The Principal Challenge of Realizing Total Force Fitness: Changing Our Readiness Culture

Abstract

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS) has directed the development of an instruction issued under his signature that outlines guidance on the establishment of total force fitness programs across the military. The key element of the instruction is a framework that portrays the essential elements of total force fitness. Individual elements of the framework are, in many cases, adequately covered by programs in one or more of the services. The concept of establishing programs that integrate more than one fitness domain when addressing the needs of our warriors, their families, their organizations, and communities is a break from normal operations associated with an organization involved in preparing for or executing combat operations. In essence, the CJCS has fundamentally challenged the military to shift from the current course of fitness efforts to embrace a new paradigm associated with the readiness of our organizations to deploy. The directed change will be difficult to implement during a time of conflict, but it is necessary to establish an accurate reflection of the fitness of our warriors and their surrounding environment.