There are ~500 cases of exertional heat stroke annually across the DoD and the most serious cases can lead to long-term disability or death. The Army Heat Center was created in 2019 with the mission to identify, develop and disseminate best practices for the prevention, treatment and return to duty of exertional heat illness casualties. While The Army Heat Center is located at Fort Moore GA, we provide support across the entire DoD. The prevention of heat stroke casualties is relevant to H2F, particularly the physical domain and injury control. We have developed numerous resources to empower H2F professionals with the tools and knowledge to integrate heat illness prevention into their programs. It is important to note that many heat stroke casualties are associated with initial entry training or with testing to earn a badge or tab. Heat stroke is preventable!

I saw a gap in our capabilities during my assignment as Command Chaplain for 1st Special Forces Command (A). USASOC has the HPW (Human Performance and Wellness), the SOF version of H2F. We had professional strength coaches and other professionals. I was in charge of 52 Chaplains, and all were doing great things, but there was no unified program to strengthen the “Spiritual Core” or “Soul.” Building on the work of Dr. Lisa Miller (Columbia U) and others, I developed and implemented the Spiritual Performance Guide (SPG) as well as various Spiritual Performance Plans (SPP) that could be tailored and updated by SMs to align with their “Soul Goals.” 1st Special Forces Group, USASOC, SOCOM, and the Air Force and Navy are adapting parts of the model for their training after training at the Joint Special Operations University. I have introduced this Spiritual Development model in small and large groups (SOF and Conventional units). I continue building out various SPP templets made from Chaplains of other faith backgrounds. I have 5-10 different SPPs and other planning templates for use and am curating and adapting some other products, Apps, and videos for using SMs and Family Spiritual Development. The Spiritual Performance program provides tools for Chaplains and Religious Affairs to help SMs and families create personal plans to support and strengthen their Spiritual Development goals.

The DoD’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) mission to maximize data sharing from the boardroom to the battlefield supports H2F’s mission to generate lethal Soldiers who are ready for engagement in multi-domain operations. To enhance the readiness and lethality of our Soldiers, the H2F enterprise can leverage analytic modeling and AI for predicting individual readiness and explaining the drivers of that readiness within their domains of control: physical, spiritual, mental, sleep, and nutritional readiness. This comprehensive understanding is further enriched when augmented with data across all Total Force Fitness domains: social, physical, environmental, medical and dental, spiritual, nutritional, psychological, and financial health. CDAO seeks to present work showcasing the importance of combining data on the eight Total Force Fitness domains. to improve DoD’s understanding of how to continuously enhance Soldier readiness. Additionally, CDAO can present lessons learned on constructing a common data model for the information collected or planned to be collected by H2F. This model facilitates stand-alone analysis and outlines how to request medical data, enabling the combination of diverse data elements to paint a comprehensive picture. The collaboration between CDAO and H2F holds immense potential for advancing data-driven insights that contribute to the continuous improvement of Soldier readiness and mission success within the Army and across the enterprise.

What is the human component of the human weapon system? How do you integrate a HP system with this in mind and assess for highest priority needs? Then, how do you incorporate targeted intervention and training specific to highest priority need amongst a largely part-time, remote force? Applying the Military Demands Resource Model and unit training management to deliver METL based H2F training to National Guard soldiers during IDT weekend.

Large Brigade, Huge Team Effort. How to Efficiently use every team member in the BDE to develop H2F Machine. H2F and Green Suit on same team. Presentation will showcase how to use H2F, NCO’s, Unit leadership to treat and train every solider in the BDE. • Starting with MSK sick call in the morning with the Athletic Trainers. • Physical Training with SCC’s and NCO’s in the morning alongside recovery PT. • P3T program development, integration of Mental Readiness team and nutrition implementation. • CPS integration into the unit’s plans. • How to use all these all team in garrison and transfer services to the field. • A look at H2F at YTC and other field events. • How capturing data can help drive all these systems. • From daily operations to training the Best Ranger competitors. • How to make a team led team not a program director led team.

The rapidly evolving nature of modern warfare, particularly in the contexts of Large Scale Combat Operations (LSCO) and Multi-Domain Operations (MDO), demands a reevaluation of soldier readiness and lethality. This proposal aims to present a comprehensive approach to integrating Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) within these challenging environments. The focus will be on how H2F can enhance soldier resilience, performance, and readiness, thereby contributing significantly to the overall effectiveness of LSCO and MDO strategies.

P3T is revolutionizing the landscape of pregnant and postpartum fitness by undergoing a comprehensive program modernization this year. The updated approach encompasses three key areas: the introduction of intentional programming, focused pelvic floor and core training, and the integration of all five domains of H2F.

