This field manual fully revises the previous Army’s physical readiness training (known as PRT) doctrine.
The Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System directed by this doctrine is designed to address the readiness of every Soldier.
Performance readiness experts of the H2F System will assess each Soldier’s physical and mental status and design programs to sustain or improve that Soldier’s ability to meet the demands of their military occupational specialties (MOSs), duty assignments, and combat-specific tasks.
This individualized approach is sustained across the Soldier’s Army career.
It represents a cultural shift from the industrial scale approaches of the past where massed formations received the same training in a one-size-fits-all approach— often with no equipment or expertise required to lead the training.
It also represents a shift from expecting individual Soldiers who often train remote from their units to independently develop and implement a performance training program.
The H2F System addresses those individual Soldiers’ needs, too.
Figure introduction-1 illustrates the H2F System.
This doctrine directs leaders and Soldiers to use unit-level experts, facilities, and equipment to develop the physical and nonphysical components of Soldier readiness.
This doctrine has evolved from the lessons learned, Soldier feedback, and Soldier testing throughout a prolonged period of ground combat.
Lessons learned in that period are combined with the best performance and medical science to prepare Soldiers for a wide range of threats in complex operational environments.
The H2F System is an immersive, comprehensive approach to readiness centered on brigade-owned H2F facilities and personnel.
In the initial phase of H2F, recruits and new Soldiers will train to perform the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) and prepare to conduct warrior tasks and battle drills (WTBD), high physical demand tasks (HPDTs), and the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT).
In the sustaining phase of H2F, Soldiers will continue to build readiness.
From their first units of assignment (FUAs) to separation from the Army, they optimize and mitigate the rate of loss of physical and mental preparedness for any mission at any time.
Using this doctrine, Soldiers will sustain high levels of foundational performance for extended periods.
They will know how to quickly develop peak physical performance along with the mental toughness required of operational assignments.
They will be ready to deliver collective overmatch in multi-domain operations, win quickly, and return home healthy.
The H2F doctrine is divided into four parts: system, design, build, and deliver.
PART ONE: SYSTEM
The H2F System has five critical elements: governance, program, equipment and facilities, personnel, and leadership education.
These elements are distilled from careful doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (known as DOTMLPF) analysis and research into past and present H2F-related initiatives.
Each element is critical to creating a system for Soldier readiness.
GOVERNANCE
In the H2F System, the governance element is defined as the command and control, regulations, policies, evaluation and resourcing provided by DA H2F leadership.
For the H2F System to work it must be implemented properly.
Governance at the senior leader levels ensures consistent adoption, application and compliance.
H2F System governance includes an Army H2F steering committee, an Army H2F Capability Development Integration Directorate, and an Army H2F Program Manager.
These groups work with existing Army organizations and industry, inform science and technology efforts, and integrate H2F programs and initiatives.
Other key components of the governance element are surveillance and quality control, enabling leaders to track program execution and program results to hold subordinate leaders and trainers accountable.
Governance allows the H2F System to be rapidly modified based on outcomes and lessons learned.
PROGRAM
The program element for the H2F System is the doctrinal description of how leaders will implement the H2F System in their units.
The program includes the five domains of physical readiness, nutritional readiness, spiritual readiness, mental readiness, and sleep readiness.
The doctrine provides the foundation for all Soldier readiness programs.
It is the standard to optimize Soldiers’ performance as they move about the Army and the battlefield.
The physical programming includes a much broader range of physical readiness training modalities than has previously been described in doctrine.
It includes programs such as Army Water Survival Training, Running Skill, and Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training.
The program also includes nonphysical domains of readiness.
Nutritional readiness emphasizes eating for performance in garrison and operational settings.
Spiritual readiness is contextualized for all Soldiers and their leaders against the Army’s moral and ethical fabric without regard for specific religious beliefs or traditions.
Mental readiness includes techniques to improve cognitive thinking skills, emotional control, and interpersonal skills.
Sleep readiness directs Soldiers on the proper dosing and techniques for maintaining the health of their most important body part—the brain.
PERSONNEL
The personnel element in the H2F System are those Soldiers, government service and contracted performance experts who are assigned to brigade-sized units.
They have been validated by the Army as experts in H2F programs and know how to synchronize each domain to optimize Soldier readiness.
These personnel form the commander’s H2F performance team—a team dedicated to performance readiness.
