If you are thinking about joining the Marine Corps, you will have to pass the initial strength test (IST). The IST is a shortened version of the physical fitness test (PFT). A recruit only has to do pull-ups, push press, sit-ups and a 1.5-mile run. The IST is the first…

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Updated Sep 23, 2026, 12:40 PM EDT The following are the maximum and minimum scores for male and female Marines taking the Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test. The following are the max./min. score charts for male and female Marines for each event of the Marine Corps’ Physical Fitness Test (PFT): USMC…

Fundamentals Series — Part 9In the last two articles, we’ve taken our fundamentals off the static firing line and started moving. We’ve discussed why movement belongs early in a shooter’s development, how to move without unnecessarily disrupting the gun, and how to control our pace based on the shooting problem…

The Marine Corps has strict height and weight standards. However, it is considered acceptable not to meet the height and weight standards as long as you meet the service’s body fat standards. Now, a recent change has been added. If you do not meet either the height and weight standards…

When people picture concealed carry, this is probably the setup that comes to mind first.A handgun inside the waistband, somewhere toward the front of the body, with a shirt covering it. Appendix inside-the-waistband carry, usually shortened to AIWB, is one of the most common ways people conceal a handgun. PHLster…

The Marine Corps Physical Conditioning Program has two main components: the physical fitness test (PFT) and the Body Composition Program. The Marine Corps’ weight and body fat standards are health and performance based, and not based on appearance. Marines are considered not within these standards when their body weight and…

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S.-backed Board of Peace is proposing a six-month, $2.45 billion plan to begin reconstruction and governance in Gaza as President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan struggles to stay afloat. At a meeting of the group’s board in New York on the sidelines of the U.N. General…

Anecdotes have been both the savior and curse of hunting cartridges, rifles, and, especially, broadheads. This personal data, circulated in hunting camps, diners, and chat forums, has created an Iron Curtain between mechanical die-hards and fixed-blade fanatics.Rather than acknowledge both their strengths and shortcomings, most folks take a hard stance…

Dental pain is no fun. No one wants to find an emergency dentist on the weekend or be stuck with pain until an appointment opens up. A small cavity, irritated gum or cracked tooth can become a much larger health and financial problem when treatment is delayed. That’s why regular…

Have you ever searched for a dentist who takes your insurance, only to find they’re booking six months or more in advance? Knowing what your insurance covers and what you and your family are eligible for can eliminate some of that work. For veterans, the first step is understanding that…

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