFT score (happy with 19-20 min. 3 mile) while maintaining my strength. TBS is pretty much basic infantry skills for officers, so lots of hiking. I've noticed that in endurance based programs, such as Mountain Tactical or as suggested in the grunt cluster, utilize the front squat. I am also debating going back in the infantry, which would mean prepping for IOC, and I want to be ready should I choose to pursue that.

Great idea to try FSQ. I don't seen how it could do anything but help you.

My real catalyst for moving to FSQ was 12 month deployment cycle. At that point, I had suspected for a few blocks that SQ was causing me recovery issues. I switched to FSQ when I got in country. Everything improved. Most importantly, I was able to keep the fitness I needed and recover day-to-day while working crazy hours and wearing body armor and gear a good percentage of the time. I never felt an operational need to go "full Grunt" cluster (i.e., move from BP to OHP). I'll be driving a desk now for a while (probably a long while ). I'm still sticking with FSQ. The balance, recovery, and results are just too good.

I assume this is because it allows you to move less weight while being able to keep up with the demands of an endurance heavy program? Exactly. But it's not just the lighter weight. I have found (googled) several articles that explain how FSQ has less shearing and compressive force than SQ. My only concern is that I don't know how this will impact my overall strength. I would think back squats would be preferred because a strong posterior chain would be helpful for hiking.

Your posterior chain will be more than fine with a combination of FSQ, targeted KB swings and RDLs (as needed), and the rucking/running you need to prepare for school.

I tried searching and haven't found anything specific to this. I also was not too much into fitness when I was enlisted so I never really trained for our hikes, just kinda went out there and humped.

I guessing that was several years and many miles ago. Youth pulled me along too, when I had more of it. Good on you for looking to train smarter now.

CelticFrost91 wrote:My only concern is that I don't know how this will impact my overall strength. I would think back squats would be preferred because a strong posterior chain would be helpful for hiking.

I tried searching and haven't found anything specific to this. I also was not too much into fitness when I was enlisted so I never really trained for our hikes, just kinda went out there and humped.

TBPenguin wrote:
I have zero experience with any of the units you are discussing. But I've gone long sections doing fronts instead of back squats, and when I picked up back squats again, I was usually within 10% or better on squatting. Also used to hike a lot, and which squat I was doing did not affect difficulty, even with a heavy pack. Whether I had been doing deadlifts or not did make a difference. Hope this helps.