Spirituality is notoriously difficult to measure and even more difficult to coach/mentor across the pluralistic environment of the U.S. Army within the H2F paradigm. This is mostly because there are limited validated and reliable metrics available to professionals within the spiritual domain. The Spiritual Performance Matrix is a recently validated instrument that is specifically designed for the human performance context. It provides UMTs, commanders, and Soldiers with a short, reliable, valid tool that can be taken, scored, and provide feedback in minutes for the individual with actionable results to improve in this vital H2F domain. The simplicity of the tool requires limited training on how to implement and the supporting spiritual performance categories for training enable the administrator to quickly provide actionable training plans for spiritual performance growth. This presentation will focus on understanding the spiritual domain from a different perspective, namely from a spiritual performance context, and demonstrate how the Spiritual Performance Matrix can enhance an individual’s spiritual readiness, fitness, and overall human performance. Developing spiritual fitness training is challenging, especially when UMTs do not have clear direction or guidance on gaps in performance. The SPM provides UMTs with greater situational awareness to accompany their qualitative spiritual performance assessments (such as battlefield circulation, counseling statistics, general observation, etc.) to design targeted training to increase the organization’s spiritual performance and overall human performance. When aggregated at the unit level, data from the SPM enables commanders to better understand the spiritual performance of their unit within the H2F and human performance program.

The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research-West (WRAIR-W; JBLM, WA) conducts research and delivers solutions to optimize brain health, increase resilience, mitigate operational stress, and maximize performance of our Service members. In addition to conducting DoD-funded projects, we support the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program at JBLM through applied research consultation across our various psychological, health, and performance portfolios. WRAIR-W’s performance optimization initiatives include evaluating brain-endurance training solutions (combined cognitive and physical exercise) for enhancing Service member resilience to stress and fatigue, as well as other neuromodulation and psychological skills tools during physical training. This work extends to novel simulated marksmanship scenarios our teams have developed and validated for use across JBLM by H2F staff and operational units. We also spearhead several musculoskeletal injury prevention and recovery efforts with our H2F partners, such as developing screening tools for injury risk, interventions to close the gap between physical and psychological recovery, evaluations of pregnancy and post-partum physical training (P3T), and H2F readiness pillar assessment tools. From a psychological health perspective, WRAIR-W has several funded projects and consultation efforts with both the Madigan Army Medical Center and operational units at JBLM to understand factors related to – and mitigation strategies for – post-traumatic stress, suicidality, and pain, as well as pharmaceutical solutions to address deleterious behavioral health conditions. These and other efforts at JBLM have demonstrated how a symbiotic relationship between science and practice can provide data-driven solutions that directly benefit the Warfighter through the next generation of surveillance, training, and treatment applications.

Infantry Soldiers protect our Country at the ground level. They have the greatest need to be not just proficient in their weapons skills, but experts. Soldiers are taught, and continually train the physical, tactical, and technical skills required for their jobs but often neglect training the psychological skills needed to stay focused and make decisions under stress. Managing stress and learning to use it appropriately for positive outcomes is a critical skill. “Breath control should be a mandatory component of survival stress management” Asken, Grossman, and Christensen, 2009. The multidisciplinary team of Strength and Conditioning coach (SCC), Cognitive Performance Specialist (CPS), and Occupational Therapist (OT) at Fort Johnson, Louisiana are working together to improve readiness, situational awareness, and marksmanship accuracy. The team is using the DART weapons simulation system to measure marksmanship through realistic scenarios and Inner Balance Software technology to measure coherence, synchronizing breath control and heart rate. The Soldiers receive psychoeducation and practice on imagery, pre-performance routines, and heart rate variability (HRV) from the CPS and OT team. Soldiers participate in physical exercise to increase heart rate and respiration rate to mimic increased stress levels. Soldiers transition to the DART range and are given 1 minute to execute their newly developed skills prior to shooting. Our goal is for Soldiers to enhance psychological hardiness by learning arousal control leading to a more lethal Soldier.