They include individuals such as physical therapists, registered dietitians, occupational therapists, and strength and conditioning specialist and athletic trainers.
These highly qualified experts work with the brigade chain of command, unit-level H2F trainers, master fitness trainer (MFT) instructors, and ACFT graders, as well as unit medical and installation personnel to develop and coordinate performance readiness.
EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES
The equipment and facilities element in the H2F System refers to the world-class, standardized training equipment and facilities organic to the unit.
The facility, known as the Soldier Performance Readiness Center (SPRC), houses the unit’s H2F personnel in a space open all day on a schedule that accommodates the unit’s physical and nonphysical training, readiness education, and performance coaching.
The SPRC keeps Soldiers focused and motivated to build their personal readiness in a setting in which they can safely progress alongside all members of their unit—including new Soldiers and those who are pregnant, deconditioned, ill, or injured.
The SPRC provides a supportive individually-focused environment where comprehensive, integrated, and immersive physical and nonphysical programming is delivered.
In locations in which a unit has not contracted or adopted a SPRC, leaders will adapt existing facilities and other programming modalities to meet the intent of the command.
LEADER EDUCATION
The fifth H2F element, leader education, describes H2F education that Soldiers receive across their career.
Soldiers and their leaders must understand the foundations, standards, and rationale for the H2F System and requisite resources.
Leaders must understand their roles as trainers, resource providers, role models, and coaches.
These roles depend on their grade and assignment.
Their professional military education must contain more than a casual understanding of this doctrine.
Leaders must fully understand all H2F topics to include the physiological and psychological foundations of the H2F programs in their units.
Command teams and their Soldiers must know and understand the tasks, conditions, and standards described in this doctrine and how to develop and execute periodized programs on the training field and in the SPRC.
Leader education—delivered through professional military education (known as PME), cadre and pre-command courses—self-development settings, and civilian education programs will be contextualized for rank and mission.
PART TWO: DESIGN
Part Two explains the scientific basis of Soldier performance and how the H2F training program is designed.
Soldier physiology, periodization, and program design approaches describe the “why” of H2F—the basic science and rationale behind the program.
This foundational information helps leaders understand how to build health and fitness programs for individual Soldiers and collective unit readiness and deployability.
PART THREE: BUILD
The Army builds Soldier H2F performance in two phases using the programs described in this doctrine: initial phase and sustaining phase.
Both phases prepare Soldiers for a lifetime of optimized health and fitness.
As a Soldier’s understanding of his or her potential matures, the H2F System will consistently build the most effective training to leverage his or her best performance.
Initial Phase
The initial phase lasts from accession to FUA and builds foundational and fundamental skills.
Most of these skills will be acquired in the time between recruiting station and the completion of initial military training (IMT).
Recruiters administer the OPAT to certify that a recruit is ready for the rigors of training.
Physical and nonphysical training prior to IMT is conducted by the individual recruit in the Future Soldier Program (FSP), guided by information in this doctrine.
OPAT competencies are progressed and further validated during IMT with HPDT assessments and the ACFT.
Training in IMT is conducted mostly in collective settings with relatively limited access to individualized H2F programming when compared to sustaining phase training.
Sustaining Phase
Sustaining phase prepares Soldiers for mastery of the physical and nonphysical attributes of their occupational tasks, duty positions, and combat.
Individualized programming is the norm in the sustaining phase.
Each brigade is the center of gravity for the H2F System.
For Reserve and National Guard Soldiers, regional H2F performance team members develop and implement H2F training across the states or within each state.
For remotely-located Soldiers, H2F programming is available through other modalities, including novel future platforms—such as mobile applications and health and fitness information websites and videos—that tailor programs to a remotely located Soldier’s resources and his or her readiness goals.
