Below are testimonials from people who have used my conditioning system. To read reviews from those who have purchased my book; click on the link below to Amazon.com.
http://www.amazon.com/Corps-Strength-Gunnery-Sergeants-Program/product-reviews/1569757747/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1
SWAT PT results
1. 11 pull-ups w/ full gear (42lbs) at BW of 202
2. 1/2 mile o-course/run 3:11...I think I def could have been under three minutes. Had to wait a solid 10-12 seconds for a partner drag. Still pissed about that one
3. 35yd sprint (full gear) 5.7seconds
4. 9 minute pt grinder, 1minute of squat thrusts, 1min of sprints, 1min of crunches X3 rds. Continuous movement....no rest. Easily passed. One of our evaluators looked at me chuckled and said, "Wow you're not even breathing hard." I just smiled back. The other three events were job specific....pass or fail, no biggies. This was my first PT test since I started using your system. The results speak for themselves.....All in all I'm very pleased.
Chris Von- SWAT Officer
Thank you for writing Corps Strength! I could not put it down once I started reading your no nonsense approach to a life of working fitness. I actually already had been using many of your techniques such as stair running with a 20lb vest, bodyweight rotation circuits, kettlebell lifting, and boxing. I will be purchasing another 50 lbs kettlebell and I will be upgrading to a 40 lbs vest very soon. I like your concept of pre-fatigue before the actual workout. Coincidentally, my father is from Schenectady so I have been through Troy many times. And my good friend is a Lance Corporal training to be an Aviation Mechanic at Pensacola who has aspirations to box professionally. I have another year before OCS at Quantico so I will be implementing many of your techniques into my training. Thanks again, Master Gunz!
Very Respectfully,
Ben Chera
I first met PJ a few years ago at a work event. My first impression was that I thought he was just another smart-ass Marine from New York. (I’m a smart ass Marine from Louisiana HaHa). However soon after that we went on a run together with a few other Marines, and from our discussion on the run I knew that we were going to be good friends. PJ proved to be a strong runner and afterward asked if we now wanted to get some real PT in; meaning he was just getting started. Now take note, we had just ran a very fast 3 plus miles in New Orleans La. (85-90 degrees, 100% humidity). He then led us through a series of pull-ups, pushups, stretching and abdominal work that lasted about 30 mins, and it was pretty intense stuff. From that point I started PTing with PJ several times a week, and greatly improved my condition from it.
A couple of times a week several of us would gather at the makeshift gym we had set up out on our loading dock area. This was just a outside covered area that was hot during the warm months, like a sauna in summer time. We had some basic gear, a heavy punching bag, and a 300 lb truck tire up there. PJ would lead us through a series of about 40 minutes of non-stop movements. These intense workouts consisted of a series of kettle-bell movements, exercises, boxing and abdominal work. To top it off we took turns flipping the big tire up the loading ramp. Make no mistake these were some hard workouts, real ball busters for sure. Every one of the Marines that participated in these events got something out of it. They were great motivating, team building events, and needless to say all of us got in much better shape. I am proud to say I endured many of these “fun” workouts with him over he next couple of years and enjoyed them the way any good Marine enjoys a good 'PT Beat Down'. Tough, but sensible would be how I would describe his workouts. It’s a common sense, “real world” program that produces results. I highly recommend his system to anyone who wants to get in great condition, and doesn’t have the time, or energy to waste on any nonsense.
I have been a Marine all my adult life, and like most Marines I tend to be pretty hardheaded about taking advice concerning PT. PJ is one of the only guys in my life I have taken PT advice from. I would add that you would have to be a fool not to once you see the results his program produces.
Major Scott “Khaos” Kiger, USMC
PJ Roarke’s program has proven results ... period. The facts don’t lie. There were about 75-80 Marines on the Physical Training Program (PTP) when I decided to make PJ my Sergeant Major, the senior enlisted Marine in charge of a squadron of about 1,000 Marines and 80 Sailors. The PTP program consists of Marines who cannot pass the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) and/or who are out of weight standards. Within 8 months, there were about 10 Marines remaining on the program. He subsequently planned and executed a PFT with the entire squadron running it at the same time. The failure rate was less than 1/2 of one percent of those who ran it ... about 3 Marines! He motivated me to accompany him on his morning Physical Training sessions where he was implementing his program on me and other Marines. I lost 10 pounds, reduced my run time by two minutes, increased my pull-ups from 15 to 20 in a matter of months. Unfortunately, many of you will never have the honor and privilege of meeting PJ and feeling first hand his compelling spirit that will motivate even the most unwilling to get up and PT. Read his book. His enthusiasm is exuded in his words. I guarantee you will find the inner strength to finally beat that daily challenge with the person in the mirror. You will wonder why it took you so long to buy a pair of boots!
Colonel Paul K. Augustine, USMC (Ret)
I have known PJ since 1984 when he reported to our squadron as a young Sgt, new to the Aviation Ordnance field from the Infantry. Until he checked in, we had not had energetic leadership. That all changed when he arrived, his enthusiasm and leadership style are infectious, and I picked up right away that PJ did not waste time or words. He led from the front, and he made time to teach us that leadership wasn't only directive but demonstrative as well. Over the next 26 years, through many promotions and duty station changes I have always come to PJ for sound honest advice to my professional and personal situations. He did not always tell me what I wanted to hear, he did always tell me what I needed to hear.
