The Army is expanding its new all-around health and fitness program, which includes professional civilian staffing, workout gear and more, to all soldiers rather than only combat brigades. Army Vice Chief of Staff James Mingus told soldiers at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference at Fort Moore, Georgia, on Wednesday that the Holistic Health and Fitness program, also called H2F, will roll out across the entire force. The program was showing too much benefit to be used only by the combat arms brigades, according to the four-star. “It is an Army program, and it is making a huge difference on how our soldiers are performing out there,” Mingus said.
The Army launched a pilot H2F program in late 2018 and began equipping combat arms brigades with full complements of gym equipment and H2F staff, including physical therapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and cognitive performance specialists, in 2020. RELATED The program’s holistic approach addresses five domains: physical, spiritual, mental, sleep and nutrition. The original plan called for the service to outfit all 110 combat arms brigades by 2030. Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George announced last year that the Army would speed up fielding by increasing the annual number of brigades from 10 to 15. The fully resourced program had reached 50 brigades this year, including some military police, medical, engineer and sustainment brigades, according to Army data.
Mingus didn’t share specifics or timelines on the rollout, which will require more funding from Congress. But he advised leaders to begin work in their units now. “A lot of our formations still don’t have it but there are things you can do,” Mingus said. “I would challenge you to study what is the essence of how you assess the program and execute functional fitness, nutrition, sleep.” Capt. Rudolph “Trey” Smith III, takes the Army Combat Fitness Test on Rhine Ordnance Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany. (Pfc. Alyssa Norton/U.S. Army) The Center for Initial Military Training, or CIMT, at Fort Eustis, Virginia, launched the Holistic Health and Fitness website in late August. The site contains information on all aspects of the program such as unit resources, the H2F Academy and the command’s annual H2F Symposium.
Michael L. Howard, Commander of the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), stated in a recent interview. The Army is developing a new website, called “Army Readiness Assessment Tool,” or ARAT, to address this need.
Early data released by CIMT in April showed H2F-resourced brigades saw a 23% higher increase in Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) passing rates, along with other performance and behavior improvements. Behavior and performance data from H2F-resourced brigades compared with non-resourced brigades demonstrated: 14% lower increase* in musculoskeletal injuries = 6,489 fewer injured soldiers. 30% lower increase in musculoskeletal injuries lasting more than 90 days = 3,002 fewer injured soldiers on profile for more than 90 days. 22% lower increase in behavioral health reports = 2,962 fewer soldiers on behavioral health profiles. 20% lower increase in behavioral health reports lasting more than 90 days = 3,002 fewer soldiers on behavioral health profiles greater than 90 days.
The summary provided highlights two key performance indicators (KPIs) related to the impact of a specific intervention or program on the Army. * **Substance Abuse:** A 502% lower increase in substance abuse profiles indicates a significant reduction in the number of soldiers exhibiting substance abuse issues. This suggests that the intervention may have been effective in preventing or mitigating substance abuse.
The Army is developing a new website to address the growing need for information about the Army Reserve. The website will provide a comprehensive overview of the Army Reserve, its history, mission, and benefits. It will also offer resources for potential recruits, including information on career paths, training, and benefits.
This is significant because it shows the program’s lasting impact. The program, known as the “Army’s Best Chance Program”, aims to help underprivileged children and families in various ways, and its legacy continues to impact soldiers of today. Let’s dive deeper into the program’s impact. The Army’s Best Chance Program has a multifaceted approach.
