MAY 25, 2021 – May is Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and the U.S. Navy encourages everyone to do a little more activity each day to reach peak physical readiness, which is a top priority for the 21st Century Sailor and Marine.
In 1983 the President’s Council on Fitness gave May this designation to develop and promote healthy lifestyles and improve the quality of life for all Americans. The Nations’ military must maintain the ability to be physically mission ready and The Department of the Navy (DoN) places much importance and focus into Sailors for this purpose.
“As our warfighters seek human performance excellence to protect the security of our country, the importance of physical resiliency, durability, toughness and lethality capabilities of warfighter athletes intensifies,” said Diana Settles who serves as the Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) Human Performance Program Manager and oversees the Warfighter Wellness Physical Optimization and Musculoskeletal Performance programs at NMCPHC. “Physical fitness is a critical component for our military’s mission readiness,” she added.
In conjunction with National Physical Fitness & Sports Month, the Navy has just published a new web-based application on applocker.navy.mil for Sailors. The Official Navy PFA (Physical Fitness Assessment) app provides all the Physical Readiness Program information needed to maintain optimal health, fitness, and readiness according to Navy standards. The app offers current guidance regarding all aspects of the Navy’s Physical Readiness Program, including information on appropriate nutrition, health, fitness, aerobic capacity, muscular strength, muscular endurance, body fat composition, and the new plank and rower modalities.
“Your NFAC Human Performance Subcommunity is working hard to make sure that our Sailors and Marines are equipped with the tools to ensure optimal human performance optimizing all areas of the lifestyle,” says Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Bernstein who is a Navy Fitness Advisory Committee (NFAC) Human Performance Work Group leader. Bernstein also added, “Promoting a culture of lifestyle wellness 24/7/365 is our overall goal and we tend to focus a lot on that hour of physical fitness training, though we should also remember that the other 23 hours of the day are just as important.”
Through the years more awareness and education regarding the benefits of maintaining physically fitness have been promoted, a fact that has not been lost on American service members.
“Sailors comment that an active lifestyle assists them in reducing their stress levels and improves their energy levels. Look good, feel good and do good is another primary benefit of physical activity recognized by Sailors,” Settles explains.
Settles also spoke on how physical activity assists in managing weight and strengthening muscles, bones and joints. An active lifestyle aids in lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. More regular physical activity, over months and years, is key to maintaining health and well-being. Being more active can improve fitness and reduce depression, stress, reduce risk for heart disease, stroke, some cancers, diabetes, obesity and ease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Unlike years leading up to 2020, COVID-19 has challenged everyone’s ability to maintain or develop a routine. For those individuals it may be as simple as starting out slow and gradually increase training.
“All sorts of activities count, such as organized exercise or sports, playing ball, jump roping, walking a dog, gardening or even raking leaves,” Settles said. “Simply getting out for a 5–10-minute walk has health benefits and helps improve focus and mindfulness.”
Everyone benefits from physical activity, no matter what age or physical ability. Physical activity, whether moderate daily activity or doing something more organized is a key method to improve overall health. Physical activity strengthens quality of life while lengthening lifespan.
Resources for Sailors and Marines are made available and updated at the Navy Operational Fitness & Fueling System (NOFFS), providing performance industry’s leading fitness and nutrition information, allowing for the Navy to maintain peak physical readiness. The NOFFS app was developed to provide great workouts from anywhere – inside or outside of our homes, with or without others, at any time.
What can your command do to help promote May Physical Fitness and Sports Month? Check out the NMCPHC Active Living webpage for resources, posters, social media messages and activities.
The Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center (NMCPHC) develops and shapes public health for the U.S. Navy and Marines Corps through health surveillance, epidemiology and analysis, disease and injury prevention, and public health consultation. Learn more by going to www.nmcphc.med.navy.mil. Follow NMCPHC on social media at https://www.facebook.com/NavyAndMarineCorpsPublicHealthCenter http://twitter.com/nmcphc and https://www.instagram.com/nmcphc/
Courtesy Story
Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center