Posted on Nov 19, 2013

Are we cultivating a fitness culture?

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Throughout the services we do our best to promote a culture of physical fitness & peak performance; now, we just need to ask how we can get even better; so, what could we--or should we--do differently? How could we implement specific changes for a positive & wide-reaching impact in the DoD? One example may be food contracts/vending machine choices on military installations... do these align w/ the goal of a physically fit force? Another might be that Air Force officers don't mess at the dining facility by order--so, their only reasonable option is very often fast food--meanwhile, USMC officers are allowed to eat at their dining facilities; these are just a few cultural inconsistencies, there are likely many others across the joint spectrum... so, the object here is to start a thoughtful discussion of what we're doing right--what we're doing wrong--and brainstorm how we might get even better. I look forward to hearing your awesome ideas, thanks for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

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Edited >1 y ago

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CWO2 Shelby DuBois

Posted 10 y ago

I understand the need for physical fitness. It should be blending the needs of the Service with the people carrying out missions. Instead, we are given a steady supply of politcally correct guidance regarding how we should look, feel and perform from the perspective of congressmen, politicos and think tanks, sometimes with little or no military experience, but from the viewpoint of keeping a government grant (yes..being cynical here).

Hagel now 'mulling' a total ban on cigarettes in the military is a great example of how the brain trust is looking at insurance and cost savings rather than the real threats to our service men and women. I would rather our Sec of Def "mull' over how to keep our men and women trained, with the right tools of the trade, and get fair pay and benefits, a fairer drawdown rather than more of this type of garbage.

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SSG Isaac Tavares

Posted 10 y ago

I always liked when my training included game mechanics (i.e. competitions, rewards, leaderboards, p.t. tests, etc.) I've always found that people are more motivated to push themselves & reach that next level in their training if they had these mechanics.

My start - up touches on a bit of everything that an athlete needs to make their training journey more enjoyable. Check it out at http://www.igg.me/at/sportkore

SportKore - The Fight For Athletic Freedom!

SportKore is the military - themed, social game that helps athletes become better at sports and fitness.

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SPC (Join to see)

Posted 10 y ago

I think what would most improve the physical fitness in the military is realizing that, with the growth of the Army specifically, there are so many different body types and that every one was made to do something different. Not every person that can pass an APFT can run 6 miles, and frankly I don't think he needs to if he can overhead press 200 lbs or sprint a 400m in 50 sec. The physical programming needs to tend to the needs of the individuals, once they can pass and APFT of course.

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SPC (Join to see)

10 y

It absolutely does not, which is why the mil fitness standard needs to be changed. To something that would prove true overall fitness.

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SrA Daniel Hunter

Posted >1 y ago

Major, I do not know about now. However, when I was in the Air Force we did not have PT like the Army and Marines (Navy -CG?). That would be one thing that could change. Also I think the Air Force goes to far in separating Officer and Enlisted. Perhaps the Air Force leadership is keeping them separate fearing fraternization. I think allowing Officers to eat at the dining facility might just improve esprit de corps and morale. Not that Officer and Enlisted would necessarily sit together, just that it would no longer appear they were avoiding each other like the plague.

While going through Basic we were initially a test flight for vegetarian meals. The hope was the meals, served at the dining facility, would improve overall health of us Airmen. The food was nasty. We quickly learned what few things we could stomach and ate those. We heard many of the TI were eating off base because the food was so bad. There may be a few tweaks to the food served at the dining facility that would help. However, given my experience I would urge caution on the choices made.

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SrA Daniel Hunter

>1 y

SPC PK, If you had read the Major's initial statement you might understand comments in context.  That is, since my statement was directed to the Major in reference to his initial statement. <div><div><br></div><div>Having done that you now see why I mention Officers and Enlisted eating at the dining facility.  Serve healthier food, that tastes good, at the dining facility and allow Officers to eat there with the Enlisted.  If you still cannot envision Officer and Enlisted being separated, join the Air Force.</div><div><br></div><div>The outcome: vegetarian food served at Basic Training was discontinued.  Those who could leave base and eat else where did.  Usually fast food, which made the program pointless.</div></div><div><br></div><div>Also, with all due respect!</div><div>Where did you study English?  I am just curious because, quite honestly, you sound like a Nigerian. </div>

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SrA Daniel Hunter

10 y

Thanks SCPO.  I had no idea what the Navy or Coast Guard did.  

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SrA Daniel Hunter

10 y

Senior enlisted can, if they choose to, dine with junior enlisted. Officers are not allowed to dine with enlisted. Senior enlisted usually eat off base or at their on base home as most are married. While deployed all enlisted usually dine together if there are dining facilities. In my experience there was no dining facility. In that case we purchased food at the commissary and cooked it on grills at our tent. On a few occasions we ate at our hooch or the Army's hooch.

