Nate Palin (FitOps): Tactical Fitness and Supporting Veterans.

Nate Palin is a professional strength and conditioning coach and Army veteran, serving 7 years in the 2nd Ranger Battalion. He is the Director of Education for FitOps Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to improving the physical and mental health of veterans by creating purpose and community through the power of fitness. 

Nate began his coaching career in 2010 as owner of The Movement Project LLC, an entrepreneurial personal training effort, then narrowed his focus to tactical strength and conditioning as a performance specialist for EXOS in Washington, DC in 2012. Nate coached Special Operations Forces at Joint Base Lewis-McChord from 2015 to 2018 before managing the National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Tactical program. 

Over the course of five combat deployments in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, and as a special operations and tactical performance expert, Nate experienced the military’s performance shortcomings firsthand, observing the need for enhanced physical training to better support mission critical tasks. 

Nate believes that through Adventure, Performance, and Discomfort (getting comfortable being uncomfortable), relentless growth and learning can be fostered. Nate approaches coaching and training with an enthusiastic intensity, always willing to step outside his comfort zone and get “uncomfortable.”

As the Director of Education at FitOps Foundation, Nate’s mission is to train and equip Veterans - in and out of the classroom - to be Certified Veteran Fitness Operatives (CVFO’s). Nate’s personal experience with the fitness and human performance communities is tied tightly with his role at FitOps - facilitating a continuum of coaching opportunities for veterans seeking renewed purpose. 

In addition to coaching and his role at FitOps Foundation, Nate is a speaker, author, rapper and father of one. He is the co-author of Preparing for the Army Combat Fitness Test for Human Kinetics and the NSCA, and is an adjunct professor for CalUPenn’s graduate program in tactical strength and conditioning.

In this episode Nate talks about:

Why he decided to pursue a military career and specifically the Ranger Regiment.

His thoughts on training and how he has seen the strength and conditioning field evolve.

His role as director of education at FitOps Foundation and how they are serving and empowering veterans. 

Resources discussed:

Talk like TED by Carmine Galo

Spy the Lie by Philip Houston

You can follow Nate on Instagram @Natepalin or contact him via email at [email protected]

To find out more about the FitOps Foundation and the work they are doing to support veterans check out their website at FitOps.org

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