November is recognized as National Military Fitness and Wellness Month, an initiative that was based by M&F’s Senior Navy Editor, the Honorable Rob Wilkins. The mission for this month is to extend consciousness of the significance of health and wellness for all servicemembers, veterans, and their households and supporters.
Health has all the time been a precedence for the USA Military, they usually have doubled down on that with the creation of Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F). H2F focuses on 5 pillars of readiness; bodily, psychological, vitamin, sleep, and religious. This system has been making strides on this entrance because of leaders resembling Lieutenant Common Johnny Davis and Command Sergeant Main Shade Munday, who’re huge advocates of its implementation and objective.
Davis confirmed, “H2F has been an enormous part.”
The Gold Customary At Fort Knox
Each Davis and Munday not solely communicate concerning the significance of health, however they each have additionally lived as much as their very own lofty requirements for the 30-plus years that every have served. Davis has been deployed to a number of places all over the world resembling Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait, amongst different locations. He has been honored with a number of awards alongside the way in which. In January 2025, he was named the primary commanding normal of the elevated U.S. Military Recruiting Command.
Munday has his personal lengthy checklist of assignments and accolades since he enlisted in Could 1995, together with the Bronze Star Medal, the Protection Meritorious Service Medal, and several other others. He turned the senior enlisted chief for U.S. Military Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on March 10, 2023.
Each Davis and Munday are at present stationed at Fort Knox, identified for each the gold depository that’s adjoining to the bottom in addition to the house of Military recruiting for 4 a long time. Each morning is a brand new alternative to point out up and be the instance that others may and may observe, and that begins with early morning runs in addition to common PT. Being match and prepared has been the fixed for each males, no matter the place they have been stationed or what position they have been enjoying on the time, and it nonetheless is right this moment.
“It has been a journey of health,” Davis mentioned. “Health is admittedly the important thing to having the flexibleness to do all of the belongings you want and wish to do in service.
Munday agreed and mentioned, “It’s actually a couple of life-style. I’m an avid runner and run 25-30 miles every week.”
Each Davis and Munday report that because of applications like H2F and the eye to the well-being of their troopers, retention has been enhancing. They don’t consider that could be a coincidence, both.
“The Military has accomplished loads to spend money on H2F throughout the pressure and having troopers with entry to it,” Davis defined. “In case you’re doing properly within the models, then troopers have a tendency to remain. We’re seeing some traditionally excessive retention charges.”
Be All You Can Be Means Extra and Higher Recruits
One other key to their current success with recruitment is returning to their basic “Be All You Can Be” marketing campaign, which served the Military very properly in earlier years. Munday credited the slogan for reinvigorating the joy of being part of an elite preventing pressure.
“All people is desirous to be part of a profitable staff. The entire life-style and mindset are actually why younger women and men need to be a part of proper now.” Davis added, “That introduced a whole lot of consciousness to what we do each single day. All of the issues like PT, ‘we personal the night time,’ issues like which have actually resonated.”
The emphasis on readiness and the return to acquainted promotion have already been paying off. After years of battle with recruitment, the tide has turned and has elevated considerably. Munday reported that just about 300 younger persons are signing up for service on a typical workday.
“That is sort of a small battalion that our recruiters are bringing in,” Davis mentioned. “That quantity goes up.”
Younger Individuals are seeing the advantages and rewards that include service, however Davis and Munday advise that making ready earlier than Day 1 by working, specializing in pushups and pull-ups, and correct vitamin and restoration will probably be key as they enter the army.
Munday defined, “Health actually is the cornerstone. You must be disciplined and able to get after it.”
A Name To Motion For Veterans
Davis and Munday are each extremely adorned and have served in a wide range of roles over their respective careers. They’re strolling examples of what the Military represents, they usually need their troopers to be the identical, together with as they transition to life as veterans. Munday
defined that whereas they could not be carrying the nation’s fabric, they’ll nonetheless painting all the things that’s nice and honorable from serving.
“The Military is a picture,” he shared. “We wish them to suit that picture of what a warrior seems like, and that features life exterior of the Military.”
Munday and Davis additionally really feel that veterans can proceed to assist the Military preserve their momentum by sharing what service has accomplished for them and assist instill that knowledge into younger folks that they’re round.
Munday mentioned, “The veteran inhabitants are a few of our greatest recruiters on the market. No matter they’ll share to the following era carries over.”
Davis concluded by reminding veterans that no matter how lengthy it’s been since they have been on energetic obligation, they’re nonetheless part of the group and revered for it.
“Being a warrior and match is our model. That carries each time you’re in uniform or not.”
For more information on the U.S. Army, click here.
M&F Senior Navy Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.