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SrA Daniel Hunter

10 y

Specialist, as stated in my first reply to you, your English is what made me think you may be from Nigeria.  I have some experience with people from there.  Placing a proper name at the end of a sentence for example.  While there are many languages that switch the noun-verb placement, Nigerians are the only ones I have experienced that place a proper name at the end of a sentence.  Just curious.

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SGT (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

I dont particularly think we are cultivating a fitness culture. Sure we do PT every morning. But to most its simply a chore or something they must deal with in order to maintain the standard. I dont think Servicemen/women see themselves as althetes which is something that could help cultivate that fitness culture. "athletes" as we know them are professional athletes, they train and they eat to support that mentality because it is their way of life. its harder in the military to sustain a fitness culture becasue so often we find ourselve putting the mission first, whether its deployments or getting their company is 100% compliant with an online EO class.

a decent start might be to perhaps create some kind of contract with some whole foods providers to fill the commissaries and DFAC's. then maybe allow for time for meal preparation. People often say you can train all day but exercise can beat out bad nutrition. Well we get over an hour a day just to work out (some units even do two a days) perhaps allow for earlier work release for food prep and or cooking classes. Ill be honest, i couldnt cook well at all when i was younger it was either hot pockets or burritos.

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SSG (Join to see)

Posted >1 y ago

GEN McChrystal did this a few years back with burger king in Afghanistan didn't he?

I think classes on proper diet would help out, in the junior leader courses like WLC.

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Col (Join to see)

Edited 10 y ago

Posted >1 y ago

In order promote maximum participation and discussion, here are just a few threads that you may find interesting or enlightening; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

I am curious to find out what type (if any) military fitness training programs any of you participate in and how much you enjoy it.

I have a background in military fitness training and am curious what else is out there that people really like.

Dining Facility/Chow or Mess: Do you use it?

Do you use your installation's/unit's dining facility? Why or why not?

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Col (Join to see)

>1 y

Should Physical Training be the first event on the training schedule?

In my own experience (Army only) I saw every leader "talk the talk" about PT (Physical Training) being the first thing on the calendar and the last item to come off the calendar - however reality was ...

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Col (Join to see)

>1 y

RallyPoint | Why don't we have docs that deal solely with sport related injuries? Don t you hate when you go to sick call and all you get is Motrin.

Why do we must injure ourself to the point of surgery before we see a Physician can give a solution.

Should Physical Training be the first event on the training schedule?

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Col (Join to see)

>1 y

APFT Run Shoes

Several factors needs to be taken into consideration while choosing a running shoe such as your weight, heel cushioning, shoe stiffness, shoe profile, forefront fushioning,shoe stability etc. Whi...

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Col (Join to see)

10 y

SPC P K., thanks for your response and excellent point! With that, do you have any ideas on how we might organize content more efficiently or more effectively in the future? Thanks again!

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Col (Join to see)

Posted 10 y ago

In recent military news; so, what do you think? http://m.military.com/daily-news/2014/03/31/hagel-mulls-banning-smoking-in-military.html?ESRC=todayinmil.sm

Hagel Mulls Banning Smoking in Military | Military.com

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel gave his support Monday to moves by the services to consider banning tobacco sales on bases and ships.
"I think it does need to be looked at," Hagel said at a Pentago...

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TSgt Scott Hurley

10 y

This was going on since the early '90's in the AF. And every time it came up, it was compromised. To what it is currently. I bet if it was an out right ban, all the smokers will revolt. And I do mean revolt. I would say start with stop selling tobacco products on base and limit the amount of times they smoke. And gradually eliminate smoking and chewing tobacco on base with a stop dead date sometime in the future.

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LtCol David Gran

10 y

I don't smoke. But if I did, I certainly wouldn't want the DoD telling my that I could not smoke. The fewer rules the better. I suspect we are just talking sales on base. But if that applies to ships then sailors are out of luck (the can't drive off base). I know a lot of guys that only smoked or chewed on deployment or in the field training. Would that be outlawed. Opening a can of worms I think. It's a dangerous profession, everyone should be able to have a legal vice if they want. However, If you throw your butts on the ground you should do 1000 burpees per butt. And... there should be no such events as smoke breaks. Everyone gets a break or know-one gets a break.

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Col (Join to see)

Posted 10 y ago

Air Force Times Article: "24-hour gyms for every AF base"

http://blogs.militarytimes.com/offduty-plus/2014/03/28/air-force-bases-getting-24-hour-gyms/

Air Force bases getting 24-hour gyms — OFFduty+

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Lt Col (Join to see)

9 y

We're very close on this one...we'll be the second in ACC, or so the FSS commander tells me.

Apparently, there are some hurdles to implementation, but nothing that can't be overcome.

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Col (Join to see)

Posted 10 y ago

Military Times Article: "Some fast food outlets closing on bases"

Twitter / MilitaryTimes: Some fast food outlets closing ...

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