How To Prevent Foot Injuries During Ruck Marches

I'm a vet with a fiberglass shin. Got pins just above the ankle and just below the knee. Trust me when I tell you, you REALLY want to take care of your feet and joints. The factory replacements pretty much suck. First, foremost and always: GOOD SOCKS. The minute you get out of Basic /AIT, dump those fucking polyester socks and get yourself some wool hunting socks. Why? Wool wicks moisture away from your feet. It helps keep your feet warm even if they get soaking wet. Wool cushions the foot and ankle better than anything else and this helps prevent blisters. Lastly, wool socks don't stink as much as cotton or poly socks do. Some folks have a problem with wool itching the skin. Two solutions for that: foot powder and look into Merino Wool socks. Now, a quick warning: wool socks are expensive. You can spend up to $20 per pair. But you only get one set of feet. Spend $100 on several pair, and then budget for a new pair every year as you replace the worst-worn pair. Second, buy an extra pair of boots when you get out of Basic. When I was in, we still had to shine boots. Yeah, it was a pain in the ass. What I had was 4 pair of boots: a highly shined set of inspection boots, two pair of duty boots, and one pair of fucked up, oil stained boots that I kept in the CONEX or aboard the vehicle for fucking around in the motor pool. All boots were broken in, all were maintained [cleaned and polish applied as a waterproof]. PROTIP: If you have a pair of boots that fit comfortably but the soles or heels are wearing out, you don't have to throw them away. Get them resoled or re-heeled at a shoe repair! Comfortable boots are one of life's little treasures, maintain them and you won't have to break in a new set of boots every other year. Last: If you have some advance warning that you're gonna be rucking, STRETCH OUT; especially your quads, calves, and Achilles. Don't forget to stretch the lower back as well. You'll also want to look into keeping your potassium levels up, so eat bananas. This helps prevent or mitigate cramps. For those of you out there doing the work, please accept the respects of an old cavalry corporal. Thanks for your time.

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Timestamp List: 1:43, 2:49, 3:59, 5:30, 6:40, 7:51, 8:40, 11:14 Hope this helps for who need to skim and for those last minute tips before basic

Only if I saw this before my 12 mile ruck to honor hill 😂😭

Best way to break in new boots is to shower with them on barefoot as soon as you can so they mold to your feet. Best advice I ever got. (Ex Ranger, 11B, 06-12)

I just graduated basic yesterday I made it 40 miles through the forge with out a single blister or injury I was happy especially once I got to put that beret on and the buses pulled up to take us back to the barracks

My DS actually let me get some DR scholls soles at the PX.. He was pretty cool about it.. I asked if it was contraband.. He said " no private, thats for your feet. Carry on"... I miss FLW.

This is honestly a really important video, some people might not think so. Ingrown toenails can be problem if they get infected (I'm talking from experience).

I remember watching these videos back when I started considering the army. Just graduated bootcamp. Great decision

Me:Should I wear two pairs of socks? Matt:Do not wear two pairs of socks. 4:10 ish Me:*deletes comment.*

I personally find having a DD214 to be extremely helpful in avoiding injuries related to rucking. It really helps take the load off of your shoulders and transfers said weight to some other poor private.

In preparation for enlistment, I think running on sand is a great way to build up your running. In Basic we ran on sand tracks for our regular PT tests to gauge our progress, then for our final APFT we ran on a compressed, rubber one made of recycled tires. Man what a difference. We cut over two minutes, on average, off our run times from running on sand. If you can do it in passing time on sand, you will have a far higher score when you run on a decent track. It's just great exercise when you have that moving surface beneath you. Sort of a different subject but slightly related, I think.

Quick Notes: - Alternate boots so you break into both. - Never use double socks - Use wool socks - Cut your toenails - Use foot powder (not too much)

When doing basics in South Africa in the 80's I put on my boots without tying the laces, stood in a bucket of water submerging the boots completely, then tied the laces, and walked with the boots for the rest of the day like that (This was the very next morning after gear was issued), to form the boot to my foot. After it dried the boot fit perfectly and I did not have any issues with blisters. Some guys wore womans silk stockings under their socks to minimize friction and they seemed happy with the outcome. If you were unlucky enough to get blisters and it was picked up during foot inspection after each ruck the medic came over and injected the blister with methiolate, it would burn like pouring acid on a open wound for about 20 seconds but would dry out the blister and the moment the burn stops the skin hardens, and the open nerve endings gets closed, you 100% good to go after, like you never had a blister.

My father 16 years in the army told me just 2 things when I joined. He said first make sure your boots fit. Don't let them rush you through that part of the line. Take the smoking and screaming if you have to try on 15 pairs of boots do it. I only had to try 5 before I got the right fit but thank God i did. It was well worth the hour smoking I recieved for "holding up the line" the whole time being screamed at that I was being picky and wasting the armies time..That combined with dry socks and i didn't get 1 blister during basic. While other guys that took the first pair that kinda fit were left using mole skin and constantly having their heels and the backs of their feet fall off.The other was save everything medical that happens to you. Sick call for a cut save it. Sick call for a feaver save it. Any injuries make sure they are well documented and you have a copy. He served 16 years and his back is completely screwed....6 to 8 surgeries to fix everything that's wrong and surgeons wont touch him for fear of paralysis when hes only got 5 to 10 more years of walking left. The recovery time would be 2 years laying facedown in a hospital bed... He was separated with 20% a pat on the back and a check for 4k. I served 3 years before an injury led to my separation but since I had every little injury and thing documented I was able to squeeze a 30% tdrl. All the documentation made the VA process much easier as well and got me a higher rating. I've seen guys that have it much worse but because of their pride they brushed it and walked it off and are now fighting the VA to get anything for their disabilities... hell I know a guy with PTSD so bad from his tour in Afghanistan with marines as doc that he has flashbacks and pisses himself and literally relives the couple of close call moments and the va denied him several times because while In service he said he was fine and never sought help for the anxiety and flashbacks he was having. So they said it wasnt service connected due to no documentation during service...Swallow your pride or the government will find any way not to give you what you deserve for giving up your body and sanity.

My feet never really had issues, it was my thighs chafing really bad. Pro tip: buy compression shorts on your first px run

If you're going to Jackson, prepare for 50mi+. My company did 56. You won't have any issues if your boots fit right so make sure your boots fit well before they issue the to you at reception.

In basic, around about 80% of all injuries were coming from feet/ ankle problems. The other 20% was leg and hip problems

Remember to change your socks 👍 But, most importantly above all.... Hydrate...

Literally did my first ruck today and then I whip my phone out and see this 😂. I am happy to say that my feet survived