U.S. Forces Fitness

Story by Maj. Thomas Piernicky 4th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Wearing shorts and a tank top, a lone figure is putting herself through a punishing workout routine during a lunch break at the Colorado Spring Army Reserve center on a Thursday afternoon. She rotates between a variety of exercises all designed to strengthen her core muscles. The exercises challenge her to push through pain and tense muscles to maintain her fitness.      This is 1st Lt. Gennifer Thompson, a military intelligence officer and Army Reserve soldier with the 90th Sustainment Brigade based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Thompson is getting in a quick workout while on temporary duty to attend suicide prevention training. Two years ago, Thompson would not have been able to do these exercises after suffering a debilitating spinal injury during an ROTC ruck march.      Despite the crippling injury, Thompson has demonstrated mental and physical resilience while working hard to recovery from a spinal disc

Story by Staff Sgt. Neysa Canfield 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs FORT CARSON, Colo. — Rangers from different units throughout the 4th Infantry Division put their physical and mental abilities to the test Jan. 10, 2019, during the 4th Inf. Div. Best Ranger Competition tryouts. Rangers met at Iron Horse Park and began their morning with the Ranger Physical Fitness Test (RPFT), which included two-minutes of metronome pushups, two minutes of metronome sit-ups, one minute of metronome pullups and a 5-mile run. The metronome workouts used a device that produced an audible sound at a regular interval so that the exercise can be performed to a rhythm. Rangers followed the RPFT with an 8-mile foot march, directly into a 2.5-mile interceptor body armor (IBA) run, and concluded with a 600-meter swim. “The purpose of the tryouts was to identify the right population of Ranger qualified leaders who have the potential of continuing to train and prepare for

Story by Maj. Matthew Boyle North Carolina National Guard Twenty-two Soldiers from the North Carolina National Guard are volunteering to participate in Fit to Serve, a six-month program that supports overall health and wellness by providing nutrition training, resiliency training and teaching a movement restoration system, at the Camp Butner Training Center in Butner, North Carolina on January 24, 2019. According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey conducted from 2015 to 2016, 71.6% of Americans over the age of 20 are overweight. The North Carolina National Guard Operations and Training Office set out to find a way to work with personnel struggling with health and wellness. “Our program is a total mind and body approach to wellness,” said Sgt. Maj. Jason Stewart, Operations and Training Resource Manager, who is part of the team that created the Fit to Serve program. “It begins with a one-week in-resident phase where we teach nutrition, resiliency and functi

Story by Sgt. LaShic Patterson 2d Cavalry Regiment VILSECK, Germany – Training under January’s motto of readiness, Soldiers from the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment conducted a two-day leader professional development training to cover the Army Combat Fitness Test in Vilseck, Germany, Jan. 16-17, 2019. The purpose of the LPD was to ensure that leaders have an understanding of the ACFT, have performed the ACFT and have the opportunity to provide feedback on how to improve its future implementations. “The S3 [training and operations] shop is going to walk us through all of the events; we’ll learn all [of] the standards, try all of the events and make sure you meet the standard,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Gallo, commander of the 3/2CR. “Obviously, some of you may be doing some of these exercises for the first time. The intent is beyond tomorrow, to the extent we can, that we start training our formations on this test so that we can lean forward, and this can be done simply by addi

Story by Maj. Kurt Rauschenberg 58th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade REISTERTOWN, Md. – As the Army transitions to the Army Combat Fitness Test to asses Soldier fitness levels, the Maryland Army National Guard’s 629th Military Intelligence Battalion has embraced a program designed to enhance individual physical fitness routines while preparing for the new test. Called ‘Fit to Serve,’ the voluntary program coaches Soldiers in fitness and nutrition, offers technology to track physical activity and sleep routines, and provides physical therapy resources with a focus on overall health wellness and resiliency. “Anticipating the new Army fitness test, we are taking an extra step now to not only get our troops physically prepared for the dynamic events it brings, but also to build-up their confidence in themselves to overcome unforeseen challenges that may exist,” said Army Maj. Michael Bryant, the battalion commander. The program is divided into stages that include se

Story by Lance Cpl. Stephen Beard Marine Corps Installations West - Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Oceanside, Ca – A couple weeks into the New Year, those that are sticking to their resolutions to eat healthier and exercise more often have resources to meet their goals. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton employs several nutrition experts who work on base to assist Marines, Sailors and military dependents to understand how to track their diet to properly nourish their body and exercise to live a happy and healthier life.  “Nutrition is my passion, I used to be overweight and when I made that change I saw how much I can help and influence others,” said Leanne Miyasaki, health promotion coordinator, Semper Fit Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) Camp Pendleton. The Human Performance Department and High Intensity Tactical Training (HITT) are here to help establish a caloric budget and help those that strive to reach their overall wellness goals.

