How many people actually educate their Soldiers on nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle??

2016-05-30T18:03:59-04:00

Over my 11yrs on active duty, I have seen that two of the most under addressed topics are nutrition and flexibility. Two incredibly important aspects of performance enhancement and injury prevention. The military spends millions of dollars each year putting Soldiers through weight loss programs and Physical Therapy. Many times being a preventable outcome if addressed earlier by their leadership.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made May 30 at 2016 6:10 PM

2016-05-30T18:10:38-04:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member great read and share. I never did unless it was for AR-600-9 and the overweight program. This should be part of monthly counseling.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2016 6:20 PM

2016-05-30T18:20:55-04:00

There are a lot of fad diets and fad workout. I agree that troops need more education. That being said the latest and greatest isn't always the best and I have seen people get hurt that way. More with workouts than diets. I think some of this would serve us in an official capacity more than some of the annual training we receive. It could go into resiliency training , since perform is part of that. Also the health of the gut is important for mental and emotional wellbeing.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2016 6:33 PM

2016-05-30T18:33:04-04:00

Soldiers only care about nutrition when they fail that tape test. Im just being honest. You cant talk until you are blue in the face and at lunch they gonna get that McDouble. Once they fail that tape test though, they are all ears. Its usually to late by then though because they are either fat or already have some type of injury. Most of them have already given up on their personal appearance and refuse to change their eating or lifestyle habits.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made May 30 at 2016 6:43 PM

2016-05-30T18:43:40-04:00

Many leaders don't do this IMO...should be done more in units

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2016 7:14 PM

2016-05-30T19:14:21-04:00

You can't change what a Soldier eats during his/her off time. You can preach until the apocalypse and you'll still see the pizza delivery car or Krispy Kreme donut truck outside the barracks.

What the Army CAN do is change the nutrition of the food when Soldiers have no meal options. Have you seen the abysmal the nutritional value of MREs?

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made May 30 at 2016 7:56 PM

2016-05-30T19:56:38-04:00

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Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2016 8:49 PM

2016-05-30T20:49:53-04:00

Bottom line, Americans are lazy. We want more, faster, and cheaper. In 2008, TRICARE spent $1 billion on obesity-related comorbidities, and another $300 million in lost productivity. I can sit there and show a Soldier his Framingham Risk score for developing cardiovascular disease over 10 years, and they don't care, because - bacon.

However, if I tell them that their health may affect their ability to get an erection in the future, they're all about that healthy lifestyle. If I, as a PA, cannot positively influence them by giving them the BLUF about their health future, what makes you think their leaders can make them change their negative lifestyle habits?

Response by TSgt Eric Lewis made May 31 at 2016 7:37 AM

2016-05-31T07:37:53-04:00

Other than when we failed to pass our PT test, we never received any nutrition or exercise education. Now, my fellow airmen and I talked about both those subjects informally, but that's about it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2016 9:56 AM

2016-05-31T09:56:28-04:00

Sir,

I am currently in between Phase I and II of the Master Fitness Course. There are components of nutrition and flexibility included in the current curriculum. This marks a turning in the elephant so to speak. Now it is up to commanders (officers) to take advantage of the MFT program and create some culture change to promote a healthier lifestyle for their soldiers . . .

This website is promoted in the course material http://hprc-online.org/ I can't attach files, so I can only advise you check out the One Shot One Kill Program Handbook. It might have some of what you are looking for . . .

Human Performance Resource Center

HPRC's human performance optimization (HPO) website is for U.S. Warfighters, their families, and those in the field of HPO who support them. The goal is Total Force Fitness: Warfighters optimized to carry out their mission as safely and effectively as possible.

Response by SFC John McGill made May 31 at 2016 10:39 AM

2016-05-31T10:39:59-04:00

Not at all. Train for war not what's the latest craze.

Response by PO1 Eric Loughridge made May 31 at 2016 10:42 AM

2016-05-31T10:42:08-04:00

i agree, but you would still spend most or all of that money anyway, because these days especially, you are often trying ti overcome bad parenting. most people do not care to change their habits until they fail a PRT, and then when their out of the woods, most of them go back to their old bad habits. some don't though.