Consuming a diet that meets energy demands and provides essential nutrients promotes a healthy immune system, while both under- and over-nutrition have been associated with immune dysfunction. Military personnel comprise a unique population who frequently endure multi-stressor environments, predisposing them to immune decrements. Additionally, 49% and 22% of active duty U.S. military personnel are classified as overweight and obese, respectively. Military personnel experiencing either under- or over-nutrition can suffer from degraded health, readiness, and performance. Insufficient intake of nutrients during military operations increases infection risk and negatively impacts infection recovery. Energy, protein, iron, zinc, and vitamins C and D are nutritional areas of concern that may impact immune competence in a multi-stressor environment. Further, over-nutrition can promote accretion of excess body fat and obesity, which contributes to a chronic inflammatory state that coincides with immune impairments. This presentation will discuss nutritional concerns concomitant to multi-stressor environments that impact immune function; the relevance of obesity to infectious disease risk in the military population; and, prioritizing efforts to optimize nutrient intake is one approach for reducing disease burden and improving readiness.

This presentation will summarize the H2F Soldier Onboarding Program at the 42D MP BDE. The mechanics of the H2F Onboarding Program will be reviewed, the results will be discussed, and the way forward debated.

This presentation highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing injury control, given H2F’s dichotomous responsibility in the TRADOC environment. The 197th Infantry Brigade H2F team will review its framework, current initiatives, and foundations for success to tackle injury prevention within OSUT.

2024 H2F Symposium Best In Class: Nutrition 17th FAB presents on how their Athlete Meal Prep Program (AMPP) and Command Food Policy Program (CFPP) enhances Soldiers’ nutritional readiness

H2F teams across the force are postured with the right blend of leadership, talent, and teamwork to meet the needs of their supported Brigades. In 2023, Devil H2F, 1BCT, 82nd ABN DIV rose to meet the need of their Paratroopers, specifically shifting their efforts towards Acute Concussion Care post Airborne Operation (ABO). This presentation is a case study into the effective, interdisciplinary approach of an H2F team meeting an organic need quickly and continually refining processes along the way to ensure the highest level of care for Devil Brigade Paratroopers.

2024 H2F Symposium Best In Class: Sleep 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade presents on lowering psychological distress and enhancing overall well-being through the SOAR (Sleep Optimization And Recovery) Program

This presentation will cover a collaboration with Chaplain Lovejoy to restore the spiritual core of a grieving unit

Resilience is a protective factor in mitigating military mental health concerns, but measurement of resilience is typically based on subjective reports and is therefore, susceptible to biases, which justifies the need for objective biomarkers of resilience. Therefore, wearable sensors (LifeLens device) that measure an array of physiological metrics may be harnessed in order to provide a real time monitoring solution in theater and in garrison for stress and resilience of military personnel. To test the suitability of this wearable sensor system for broad military operational use, advanced development is required to translate priorities into a fieldable system that is ready for acquisition. Thus, the current project aims to conduct a naturalistic evaluation to assess the capability of the wearable sensor system to accurately monitor stress, resilience, and end-user comfort. The current evaluation has conducted surveys and focus groups to gather quantitative and qualitative (mixed-methods) feedback about the wearable sensor technology and subjective reports of stress and resilience. Behavioral health algorithms are being developed that would help assess needs of soldiers and potentially assist in all roles of care. The proposed presentation would discuss the specific results of our evaluation along with how wearable devices can be implemented into operational and garrison use.

This presentation will address two distinct problems: 1. How can you train soldiers for mental readiness? Specifically, what are the qualitative/quantitative impacts of cognitive performance coaching on soldier performance and health? 2. How do you best utilize a multi-disciplinary, human performance team for a tactical population that is frequently deployed and/or on the road? During 2020-2021, I served as the Human Performance Advisor for 1st CIG, USASOC, as part of SOCOM’s POTFF contract. During this time, my team developed an in-house pilot study to observe and measure the impact of a remote Human Performance (HP) program, with specific emphasis on Mental Performance Optimization (MPO). Our findings showed that on average, participants who completed the program showed improvements in areas of cognitive performance. Volunteers underwent an initial assessment that consisted of a self-reported baseline survey to gauge health factors, a Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test, a body composition test, a Neurotracker test, and an ACFT (integrated with cognitive testing components). Each participant was then paired with separate members of the HP team to receive a custom training program for nine weeks, based on their individual goals and requirements. Upon completion of the nine-week training program, all participants underwent a final assessment for pre/post test comparison.

As the Army implements H2F the focus has been embedding H2F Performance Teams at the BDE/BCT level. Unfortunately, many organizations in the Army do not have access to these embedded resources. For these organizations, leaders have the responsibility to foster a culture of H2F using the resources they have available. TJAGLCS is an example of this type of organization. This paper was presented to the JAG Corps Board of Directors outlining how TJAGLCS has implemented an H2F program using internal resources. We believe our efforts can be used as a template for other organizations whose leaders are struggling to implement H2F without the support of an H2F Performance Team.