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Blisters... You may want to not bite off 10 miles cross country at first. Personally I would break in the boots first... & jungle boots at that. Soak them in the tub over night, put them on and walk them dry. I went to SFAS with Wellco jungle boots, heck I did the Q-course and went to Iraq with Wellco's. Also, Bootmasters in Fayetteville can take a pair of brand new boots and turn them into road marchers in one day. They pull the toe and heel cups out, pull out the shank, resole them, cut the top down and trim the tounge... very very good mods. I wear these boots when I wear leather boots (which isn't often) but I still swear by them. Anyway, blisters are something you deal with when you get them, but stop before you get them! I didn't bother training for SFAS because I knew I could ruck the standard. But I got the biggest blister of my life walking from the Palimino (a bar) to my crappy hotel on 301 (In Fayetteville) in Justin workboots (which were NOT made for walking). I popped the blister, did the "needle and thread" trick, elevated my feet and signed into SFAS at the SOAF 12 hours later. The skin healed overnight and held all the way through SFAS. So don't get blister when you're training, prevent them... and if you do get one (some) treat them properly. Selection was easy... when you show up to the team is when you have to really perform.
Rucks... Ditch the Euro ruck and buy a ALICE frame and large ruck... it is what you'll use in SFAS and the rest of your career. Know the equipment, take care of it and you're way ahead of the game. SFAS cadre actually have a ruck assembly class.
Foot powder... it's on you. I'm a Gold Bond guy myself. In SFAS you'll see guys who have been there 3 or 4 times before (and didn't get selected... hmmm) and swear by a certain powder, cornstarch, or whatever. Just do your best everytime even when no one is looking and you'll be fine.
Ruck weights... again it's on you. 60 pounds of iron ore or 60 lbs of feathers... weight is wieght. I always put heavier items towards the upper part of the ruck right up against the body, cuz it makes sense.
My dad was a Baptist preacher so I tend to be long winded like him, but hey. There's my 2¢.
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De Oppresso Liber
We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. ~ George Orwell
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