Highlights of the November 2012 Issue
As we begin fiscal year (FY) 2013, Government Recreation
& Fitness caught up with fitness chiefs from each service
to discuss the state of fitness, the immediate forecast moving
forward and what is on the horizon for the future.
ARMY
Despite fiscally challenging times, the Army continues to
strive to provide soldiers, families and civilians with a quality
of life commensurate with the quality of their service.
“Despite constrained resources and space, Army sports and
fitness programs and services will continue to strive and adapt to
meet the needs of those they serve,” says Darrell Manuel, chief,
Army Sports, Fitness and Aquatics, Installation Management
Command (IMCOM), G-9, Family and MWR Programs. “Army
facilities and programs are critical to supporting mental, physical
and spiritual readiness of soldiers and their families.” ...
AIR FORCE
The overall state of fitness programs and facilities in the Air
Force is good, according to Margaret Treland, chief, Air Force Fitness
& Sports.
“For example, 52 installations (57 percent) are fully compliant
with DoD MWR standards, and another 27 (29 percent) are at
least 90 percent compliant,” she points out. “To promote regular
physical activity, 98 percent of Air Force installations offer an incentive
or awards program for their customers.” ...
MARINE CORPS
The overall state of fitness in the Marine Corps continues to
remain strong, according to Cathy Ficadenti, branch head, Semper
Fit and Recreation Programs, Semper Fit and Exchange Services
Division.
“Our staff continues to deliver robust and comprehensive fitness
and health promotion programs to our Marines, their families,
retirees and civilian personnel,” she says. “The High Intensity
Tactical Training (HITT) program was launched Marine Corpswide
Oct. 1, and we now have 21 operational HITT Centers with
five centers under construction. Semper Fit Health Promotion is
also working on developing a standardized approach to tobacco
cessation, as the high incidence of tobacco use among Marines
remains a great concern.” ...
NAVY
According to Lisa Sexauer, Fitness, Sports and Deployed
Forces Support program manager (N921), Commander, Navy
Installations Command (CNIC), the state of Navy Fitness is
“continuously improving along with the expectation that optimal
fitness is as much a part of 'mission readiness' as it is a part of
each sailor's overall quality of life.”
She points out that OSD has continued to advocate and receive
funding that has been passed to the services to improve the
fitness infrastructure. ...
Read the complete MILITARY FITNESS ...
Veterans from 14 counties
can receive physical, occupational
and speech
therapy at a new 8,500-squarefoot
addition to the James E.
Van Zandt VA Medical Center,
Altoona, Pa. The facility offers
physical medicine services
to veterans of all generations,
and serves as an example of the
Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) strategic plan to enhance
the veteran's experience and access
to health care.
The one-story building features all new equipment, and is
designed to offer veterans the highest quality health care available
in the region.
“Today we are cutting the ribbon on a new generation of
serving veterans of all generations.” says Francisco Vazquez,
acting director of the medical center. “This impressive new facility
shows our commitment to pay back part of the debt that
a grateful nation owes to our veterans who have sacrificed so
much to keep us free. They deserve the very best health care
available, and this is an example of VA health care at its best.” ...
Read more PHYSICAL/AQUATIC THERAPY ...
No one questions the physical preparedness of our
armed forces, as the training that service members go
through today is at the tip of the spear. But what the
Department of Defense (DoD) has realized over the past few
years is that mission readiness is much more than strong bodies;
it also requires strong minds, and the proper assessment
and reconciliation of psychological, spiritual, family and social
concerns as well. This new paradigm for what constitutes
“fit to fight” is a long time coming, and addresses some key
aspects of what it means for service members — and their
families — to be able to endure long deployments and separation
from loved ones, and heal together as a family once they
come home.
With this shift to whole-body, or what DoD calls Total-
Force fitness, armed services and Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities
are embracing mind-body programs, including yoga
and tai chi, and meditation- and yoga-based programs such
as Integrative Restoration Therapy or iRest, all of which have
far-reaching benefits helping people cope with life-changing
challenges such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In
fact, the U.S. Army Surgeon General Office has listed Yoga
Nidra as tier one for treating chronic pain in military settings. ...
Read more MIND/BODY PROGRAMS ...