PART FOUR: DELIVER
Part Four provides examples of schedules and content of the H2F programs that leaders can use to help develop unit physical and nonphysical readiness training.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 PRINCIPLES AND ELEMENTS
- Principles
- Optimization
- Individualization
- Immersion
- Elements
- Governance
- Program
- Personnel
- Equipment and Facilities
- Leader Education
Chapter 2 PHASES
- Initial Phase
- Future Soldier Program
- Basic Combat Training
- Advanced Individual Training
- One Station Unit Training
- First Unit of Assignment
- Sustaining Phase
- Warrant Officer Candidate School
- Warrant Officer Basic Course
- Basic Officer Leader Courses
- Active Component
- Reserve Component
- Individual Training
- Condensed Training
Chapter 3 DOMAINS
- Physical Readiness
- Nutritional Readiness
- Mental Readiness
- Character
- Behavior
- Resilience
- Cognitive Skill
- Social Acuity
- Spiritual Readiness
- Sleep Readiness
Chapter 4 PHYSIOLOGY
- Soldier Physiology
- Energy Pathway
- Phosphagen Pathway
- Glycolytic Pathway
- Oxidative Phosphorylation
- VO2 Max
- Anatomy
- Bone
- Muscle
- Nervous System
- Neuroendocrine System
- Cardiorespiratory System
Chapter 5 PERIODIZATION
- Fundamentals of Periodization
- Training Cycles
- Microcycle
- Mesocycle
- Macrocycle
- Integrated Periodization
- Base
- Build
- Peak 1
- Combat and Peak 2
- Recovery
Chapter 6 PROGRAM DESIGN
- Soldier Assessment
- Components of Physical Fitness
- Structural Requirements
- Physiological Capacity
- Physical Components
- Training Sessions
- Strategies
- Exercise Order
- Endurance Training Load
Chapter 7 PHYSICAL READINESS
- Principles of Physical Readiness
- Precision
- Progression
- Integration
- Ruck Marching
- Army Water Survival Training
- Safety
- Basic Survival Swimmer
- Combat Survival Swimmer
Chapter 8 NUTRITIONAL READINESS
- Foundational Nutrition
- Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention
- Body Composition
- Operational Nutrition
- Event Fueling and Post-Event Recovery
- Environment
- Therapeutic Nutrition
- Injuries
- Medical Conditions
Chapter 9 MENTAL READINESS
- Mental Readiness Concepts
- Mental Readiness Capabilities
- Cognitive Capability
- Emotional Capability
- Interpersonal Capability
Chapter 10 SPIRITUAL READINESS
- Introduction to Spiritual Readiness
- Free Exercise and Religious Liberty Concerns
- Establishment Clause and Pluralistic Concerns
- The Chaplain Corps Role in Spiritual Readiness
- Spiritual Readiness Development
- General Spiritual Readiness Practices
- Religious Spiritual Readiness Practices
- Dietary Practices
- Clothing and Apparel
- Physical Appearance
- Spiritual Readiness Assessment
- Resources
- Commanders and Leaders
- Chaplain Section or Unit Ministry Team
- Garrison Chaplain’s Office
- Equal Opportunity Advisor or Office
- Army Fit Website
- Local Organizations
- Internally Assigned Assets
Chapter 11 SLEEP READINESS
- Principles
- Sleep Duration
- Sleep Timing
- Sleep Continuity
- Sleep Readiness Fundamentals
- Promoting Healthy Sleep
- Sleep Environment
- Pre-Sleep Routine
- Sleep Schedule
- Leadership’s Role
- Set Conditions
- Lead by Example
- Educate and Encourage
- Prioritize and Plan
- Planning for Periods of Insufficient Sleep
- Overall Strategy
- Interventions to Improve and Sustain Readiness
- Resources
- Sleep Problems
- When to Seek Expert Help
Chapter 12 SPECIAL CONDITIONING
- Rehabilitation and Reconditioning Program
- Rehabilitation
- Reconditioning
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training Exercise Sessions
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training Exercises
- Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training Education Sessions
Chapter 13 HOLISTIC HEALTH AND FITNESS COACHING
- Building Soldier H2F Readiness
- Holistic Health
- Proactive Health
- Physical Exercise
- Surroundings
- Personal Development
- Nutrition
- Recharge
- Family, Friends, and Colleagues
- Spirit
- Power of the Mind
Chapter 14 HOLISTIC HEALTH AND FITNESS SCHEDULES
- Incorporating H2F Training
- Initial Phase
- Future Soldier Program
- Basic Combat Training
- Fitness Training Unit ACFT Improvement
- Advanced Individual Training and One Station Unit Training
- First Unit of Assignment
- Sustaining Phase
- Build 1
- Build 2
- Peak 1
- Peak 2
- Combat
- Transition
- Reserve Component
- Remotely Located Soldiers
- SOURCE NOTES
- GLOSSARY
- REFERENCE
- INDEX