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NORFOLK, Va. – Command Fitness Leaders (CFLs) around the fleet are talking about a new way to workout. They are incorporating these new routines into their Fitness Enhancement Programs (FEP), command mandated physical training (PT) and even during their personal workout sessions. This new program is known as the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS).
Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) website states that NOFFS provides the Navy with a "best in class" physical fitness and nutrition performance resource that provides guidance to Sailors and Navy health and fitness professionals. NOFFS instructs individuals on how to physically train effectively and safely, and how to make healthy nutrition choices in both shore-based and operational environments.
Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handler) James F. Frost, a native of Las Cruces, N.M., and the CFL on USS Bataan (LHD 5) says he uses the new apps the Navy provides for free and has begun to incorporate some of the workouts into the ship’s FEP schedule as this is the direction the Navy is going with fitness training for Sailors.
“I know these exercises look really simple but doing a full workout with mini bands; you will hurt,” said Frost as he opens the app and pulls up sample exercises. “Not hurt in a bad way, but you will say, man I feel it.”
Frost went on to say that the purpose of the program is to eventually eliminate the guesswork for what Sailors can do to individually to plan and execute an effective workout plan as well as provide guidance for fitness leaders when planning and coordinating their command programs. He said his assistant command fitness leaders (ACFLs), in addition to him; take the free NOFF training courses provided by the Morale, Wellness and Recreation (MWR) Fitness on the base to become more familiarized with the workouts and how to navigate the apps.
“I was not happy when I was told that we were going to be using the NOFFS apps originally, as I do a lot of weight training,” said Aviation Electrician’s Mate 1st Class Marvin D. Hayes, a native of Detroit, (Hayes would also like to give a shout out to Grand Rapids where he graduated from) and one of the ACFLs on Bataan. “From the outside looking in, the exercises looked more like yoga mixed with Pilates and it wasn’t until I went through my first NOFFS strength course given by MWR Fitness; it was a wake up call for me, I was sore for three or four days after. It was impressive and that’s what made me a believer in the program.”
Hayes shared that one of the main goals of NOFFS is to decrease the number of physical training injuries by ensuring Sailors are using the correct form when performing each movement. The exercises are designed to improve the Sailors operational performance, which is really making sure they can do the movements properly that are needed for them to go about their daily tasks around the ship.
“I noticed that this program is based on form and not repetition like the normal Navy routines we are used to doing,” said Hayes. “Before we didn’t really focus on how you were doing it, just that you were doing something over and over; that is the big difference I see between what we have been doing and this new NOFFS program.”
NOFFS is broken down into four different series based on the platforms that Sailors work: submarine, surface ship, large deck and group training series. Within each series are exercises designed specifically for the spaces available on each platform and have Fit Kits available upon request to supplement the movements. Throughout each series, there are training components, each with their own app, to include pillar preparation which primes your hips, torso and shoulders (critical muscles) to help protect you from injury and boost your performance during your training session, movement preparation which consists of active and dynamic stretches to help prepare you to move, strength, cardiovascular fitness and recovery, which brings back balance to your body while helping to relieve tension and the associated aches and pains.
“The efficiency is great because NOFFS caters to the Navy and where we are as far as platform, ship or shore based,” said Hayes. “From an operational standpoint it works since we have limited equipment; NOFFS allows us to work with those limitations, we can do sessions in the hangar bay and we have fit kits on order that we will also use to supplement the workouts.”
The apps are available for both android based and iOS based smartphones and tablets, free of charge.
“We do use the apps and anybody can do it; it works,” said Frost. “It takes a little getting used to like any new game.”
For more information regarding the NOFFS program and applications, please visit
www.cnic.navy.mil/ffr/fleet_readiness/fitness_sports_and_deployed_forces_support.html.
| Date Taken: | 03.16.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 05.15.2017 05:08 |
| Story ID: | 232843 |
| Location: | NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 25 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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