Children prepare to run a mock Combat Fitness Test (Source) By: Maria McConville, MS, RDN, CPT* Military life brings unique challenges, including frequent moves, extended absences, and unpredictable schedules. But some things are constant—like physical fitness, for example—which is a cornerstone for most members of the military community. For military spouses and children, staying physically active isn’t just about fitness. It’s also a powerful tool for maintaining mental health and creating a sense of stability. When Service Members are away for training, school, or deployments ..read more

Cadets work together to safely navigate an obstacle on the field leader reaction course (Source) by Lauren Heller, MEd, MSW Too often, Service Members or leaders think they need to make demands and have those they lead fall in line in order to make an impact. There’s a time and place for that, but another research-based approach to leadership is to be an autonomy-supportive leader. When using an autonomy-supportive approach, leaders emphasize the importance of independence in their collaborators or team members. Team members are encouraged to make their own choices, learn from thei ..read more

In December 2024, CHAMP learned about a remarkable second-year medical student at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU). ENS William Wang accomplished some extraordinary feats over his first 15 months at USU: Passed the Step 1 exam using his own personalized study plan Ran an impressive 5:08 mile (weighing 220 lbs)—and then proceeded to deadlift 565 lbs an hour later Completed a 100-mile run in under 34 hours CHAMP reached out to learn more about his incredible journey. CHAMP: What drew you to USU? Wang: After 4 years at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), I realized ..read more

by Lindsay Runge, MA Girls volleyball team work together Goal setting has been a strategy to reach excellence in sports for many years. It also has been considered a helpful coaching strategy that allows autonomy for athletes while also including them in the goal-setting process. When athletes are offered the opportunity to contribute their ideas and values, they feel more connected with their teammates, program, and coaches—while also gaining confidence in their abilities to contribute to the team. This type of empowerment is crucial; it fuels their motivation to reach the goal(s ..read more

By Amy Stockett Have you ever seen your athletes get burnt-out from the very sport they used to love? Do your athletes come to you with a new injury each week? Do you see your athletes struggle with confidence as they make mistakes that are bound to happen when competing? Are your athletes overwhelmed with school, sports, and life in general? These are just a few issues I have experienced in my 20+ years as a high school volleyball coach. What if you could empower your athletes to overcome the challenges they face? I dove into the transformative power of mindfulness when one of my athlete ..read more

By: Maria McConville, MS, RDN, CPT  I’ve been a dietitian for a long time. I was a dietitian in the Army, and now I’m an Army spouse and mother. Like all military families, our family knows about change. And disruption. And the uncertainties associated with moving often. And, I thought I dealt with the challenges of military life pretty well. In 2011, I learned about the Master Resilience Training (MRT) program for Soldiers and was blown away by the concepts and skills surrounding resilience that I never knew had a name. I felt like I had just discovered a treasure chest that needed to b ..read more

By: Sarah Steward, MS* Solid relationships are important for Warfighter performance. The fact is that having close and meaningful connections reduces stress and increases your ability to cope and overcome challenges. People who feel connected to others sleep better, tend to heal faster, and live longer. Meanwhile, loneliness is a source of stress and linked to depression, increases in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and reduced physical and cognitive performance at work. Just like your body, you need to work to get your “social fitness” on track. And just like your muscles, y ..read more

Keeping your body properly hydrated and fueled prepares you for the challenges of training, missions, and everyday performance. There are many factors that can affect your individual hydration needs. Some factors are how much you sweat, the type and duration of your exercise or workouts, your environment, and the equipment you wear. Your goal is to try and replace the fluid you lose by sweating during an activity to maintain hydration levels. To do  this, sip on a good-quality sports drink while you workout, exercise, or (if able!) during PT.  Drink 16–32 oz of fluid every 60 min ..read more

By: Bailey Oliver Blackburn, PhD What if I told you that you (yes, you!) have the potential to help those around you be more resilient simply by communicating with them? Sounds like a far-fetched idea, but as a communication scholar and resilience researcher, I’ve learned that resilience doesn’t require extraordinary practices or even heroic actions. In fact, resilience is often communicated through our words and how we connect with others. To better understand how we can help others and benefit our own resilience, we need to understand what resilience truly means. Resilience is our ..read more

By Brandon Lee, MS, RD, CCRP Energy availability (EA) is a crucial aspect of nutrition that often gets overlooked. It represents the amount of energy (calories) left to support normal bodily functions after exercise or physical training. Athletes who don’t consume enough calories to support their activity levels and their normal body functions can end up hurting their health and athletic performance. This state is known as low energy availability (LEA). Historically, LEA was considered a problem only women had, yet growing evidence shows it can be just as harmful to men’s health and perfo ..read more