THE ARMY HOLISTIC HEALTH AND FITNESS (H2F) INITIATIVE IS GETTING A BOOST

The Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Army program is an effort that has gained more and more support to improve the lives of Soldiers. Not only does the H2F Army initiative help create better warfighters but it’s a path to creating healthier Soldiers in everyday life. Initially rolling out through fiscal year 2029, implementation is being accelerated because its ability to be widely used and successful early results continue to fuel its use.

What Is H2F Army?

The H2F Army program is branch wide, and helps create better Soldiers while looking at both physical and non-physical factors at once.

It’s a consolidated approach that helps Commanders better track the health of Soldiers, help everyday warfighters train better for close combat, and improve the lives of the military community.

Founded in 2020 (FY 21), the Army H2F system yields a variety of benefits at all levels of the force and is being put to use faster than expected.

The Benefits of the Holistic Health and Fitness Army Program

Running any type of system isn’t easy; however, the plan for Army H2F regulation can be broken down into its five components—governance, program, equipment and facilities, personnel, and leader education.

By looking at each component, we can better understand how Soldiers and the Army as an organization benefit from the H2F system; however, most overlap in one way or another.

Ultimately, the H2F Army program offers significant benefits to the branch as a whole, including increased readiness and deployability.

By reducing attrition and achieving cost savings, H2F supports the Army’s mission to maintain a strong and effective fighting force.

Here are some ways that everyone benefits from the program and how different groups specifically improve:

Better Systems

Creating a program that is easily adopted for tracking data in a more advanced manner, the H2F system is accelerating Soldiers forward.

To measure performance and effectiveness at the Soldier, unit, and Army levels, H2F uses data involving medical, performance, administrative, and program metrics.

By doing so, Commanders have more information, can conduct regular updates, and can better assess Soldiers more frequently.

More Resources

Providing expert personnel is also a huge part of why the Army Holistic Health and Fitness system has been successful.

This means access to various health coaches, therapists, and other necessary resources for Soldiers.

H2F Army programs are also connecting Soldiers with more equipment, including medical kits, workout equipment, lockers, and other necessary infrastructure.

Improved Health and Readiness

Keeping Soldiers ready for battle is the military’s top priority, and improving the lives of military members is key to maintaining readiness.

Commanders benefit from H2F by addressing specific unit readiness needs, boosting morale, and fostering a more cohesive, capable unit.

Whether Soldiers are battling overseas or off duty, improved health is a great benefit of the program and the overall goal H2F sets out to hit.

The H2F system provides the Army with better mental, physical, and spiritual health, empowers Commanders, and creates a stronger overall culture toward these efforts.

The H2F Army Program is Being Accelerated

Starting with 28 brigades in FY 2021, the goal of the Army Health and Holistic Fitness program was to be in 110 brigades by FY 2029.

However, in 2023, Acting Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George accelerated the rollout, increasing the number of brigades from 10 to 15 annually, so that more Soldiers will reap the program's benefits sooner.

A key component of H2F is the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), seen as a superior measure compared to the previous Army Physical Fitness Test.

The H2F Army program continues to increase the overall health of Soldiers forward and cuts costs while doing so.

Sources:

TRADOC. Accessed October 2024.

Army. Accessed October 2024.

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