Category Archives: Fitness

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Missing the Forest for the Trees

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Professional journals, news articles and opinion blogs are rife with both praise and criticism for the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).  While supporters laud the ACFT for its comprehensive assessment of multiple fitness domains and its foundation in the physical demands of combat, critics decry logistical and equipment challenges, controversial scoring standards, and the potential for increased injury rates.  Broad consensus regarding the ACFT’s efficacy is further complicated by the congressional halt of full-scale implementation as the test undergoes a third-party review.  Regardless of the merits and drawbacks of the ACFT, it is but a single piece in a much larger investment in how we understand, assess, and improve the health and fitness of the force. Specifically, this broader and more fundamental policy shift is the implementation of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system.

Army Spc. Kiana Malbas participates in an Army Combat Fitness Test at the University of California, Los Angeles, July 17, 2021. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Oposnow)

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Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F)

Developing and Maintaining the Whole Soldier

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As of February 2019, approximately 56 thousand soldiers were non-deployable. This is equivalent to 13 Brigade Combat Teams (BCT). Approximately 21 thousand soldiers were on temporary profile and nearly 15.5K on Permanent Profile. In 2018, 56% of soldiers were injured per year. 71% of these soldiers suffered lower extremity micro-traumatic musculoskeletal “overuse” injuries. Injury is a significant contributor to the Army’s healthcare burden. It impacts medical readiness and soldier health. Musculoskeletal injuries accounted for approximately $557 million in inpatient care costs among active duty soldiers. In addition, the current force suffers from obesity and sleep deprivation. The Army continues to modernize its approach to fitness and health to shape a more ready and resilient force. One initiative nearing the end of its pilot phase is the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program.

Soldiers conduct a foot march to a weapons qualification range May 6, 2020, on Fort Sill, Okla. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dustin D. Biven)