Story by Airman 1st Class Kristine Legate 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs With their heart pounding, lungs burning, leaden feet and heavy legs, thoughts of wanting to stop cross many runners’ minds. To overcome these thoughts, being surrounded by others that give encouraging words can help. We Have Your Pace is a program comprised of individuals who want to help others succeed at becoming  better runners by creating a community of people who actively motivate one another. “The part I enjoy most about running is when I’m encouraging someone else,” said Master Sgt. Marcus Sydow, 355th Operations Support Squadron Airfield Operations Flight superintendent and founder of WHYP. From the very beginning Sydow knew he couldn’t operate WHYP by himself. He would spend time on the track running and take notice of people who weren’t only fast but also had a positive attitude. “If I saw someone pacing I’d talk to them and tell them I’m looking at starting a group, and ask ‘Are you in

Story by Seaman Steven Young USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73) NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Jan. 9, 2019) – A resolution is defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something, and one of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to get in better physical shape. For Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), the fitness team is in place to assist them in improving overall health and achieving fitness goals. “Physical fitness plays a vital role in overall health,” said Chief Hospital Corpsman David Long, the command fitness leader aboard George Washington (GW). “Exercise helps reduce stress, and decreases risks from obesity, high blood pressure, and other chronic diseases. It makes you feel better, think more clearly, and live longer.” Long’s passion for fitness derives from his experience with Fleet Marine Force and expeditionary warfare commands. In those types of environments, being physically fit isn’t just desirable, it is mandatory. “Most o

Story by Senior Airman Mya Crosby 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Three Airmen assigned to the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing placed in the top three positions in the Strongest in the Area of Responsibility competition at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 4. The Airmen – Staff Sgt. Janet Soto, 380th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron container control officer; Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Roark, 380th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter; and Master Sgt. Megan Bender, 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron weapons director – advanced from ADAB’s competition up to the AOR-level competition. They competed against 143 others from bases such as Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, and Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. Leading up to the competition, the ADAB Airmen started their fitness journeys from diverse backgrounds. “I began my fitness journey as a college freshman in 2011,” said Soto, who placed 3rd in the women’s squat division. “My institution

Story by Maj. Gary Loten-Beckford 525th Military Intelligence Brigade FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The Army unveiled the Army Combat Fitness Test and it is currently being field tested at military installations and units. The 519th Military Intelligence Battalion, 525th Military Intelligence Brigade field tests the Army Combat Fitness Test. The training led by the Army Combat Fitness Test mobile training team from Fort Jackson, S.C. trained level-three certified Soldiers in order to train Soldiers of the unit on the proper form, technique, scoring and evaluation of the six-event Army Combat Fitness Test. Beginning October 2020, all Soldiers will be required to take the new gender- and age-neutral test. As of now, field testing allows the Army to refine the test, with initial plans for up to 40,000 Soldiers from all three components to see it. "Now the current test I would argue there are many folks that find it easy to do the maximum standard." said Maj. Gen. Malcolm Frost,

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Trey Hutcheson USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73)  Ringing in the new year comes with a common resolution that many will make – to get in shape and live a healthier life. Losing weight to become a healthier person can be a struggle for many if they don’t know the steps to become a healthier version of themselves. Like many Americans, some military personnel struggle with excessive body weight. According to the 2017 Fleet and Marine Corps Health Risk Assessment Annual Report, “66.6 percent of service members were classified as overweight or obese according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention BMI standards for healthy adults.” With proper nutrition, exercise, and discipline, a healthier lifestyle is possible with commitment and focus. For Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), nutrition and exercise insight is available to them from certified professionals. Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Cassidy B

Story by Sgt. Connie Jones 184th Sustainment Command A couple of donuts here, a few late night burgers there, could result in a few extra pounds hanging around. New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or to get back down to a favorite size result in gyms packed from January until around March when the crowd begins to thin and fast food restaurants welcome back their regulars. Children don’t understand the potential health crisis obesity brings.  All of this was true for 2nd Lt. Anthony Hamilton. “I started gaining weight when I was between six and eight years old. When you’re young, it doesn’t really matter as much. As you start to get older, that’s when you start to notice it more,” Hamilton said. “I started to really notice my weight when in 5th grade, but I kept eating. I felt no need to change when I was still young.”  As Hamilton got older he became more aware and he wanted to do something about his weight - but he still had a long way to go with discipline. At his heaviest