Postpartum Soldiers conduct first ACFT as they prepare to reintegrate to units

Photo By Staff Sgt. Christina Westover | Maj. Susan Kim, a Brigade Judge Advocate with the 555th Engineer Brigade, pulls a 100Ib. sled as part of the Sprint/Drag/Carry event during the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), Feb. 22, 2022. Kim is part of the Joint Base Lewis McChord Holistic Health and Fitness Pregnancy and Postpartum Training Program (P3T). The postpartum Soldiers completed an ACFT to provide a baseline to track the improvements of their physical fitness levels over the time period that they’re in the program. Postpartum Soldiers are in the program for six months, which allows them to track their progress over an extended period of time. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christina Westover, 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade)  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

02.22.2022

Story by Sgt. Christina Westover 

I Corps

The phrase, “Soldier First,” is used a lot in the Army to emphasize that the Army is a profession, not a job. Soldiers have a certain discipline to always place the mission above all else. However, when female service members decide to become mothers, they go through a lot of physical, mental, and emotional changes. Pregnancy can be hard on their bodies and it’s harder for them to get back into the shape they were before pregnancy.
With the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), Soldiers must be physically strong and have the stamina to complete the tough events. The Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Training Program (P3T) is designed to help these Soldiers, not only get back into shape, but to help them through the process of reintegrating back into their units, and to help them navigate the struggles of being a new mother. JBLM, having established a decentralized Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) resourced P3T pilot program with three units, will now be able to see how the programs are functioning.
“In my experience with this program, it feels like it is better for P3T participants,” said Spc. Sindy Baron, a unit supply specialist with the Headquarters and Headquarter Company, 508th Military Police Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. “I feel like they're more involved and provide more support and information to us to help us get back into shape and to navigate being a mom, especially for first time mothers.”
On February 22, 2022, the post-partum Soldiers completed an ACFT. The goal was to provide a baseline of physical fitness to track the improvements over time to see if the program has improved the participants’ physical fitness level. Postpartum Soldiers are in the program for six months, which allows them to track their progress over an extended period of time.
“My goal today is to pass as many [exercises] as I could and to focus on what I couldn't do, to improve for next time,” said Baron. “This is my second child and I can already tell that this program has helped me improve tremendously. I feel like this program has helped me excel at my weak points. I was not able to do a leg tuck today, but now that I know what my weaknesses are, I can focus on those and try to do exercises that will help me pass the ones that I didn't pass.”
The difference between this Holistic Health and Fitness initiative and the regular Pregnancy Postpartum Physical Training Program is that they not only help the Soldiers physically helping with ACFT focused physical training, but they do courses on healthy eating habits through nutrition performance courses, breastfeeding class to help mothers learn new techniques, and other important classes for motherhood. Each week, they have scheduled classes that go over different areas of motherhood that many people struggle with, based on feedback from the participants. The key difference is that with the H2F program, the education coordinator is able to bring in a Public Health Nurse to help teach the Soldiers a nutritional course.
“We're more hands on,” said Staff Sgt. William Halchishak, the P3T initial trainer for the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment. “We get out there with them and perform the exercises and give tips on site. We as males don't know what it's like to give birth, and their bodies go through a lot of changes. We’re just there with them every step of the way. You know, whether it's emotional support, or they need support physically or mentally. We help them get back to the shape that they were before they were pregnant.”
As the P3T instructor, Halchishak also sends up daily reports to the brigades who fall under them to ensure that the Soldiers are accounted for and that they’re showing up. He also follows up with the Soldiers individually to go over how they're doing in the program, how they like the program, and if they have any recommendations that they feel need to change throughout their time in the program.
“We get a lot of positive feedback about the program, but we’re always looking to improve it and make it better for the Soldiers,” said Halchishak. “At the end of the day, this program is built for the postpartum Soldiers to help them succeed and we just provide the tools to do so.”

• Date Taken: 02.22.2022
• Date Posted: 03.30.2022 19:44
• Story ID: 416352
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US