WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Aug. 19, 2015) — ArmyFit, a comprehensive, online resource site at armyfit.army.mil, just added three “new and exciting features,” Capt. Kristin Saboe said.
ArmyFit, which now synchs to personal readiness devices, is accessible by smartphones and has experts standing by to answer health and fitness questions, Saboe said.
Saboe oversees content for ArmyFit. She has a doctorate degree in organizational psychology and also serves as the program manager for the Army Global Assessment Tool, or GAT.
ASK THE EXPERTS
The “Ask the Experts” feature is just a click away on the site, Saboe said. Simply choose a category, write in a question, and a subject-matter expert will respond. Experts are available to respond to an entire range of topics, including physical fitness, sports medicine, nutrition and sleep. Experts can also answer questions dealing with relationships, environmental concerns, and spiritual, mental and emotional health.
These experts are researchers who specialize in their field and offer research-based advice to Soldiers and their Families as well as Army civilians. All interactions with the experts are confidential, she added.
The experts are from the Human Performance Resource Center, which is part of the Consortium for Health and Military Performance at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland.
MOBILE-READY
ArmyFit and GAT are now both mobile-ready, so they can be accessed from anywhere using a smartphone or computer, Saboe said. No common access card is needed, she said. Soldiers can log in using their AKO username and password.
The GAT is an annual requirement for Soldiers. Participation by Families and Army civilians is encouraged. The GAT is also a prerequisite to accessing the content in ArmyFit. Users can now complete the GAT via any mobile device. Data from GAT is also kept confidential.
SYNCING ARMYFIT
Users can also synch personal readiness devices, such as Fitbit and Jawbone, to ArmyFit, Saboe said. The ability to synch Withings and Garmin will also soon be available, she said.
ArmyFit will store, track and integrate data from those devices, and provide real-time feedback so users can track such things as running, steps taken, nutrition and even sleep.
“Tracking all of those behaviors increases awareness, increases mindfulness and also can prompt behavioral change, such as being more aware of what you’re eating and how much you’re working out. That alone can lead to change and increase resilience,” she said.
“Soldiers have a personal responsibility to manage and maintain their overall health and resilience,”
Saboe said. “ArmyFit is a platform to help Soldiers do that. Army civilians and Families are key to the Army as well, so making sure they have access to the same kind of information helps us all be a more ready and resilient Army.”