Functional Training and Nutrition class held in Wichita

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Anaidy Claudio-Rosa | U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st. Class Christina Ison, 9th Battalion, Army Reserve Careers Division, St. Peters, Mo., directs Cpt. Hugo Magana, 647th Regional Support Group, 416th Theater Engineer Command, in the proper way to complete a squat during the Functional Training and Nutrition 101 Class in the Fitness Center, McConnell Airforce Base, Wichita, Kan., April 16, 2021. Ison, who is Cross Fit Level III certified, taught the Soldiers how to train safely and effectively for the new Army Combat Fitness Test.  

WICHITA, KS, UNITED STATES

04.16.2021

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Anaidy Claudio-Rosa 

207th Public Affairs Detachment

WICHITA, KAN -- U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers of the 647th Regional Support Group (RSG), 416th Theater Engineer Command, participated in a Functional Training and Nutrition class during their battle assembly April 16, 2021, at the Lanny J. Wallace Army Reserve Center in Wichita, Kan. The class instructed by career counselor and fitness instructor Sgt. 1st Class Christina Ison was offered to teach Soldiers how to train safely and effectively for the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) and provided several nutrition tips. It was launched at the Fitness Center at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita.
Ison is a 9th Battalion, Army Reserve Careers Division Retention Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) and Cross Fit Level III certified. She said she got into fitness seriously after she mobilized in Kuwait in 2008.
"I went from always worrying about my PT test wondering if I was going to pass the run or the push-ups, and really now I'm at a point, even though I'm more than 10 years older, I can take the PT (Army physical fitness) test at any given point and feel confident that I'm going to pass it," said Ion.
Ison said she is giving back to her community and to service members by sharing her passion for fitness and nutrition.
"Anytime I can help Soldiers with nutrition and training I'm all for it. I love helping anyway, that's just my passion. And if I can help anyone find joy in training and nutrition and not feel like it's a chore or some sort of punishment , I'm all about it," said Ison.
Sgt. 1st Class Joan Schneider, Duty Appointed Retention NCO, 647th RSG, said she prepared the class after reviewing the Army Composition Program for guidance in order to help Soldiers who struggle with weight and fitness.
"One of the biggest issues with retention is keeping Soldiers in who are flagged for weight. Because they are flagged for weight they can't reenlist and so that's a major hurdle for the retention mission. I started thinking about that more seriously and reviewing the body composition program, and I realized that we're not providing the support services that we should be to Soldiers that are overweight. That they need nutritional counseling. That they need additional fitness counseling, especially if they have an injury that limits what they can do so that they don't re-injure themselves," said Schneider.
Spc. Nicole Hamilton, 451st Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 79th Theater Support Command, who participated in the class said she is taking away the importance of meal planning when working towards fitness goals, "I liked that she explained what the difference of batch cooking was and meal prep, cause I definitely can do batch cooking." Hamilton explained that batch cooking involves preparing large amounts of food beforehand but that everyone in the household can make their own meal out of the batches.
"I enjoyed the knowledge that she had, especially with the questions that were asked, like if a Soldier was injured or has prior conditions she was able to answer it and show modified exercises," said Hamilton.

• Date Taken: 04.16.2021
• Date Posted: 04.26.2021 15:47
• Story ID: 394794
• Location: WICHITA, KS, US