A holistic solution to the Army’s fitness issue

The Army’s H2F (Holistic, Health and Fitness) program takes middle stage on this week’s episode of The American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast.

H2F is “the Army’s primary precedence within the human area,” mentioned Lt. Col. Sean Donohue, who was joined by Army veteran Alex Morrow. The program covers efficiency, energy and conditioning, vitamin and extra for the troops.

Morrow, who now serves within the reserves, works as a civilian with H2F. Citing an analogous Marine Corps program, he sees health and wellness initiatives turning into extra frequent all through DoD.

“The Marines Force Fitness Instructor program is performing some cool stuff,” he mentioned. “H2F is the Army’s piece of a much bigger DoD puzzle and the DoD calls it Force Fitness. I might argue that we’re out entrance on this one however I’m slightly biased. All of the providers are conscious of the challenges going through them, not simply when it comes to bodily health however in well being and wellness. I see issues like H2F spreading all through DoD.”

As all branches are battling recruiting now, the hope is that H2F and comparable initiatives may also be launched to the civilian sector. That would allow future recruits to choose up wholesome habits earlier than becoming a member of the service.

“This program is a big funding in our future,” Donohue mentioned, earlier than referencing former President Kennedy’s emphasis on health. “It was a name to arms for our nation to turn out to be healthier and wholesome so we will have longer and extra pleasant lives. There are some people who really feel intimated by going within the fitness center. We need to demystify that.”

Morrow additionally talked about how The American Legion can play a task in encouraging veterans to be lively and wholesome. That might embrace using a program from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), participating with different veterans service organizations and extra.

“The VA’s Whole Health program is performing some cool issues for veterans with entry to applications,” he famous. “The neighborhood side is so large to altering folks’s beliefs round health, including in that social ingredient, including in that function. That’s going to go a great distance in making folks need to take part in these applications.”

Other subjects that co-hosts Ashley Gutermuth and Jeff Daly riff on embrace:

• Do army households want their very own Bill of Rights?

• A wilderness program that helps disabled veterans discover their id, function and neighborhood.

• The outdated Air Force tape take a look at is formally a factor of the previous.

For all this and extra, try this week’s episode, which is amongst greater than 160 Tango Alpha Lima podcasts out there in both audio and video formats here. You may also obtain episodes on iTunes, Google Play or different main podcast-hosting websites. The video model is out there at the Legion’s YouTube channel.