Response by Sgt Bry K. made May 31 at 2016 11:19 AM

2016-05-31T11:19:04-04:00

This is a great topic. I am currently working on a degree in kinesiology while in the MECEP program because I noticed the same issue. If service members were taught the correct way to work out and take care of their bodies then there would be a lot less injury taking them out of the fight and adding to medical costs.

Response by SSG Jerrold English made May 31 at 2016 11:56 AM

2016-05-31T11:56:21-04:00

If Anyone can't keep in shape GET OUT! The job requires health! If you can't do the job GET OUT! Fat and lazy can't protect our country!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2016 12:12 PM

2016-05-31T12:12:41-04:00

I mean, we got the "be well" cbt.. what else can we expect? Lol

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made May 31 at 2016 5:29 PM

2016-05-31T17:29:53-04:00

During my last tour of duty in the 173rd, i took my entire platoon to the health and wellness center on post. We all went through the entire battery of test that they have, and we found out what we each needed to do in order to get better. I was the oldest in the platoon and in the best overall shape, i was in the top 3 in all categories. It was clear that many of them who were half as young as me, were in bad shape. My message to the platoon was if i can do it so can you, don't let an "OLD MAN BEAT YOU". Unfortunately only a handful embraced the results and took it to heart. The rest were much less willing to change. Later on a few more decided to change after they kept on getting smoked like a cheap cigar during our morning PT sessions by me and some of the ones who did change. Senior leaders at all levels need to buy into this.

Response by SGT Joseph Alanzo made May 31 at 2016 8:10 PM

2016-05-31T20:10:16-04:00

I did WHAT I know I gave every one I TEACHE them MECHAINC,TRUCK DRIVER BOD FERNDER many other thin's and also RAIL ROADING

Response by SSgt John McPherson made May 31 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-05-31T20:51:39-04:00

I agree with this letter. I served 12.5 years in the Air Force, most of the time, being on the "Fat Boy" program. Not one time did I fail my Fitness test. In all those years, I was never sent to a nutritionist. I feel that if this would have happen, I would have been able to learn to eat better, and control my weight. Also I would have been able to retire from the Air Force.

Response by SSG Jay Marchand made May 31 at 2016 8:56 PM

2016-05-31T20:56:57-04:00

Your job is to teach them, not run thier lives.

Response by Sgt William Barr made May 31 at 2016 10:13 PM

2016-05-31T22:13:15-04:00

we was taught to kill and wear our uniform. Nothing else. I wish they had pushed a few other things

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2016 9:17 PM

2016-06-01T21:17:53-04:00

As a Corpsman with the Marines. I try my best to educate my Marines during their annual PHAs and answer any questions they have for me or be able to direct them in the right direction.

Response by MSgt William Shimmin made Jun 1 at 2016 11:23 PM

2016-06-01T23:23:56-04:00

Andrew, considering the contracting involved, do you really think the DOD affords gravity towards performance enhancing nutrition? No, it doesn't. What the DOD evaluates is the overall, caloric to fat ratio. DOD can't afford to be overly concerned, budget wise in food valuation. All DOD cares about is the necessary calories required to sustain under given situations. The DOD, isn't interested, and couldn't care less if the biotin's and Omega 3's are incorporated. They can't afford it.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2016 9:40 AM

2016-06-02T09:40:30-04:00

I do. I've had a few sailors ask me how I was able to compensate for plateaus, eating habits and how to get rid of water weight. I'm honest and I motivate them to continue doing what they are doing, don't stop and push. I had at least 3 people (all friends and were 1st classes) that got into the idea of conditioning their bodies because they saw how motivated I was.

Response by MSgt John Butcher made Jun 19 at 2016 2:50 PM

2016-06-19T14:50:07-04:00

Sir,

I agree with you that over my time in the military we only questions on our medical evaluation about the five food groups and nothing was said about flexibility. We were encouraged to do physical fitness training both as an office and our own. If you failed a PT test there was additional training but not sure what it entailed.