Today is Veteran's Day, a day we honor the men and women who have served and continue to serve in the US Military. Many of the sports we here at FloElite cover are filled with competitors who are themselves veterans or currently in the military, so we reached out to learn a little more about how military life affects training and competition and vice versa. We spoke with the following veterans and competitors:

• Kirby White, a nationally ranked weightlifter currently serving in the Air Force at Fort Hood
• Andy Petranek, an adventure race athlete and CrossFit Games qualifier who got out of the Marine Corps in 1992 as a Captain
• Chet Lau, a nationally ranked weightlifter who is a Captain in the US Army
• Taylor Drescher, a former competitive cheerleader, CrossFitter, and Grid athlete who is a 1st Lieutenant in the Marines

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How does your current service affect your ability to train? Is it more difficult to find time, access the right equipment, find coaching? Is it easier or harder than people would expect?

Kirby White: 

Having a broad sports background has given me a good base for general conditioning so I've been able to dedicate all of my training to the snatch and the clean & jerk. My chain of command at all of my units have been pretty understanding of the demands of training at the volume and intensity necessary to be a national level lifter. I've been given a lot of leeway to determine if unit PT is helpful or detrimental of my individual goals and I am very thankful for that. I've lucked out by living so close to my coach and her gym. I drive 2 hours round trip every day but that is what you have to do when you want to lift with high level coaching. I can't think of too many situations that would allow me to get elite level coaching every single day.

Chet Lau:

As to whether it is easier or harder than most people expect to balance work and training, my answer is it depends on the unit you’re in. Both my previous and current assignment allows for me to focus on weightlifting because my unit does not require me to attend daily physical fitness training (PT) so this allows me to hit my lifting sessions after work not tired from being up super early.  I still do conditioning workouts for two reasons; I think it complements weightlifting and in the end of the day, I’m a Soldier first and the Army isn’t paying me to be good at weightlifting, they are paying me to be in the best shape to go to war. I travel a lot for work but the nice thing is many gyms at military bases around the country now have equipment for weightlifting. That wasn’t always the case and I remember a few years ago when all base gyms looked like a typical commercial gym. The military as a collective, however, is becoming more CrossFit and weightlifting friendly. I don’t think it has completely bought in yet and probably never will but there are more options now for AM PT than just push ups, sit ups, and 5 mile run.

Taylor Drescher:

I typically train on base, and drive to Redlands to train with the team on the weekends. It's hard to find the motivation to train alone when you are training elite level skills that most are not at the ability to complete with you ( muscle ups, handstand walks and so on.) Work is always first, but it's important to make training a priority and the Marine Corps supports that because in order to be a good leader you have to be able to lead from the front both physically and mentally.

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How has your experience in the military helped your ability to compete in your sport?

Kirby White:

Being in the military has given me the ability to compartmentalize and create routines. Compartmentalization is important in weightlifting because you get 6 attempts and that is it. You can't let your previous lifts influence your next trip to the platform. Training also necessitates having routines. The more consistent your nutrition, recovery, and training are, the better your results will be.  

Andy Petranek:

Military gave me the discipline, drive, confidence, outdoor skill, navigation experience, never quit / can do attitude, grit, mental toughness. And the experience. So many varied experiences in wildly different situations, taught me to be ready for anything.

Chet Lau:

I’d say my experience in the military has helped me in training.  The biggest thing that the military has helped with is putting me in situations where I'm under pressure and expecting me to perform.  I know a lot of people get super nervous when they step out on the platform at a meet and so do I, but I’ve been in situations where either my life or my soldiers’ lives are put at risk (i.e. parachuting out of airplanes in pitch black night with 80 pounds of equipment).  I’m not saying that folks in the military don’t get nervous and scared but we've been put in situations where we are forced to deal with that voice in your head telling you how it’s all going to go wrong.

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How has training/competing in your sport affected your ability to do your job in the military?

Kirby White:

The military is a masculine culture and credibility is earned. Sometimes the best way to build credibility with new troops is in an environment where rank and set roles don't apply such as PT. Airmen open up in the gym a lot more than they do in the squadron so it's a good opportunity get to know them. Once they start coming to you for workout advice, they find it easier to approach you in other aspects.

Chet Lau:
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​My training and competition have mostly helped me do my job in the military.  The downside is I’ve never been a great runner and training for the AO definitely doesn’t help you run a 13 minute 2 mile.  On the flip side, I’ve never been to an obstacle course I couldn’t complete with ease and rucking a 60 pound ruck sack is not an issue.  Also, I think it’s important that everyone in the military competes in something outside of work.  I think it puts things in perspective, gives you an outlet that isn’t work related and also fosters the desire to win.​

Taylor Drescher:

Being a Marine makes me a better athlete, and being an athlete makes me a better Marine. I couldn't do 1 unassisted pull up on my first day. This is the year I approached the Marine Corps and decided to join after I saw massive progress in my physical abilities and realized my strength compared to other men and women of all ages.

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From us here at FloElite to all our veterans and current military members, we thank you for your service!