Force Fitness Program promotes fitness, wellness at MCBH

Photo By Cpl. Zachary Orr | "Lt. Col. Paul Melchior, the Force Fitness Division action officer, demonstrates the proper form when using the concept two rowing machine at the Force Fitness Instructor Promotion Tour on Marine Corps Base Hawaii June 8, 2017. The rowing machine will supplement the 3-mile run portion of the Physical Fitness Test as an option for Marines 46 and over." (Photo by Lance Cpl. Luke Kuennen)  

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, UNITED STATES

06.08.2017

Courtesy Story

Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Training and Education Command held a seminar at Marine Corps Base Hawaii promoting the Force Fitness instructor program on June 8, 2017.
The program aims to instruct sergeants and above on how to become physical trainers who optimize the mental and physical fitness of their Marines.
“The main goal of Force Fitness is, first and foremost, to help all Marines understand what it is to be fit,” said Gunnery Sgt. Dimyas Perdue, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Force Fitness Readiness Center. “I like to relate fitness to biology - the biological definition of fitness is the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in their environment. So if you look at what we do as Marines, when we talk fitness, that’s the ability for us to survive in our environment.”
In addition to making Marines more physically fit, the instructors will also work to create a broader understanding of nutrition and also stresses the importance of injury prevention.
“The injury prevention classes have been eye-openers for the staff, and also serves as eye-openers for the Marines,” Perdue said. “We shy away from reporting our injuries, but what these classes do is help Marines understand how their small injuries can turn into larger injuries over time.”
To become a Force Fitness instructor, there are several prerequisites to ensure that the highest possible standards will be upheld.
Applicants must be sergeants and above, have a first class Physical Fitness Test and Combat Fitness Test, be recommended by their commanding officer, and be injury free over the last six months, said Lt. Col. Paul Melchior, the Force Fitness division action officer. Potential instructors must also have at least one year remaining on their contract with their assigned unit.
Upon completion of the rigorous six week training course, new Force Fitness instructors will return to their unit and perform the primary duties of their MOS, while also taking on the mission of the commanding officer regarding the unit’s physical fitness, Melchior said. Instructors will assess the unit’s physical and combat fitness test scores and the number of Marines on the Body Composition Program, and then develop a tailored plan to positively impact those numbers.
Overall, Marine Corps leadership is looking to make fitness more well-rounded and efficient with the implementation of these instructors.
“The Commandant’s vision and his message was not that the Marine PT program is broken, but it can be better,” Melchior said. “The current science and technology and the current processes that professional athletes use can also be utilized by Marines, because Marines are athletes as well.”
For more information on how to become a Force Fitness instructor, contact your unit leadership. Additional resources can also be found at www.fitness.marines.mil.

• Date Taken: 06.08.2017
• Date Posted: 06.09.2017 21:28
• Story ID: 237173
• Location: MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US