He does not invest his time or efforts into anything for which he does not have a passion. The many times that PJ and I have worked out together he always challenged me to do more than I thought I could. Over the many years that I have known PJ it never stopped amusing me how many younger Marines would challenge him on our Physical Fitness Test. The challenge more often than not ended with the younger Marine eating his or her words. Whatever your fitness level, I am sure that by taking his sound advice you can apply it to meet, or exceed your physical fitness goals.
"Hard", is an adjective often used by Marine’s to describe exceptionally physically fit, tough, rough and tumble people. PJ should be an adjective to describe the type of "hard" people should work toward being.
MGySgt Claude E. Ready/USMC
I worked with Paul Roarke when stationed in Pensacola. He is one of the most motivating Marines I have ever worked with. Paul has the unique ability to be a common sense thinker and the most humble down to earth guy that would give you the shirt off his back. His approach is a welcome relief after experiencing the Hollywood hot heads in some of the other training regimens. As the Officer in Charge of a few other courses at the time, it quickly became apparent that the Marines from the Aviation Ordnance division could out PT any other unit on base. They even had a saying on the back of their PT shirts, “If you see me running, try to keep up!” That is when Paul showed me all the data he had been collecting, and he shared some of his vast understanding of physical fitness. Additionally, his program is the WHOLE package, not just something to get a Marine ready for a Physical Fitness Test (PFT). Before the Marine Corps ever mentioned the Combat Fitness Test (CFT), Paul was developing Marines that could perform well on the PFT, AND perform in full combat gear.
The statistics don’t lie, and his methods work, so if you want a system that makes sense, his is the way to go.
Timothy N. Nutter
Major, U.S.M.C.
Commanding Officer
Fargo MEPS
I first met PJ, then Gunnery Sergeant Roarke, as a young Ordnance Marine in VMFA(AW)-332 back in 1997. I remained as one of his troops for the next 3 years while we served in this squadron, but it was his Leadership by example that motivated me to join his boxing team. It was my fear of letting him down that committed me to stay. PJ has always been in phenomenal shape and has given me something more than just a workout regimen. I still work out and exercise on a regular basis, due to a belief that he has instilled in me about my well-being and personal pride to maintain and keep fit. I was able to maintain a consistent high 1st class PFT (Physical Fitness Test) until I got out in 2004. And I can still do it as a civilian thanks to PJ and the belief’s that he gave me.
Mr. Christopher L. Curwood
JNMS Software Test Lead
In late 2003 I met my new boss , when Master Gunnery Sergeant PJ Roarke checked in. We were both assigned as part of the large Ordnance Dept. for Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 31, in Beaufort, SC. I first seen him very early in the morning, by himself doing some very intense, (I thought crazy) PT (Physical Training), and I asked him why he was working out so hard, and so early, he replied "Because the other guy isn't doing it." I didn't get it at first, but those words would make a lot of sense later. We all soon realized that he had plans to incorporate his exercise system into our unit PT program in order to improve the consistently dropping Physical Fitness Test (PFT) scores. His leadership by example attitude is bar none and soon he had everyone on this tough, but very doable PT regiment. I can honestly say that it did not take long to start seeing improvement in the PFT scores of our Marines. This also created a by product in the form of increased moral, because we no longer were we doing the same old daily warm-up exercises and the mundane three mile run. Before I was force fed this new routine, I had an average run time of roughly 26 minutes on a three mile PFT run, 80 crunches and about 9 pull ups. This new type of PT session prepared me for Marine Staff Academy four months down the road. I was pleased to be able to get to the academy with a 20:10 run time, 100 crunches and 18 pull ups. Now a 20:10 - 3 mile run time may be no huge achievement for some, but consider that I was then 33 years old and that I beat my old all time best (Boot camp) time of 20:30 which was when I was 21. I thought my improvement was freaking amazing! I saw some of my peers struggling at the academy with the tough PT schedule there (I didn’t), and then it hit me, I finally knew what PJ was talking about when he said, "Because the other guy isn't doing it" and I was happy not to be that guy. I know that I made this dramatic improvement because of PJ's system, and some “Old school” hard work. He's always been a mentor, always led me down the right path, and if anyone is serious enough to follow his methods, I believe that his exercise routine will also lead them in the right direction. A direction of a better feeling, healthier and younger feeling you.
Pedro Rodriguez, Gunnery Sergeant, USMC
I first met PJ back in 2004 when we both were deployed to 29 Palms, Ca. for an extended field exercise. I was assigned the Ordnance Officer, and he as the Ordnance Chief. PJ was looking for someone to workout with in the mornings and since I had been trying get in shape on my own, I thought why not? It’s always better to have a partner to help motivate you, to get more out of your workout. Early the first morning I explained to him that I seemed to have some sort of mental block and couldn’t get any more than 12 dead hang pull-ups on my physical fitness test (PFT), no matter what I tried on my own? PJ was more than eager to introduce me to his program, when he first explained it to me I thought this is going to be too easy to make any real improvement, boy was I wrong! By the end of the two month deployment I was able to complete many more pull-ups on my own than ever before. When I got back home I continued his routine and doing pull-ups seemed to get easier. I slowly, but steadily increased the number I did, still keeping it in line with what he told me to do. In time I could see the results as I broke past 12, 15, 18 and finally I was able to achieve the maximum score of 20 dead hang pull-ups on the PFT. I am convinced that I made this dramatic improvement because I followed PJ’s advice and put in the effort to make it work. His methods work, and I highly recommend them to anyone who is serious about getting in shape.
Philip Blethen, Chief Warrant Officer 3, USMC (Ret)