Importance of nutrition and exercise during deployment

Photo By Staff Sgt. John Couffer | Dixon, Mo., native, Capt. Christopher Carpenter, the commander for Company C, 115th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, exercises using a 10-pound medicine ball during an alternative fitness training session, here, Sept. 16. Alternative physical fitness training enhances endurance and adds flavor to fitness training.  

CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION KALSU, IRAQ

09.18.2011

Story by Spc. Bailey Kramer 

1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE KALSU, Iraq – In today’s Army, thousands of soldiers are deployed at any given time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn and like many other units throughout the U.S. military, the 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division is not exempt from the busy rotation schedule.

While Ironhorse soldiers are deployed, the importance of their nutrition and physical condition rises due to the physically demanding mission requirements of a Brigade Combat Team.

“Out here, soldiers undergo significant physical and mental stressors, increasing the importance of what we put into our bodies,” said Odessa, Texas, native, Maj. Olen Burns, M.D., the surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, of the Ironhorse Brigade.

Burns suggested looking at the Mayo Clinic website to check the appropriate number of calories you should intake on a daily basis in order to achieve your weight goal.

The average amount that a soldier should intake is 9 to 13 calories per pound of their body weight.

“If you are working under high demands, you need to up your caloric intake,” Burns continued. “If you are working at a desk and need to maintain or lose weight, lower your intake.”

Not only is nutrition important to a deployed soldier, but so is their physical upkeep.

Unfit and overweight soldiers pose a risk for themselves and fellow soldiers, and hinder the unit’s ability to accomplish a mission.

“A fit soldier will be able to accomplish all reasonable challenges placed in front of them,” said Nashville, Tenn., native, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Andruilli, the Brigade Fires sergeant assigned to 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. “They will be capable of conducting a variety of tasks such as patrols and manual labor, and are less likely to become a heat casualty.”

In a deployed environment, many soldiers are what Burns calls a ‘warrior athlete,’ meaning a soldier who wears their gear all day in the heat and operates at the level of an active athlete.

“Staying in shape is a personal responsibility and it should be done for yourself and the military,” stated Andruilli. “It is your duty as a soldier to be motivated and have the highest level of fitness.”

With a gym that boasts plenty of weights, cardio machines and an aerobics room, there are many opportunities for Ironhorse soldiers to maintain their physical fitness.

When unable to ‘hit’ the gym, there are other options available.

“Be creative and workout using items in your office,” Andruilli suggested. “You could do regular pushups, incline and decline pushups, military press, overhead arm claps and dips. You could even bring your sleeping pad to your office so you can work out your core.”

There are also several resources available for Ironhorse soldiers to take advantage of in order to assess their health and fitness.

“It begins with the soldier first,” Burns concluded.

• Date Taken: 09.18.2011
• Date Posted: 09.18.2011 10:24
• Story ID: 77210
• Location: CONTINGENCY OPERATING STATION KALSU, IQ