By HEATHER ROBINSON Integrated Prevention Advisory Group, Supervisory Prevention Specialist
DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. – From beating a personal running record to deadlifting 700 pounds, some U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command teammates have big fitness goals for 2026.
There’s a support system in their corner: The Civilian Fitness and Health Promotion Program.
CFHPP is a voluntary Department of War initiative designed to enhance the quality of life for the Army’s Civilian workforce while simultaneously boosting organizational wellness and productivity. The TACOM leadership team strongly supports the program as part of its investment in the health and well-being of Civilian employees across the command.
Under the program, people can use up to three hours of administrative leave per week for fitness and health-related activities such as walking, jogging, cycling or lifting weights. CFHPP also encourages participation in preventive health events and educational sessions on topics like nutrition and exercise.
Employees who actively participate in this program have been shown to have improved quality of life, fitness, productivity and ultimately, enhanced mission readiness for our organization and the Soldiers we support.
That link to mission was underscored by research cited in a 2023 article in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Researchers found that the awareness and use of worksite health promotion programs are positively associated with employees’ work performance.
In addition, there has been substantial evidence to show that participation in fitness programs can reduce the risk of injury, delay the onset of disease, cut down on the use of sick days and improve both morale and mental health.
At TACOM headquarters, 2,713 people are enrolled in the CFHPP – a number the command’s leadership team is hoping to see increase. There is also an ongoing effort to improve awareness of the importance of logging CFHPP hours when filling out time sheets.
Physical fitness is a key part of Total Force Fitness, a holistic framework for optimizing human performance, mission-readiness and well-being of service members and their families. TFF emphasizes the importance of fitness in several other areas, as well, such as psychological, social and spiritual.
Three members of the TACOM team – Chris Martinez, Brian Wice and Nathan Krzyaniak – serve as great examples of how the CFHPP can help people achieve their fitness goals while improving their personal well-being. Here’s a look at their stories:
‘Start!’
Chris Martinez, a former CH-47 pilot, retired as a CW3 after 10 years of active-duty service. Today, he is the Safety and Occupational Health program manager for TACOM and co-lead for the Environment and Quality of Life Working Group for the Commanders Ready and Resilient Council.
An Army Civilian employee for 7 1/2 years, Martinez discovered the CFHPP opportunity three years ago through a command email message. He works out six days a week, spending three of those days in the Detroit Arsenal weight room doing strength and mobility training to augment his long-distance running training. As a disabled veteran with some physical limitations, CFHPP helps him combat muscle stiffness.
Martinez said his long-term goal is to be an “old athlete” who runs marathons and ultra marathons. Discipline and support from his family and friends keep him on target with his goals.
This year, Martinez is planning to participate in three major runs: the 15K Gasparilla Distance Classic in Florida, the New York City Marathon and the California International Marathon. He is sponsored by Team Ultra (Michelob Ultra) and belongs to the international WAHOO Running community.
To anyone considering starting a fitness program or taking advantage of CFHPP, Martinez has this advice:
“Start! Even if it is something that you see as small, pick a goal and work toward it,” he said. “Don’t waste this benefit that helps physically and mentally.”
‘Discipline and consistency as a default’
Brian Wice leads workforce development initiatives as the senior training specialist in TACOM’s G1 directorate. Physical activity has always been important to him. After his active-duty service ended, he entered the Army Reserves and was one of the top competitors in the Army Reserve Marksmanship unit, earning several state, regional and national titles.
Today, Wice trains seven days a week, with five days focused on strength training and two days on running. He said his top priorities are his family and remaining injury-free as he approaches 40. He wants to maintain lifelong high standards of fitness well into his old age so he can keep up with his twin daughters.
“Motivation is fickle, but discipline and consistency as a default will remove excuses and find a way forward,” he said.
Wice, who credits his wife as his biggest supporter, is sponsored by Atlas Gunworks to compete in the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) and the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA). His next big fitness goal is the 10-mile race hosted by the Crim Festival. He intends to best his previous record of 68 minutes.
‘Absolutely maximize this opportunity’
Nathan Krzyaniak, who served 10 ½ years in the Air Force, is a supervisory health physicist with the TACOM Safety Office. He has been with the command for six years and began his CFHPP journey three years ago.
Krzyaniak focuses his workouts on “big lifts” for power lifting and building raw strength to prepare for strongman competitions. He won the “Best Lifter (Men’s Masters)” award at the 2024 Tons for Tots charity power lifting meet and came in fourth place at the 2022 Mind and Muscle Strength Show Down strongman competition.
Krzyaniak said the CFHPP program has supported both his physical and mental fitness. For him, powerlifting is a straightforward sport that requires consistency with a focus on increasing the maximum amount a participant can lift over time. His Detroit Arsenal gym partners and fellow athletes are his motivation, along with his plan of maintaining his physical fitness well into his golden years.
Krzyaniak hopes to participate in another strongman competition within three years. His next big goals are a 600-pound squat, 400-pound bench press, 700-pound dead lift and 275-pound log press. He is also planning to participate in the MWR “1,000 Club” fitness challenge and wants to help influence other fitness activities at the Detroit Arsenal. He has this advice for his fellow TACOM teammates:
“Make as much use of the fitness policy as you can,” he said. “Absolutely maximize this opportunity. It’s kind of like TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) matching – 4% of your duty time (is) spent on self-improvement and longevity.”