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JBSA - FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas – Twenty-six Soldiers from throughout the 4th Sustainment Command (EXP) participated in a holistic and comprehensive approach to encompassing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual domains program called Fit for Life. A diverse group of mentors and coaches from within the command, committed to assisting participants develop a personal plan to be stronger, healthier and ultimately “Fit for Life.”
The Army has been burdened by almost a decade of war and beset by increases in suicides, substance abuse and combat stress. To combat these elements, the 4th ESC embarked on a comprehensive course to instill psychological strength in Soldiers the same way it teaches physical fitness.
The Soldiers started the course with a diagnostic fitness training test and height/weight screening, followed by classroom training to evaluate and understand them self.
“As the FFL participants arrived,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Moreno, Fit for Life lead coach/mentor, “I noticed that most if not all had a look of uncertainty and defeat.”
The Army culture is changing. The “suck it up and drive on” mentally is shifting to better recognize the past decade of a physically, mentally and emotionally draining hardships due to rigorous training and multiple deployments.
“One of the primary initiatives was to enable and empower participants with the "tools" necessary to build a successful and realistic individual fitness and nutrition plan,” said Moreno. “Given participant feedback, I believe we achieved that.”
The overall goal of Fit for Life is to encompass the "whole body" in efforts to not only become a better Soldier but a better person for oneself, family and community.
“The program further emphasized disciplined initiative, teaching our Soldiers how to think rather than what to think,” said Moreno. “These types of skills are imperative in developing and growing our future leaders.”
Soldiers developed actionable individual fitness and nutrition plans and left with the tools to execute them as part of their everyday lives. At the end of the Program, Soldiers were administered a record Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), and height/weight test. Soldiers that met the standards were given the opportunity to reenlist at the end of the event.
“At the completion of the program, they transformed, they believed in themselves and one another,” said Moreno. “They went from uncertainty and defeat to one of purpose and determination.”
Of the 26 Soldiers that participated in the program, 21 Soldiers showed vast improvement in their overall physical fitness score. On the final day of the program, Brig. Gen. Norman B. Green, 4th ESC commanding general, administered the oath of reenlistment to the 15 Soldiers who either extended their contract or reenlisted.
| Date Taken: | 08.10.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 09.17.2014 11:00 |
| Story ID: | 142415 |
| Location: | SAN ANTONIO , TX, US |
| Web Views: | 52 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, 4th ESC host first comprehensive fitness course, by SFC Nina Ramon, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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