1st Lt. Jennah Bulen (right), physical therapy intern, Hugo V. Mendoza Soldier Family Care Center, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, instructs youths on proper running form during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at incr...

Fort Bliss youths practice proper running form during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo emphasized the Army...

Fort Bliss youths practice proper running form during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo emphasized the Army...

Fort Bliss youths check their heart rate after moderate exercise during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo e...

Rebecca Ramirez, a population health nurse, Hugo V. Mendoza Soldier Family Care Center, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, educates youths on the importance of health metrics such as heart rate, blood pressure and body mass index during the Optima...

A Fort Bliss youth performs a single-handed dumbbell row during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo emphasize...

A Fort Bliss youth attempts to press a 45-pound Olympic barbell during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo em...

Capt. Rachel Pike, physical therapist, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, demonstrates proper lunge form to Fort Bliss youths during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Re...

Fort Bliss youths hold a side plank during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo emphasized the Army's System f...

Fort Bliss youths stack cups as a teamwork/ resiliency exercise during the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rodeo em...

Fort Bliss youths serve themselves a nutritious meal after participating in the Optimal Performance Rodeo, a seven-station event aimed at increasing health awareness amongst youth, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20. The rod...

Fort Bliss youths participated in the Optimal Performance Rodeo (OPR), a program emphasizing the Army's System for Health, at the Replica Child Development Center, Fort Bliss, Feb. 20.

The OPR promotes Army Family health through fitness, injury prevention, human performance optimization and improved health through informed choices.

"We're bringing to life the system for health," said Sgt. 1st class Darin Elkins, noncommissioned officer in charge, Executive Wellness Program, U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. "We're changing the dynamics of our Army Medicine system from treating sickness, illness and injury to getting ahead of ailments by offering system of health concepts."

Not only did participants receive instruction on proper exercise form and healthy nutritional choices, youths actively participated in the training.

"This type of format is beneficial because it's more kinesthetic, more interactive," said Elkins. "There are many resources out there you can click on, read the pamphlet or see the poster. It doesn't come to life if they're not physically seeing it, touching it and doing it."

Seven stations at the OPR introduced youths to a variety of health and resiliency practices. Stations included: pose running, strength training, health metrics, sleep, nutrition, Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) and the Army Substance Abuse Program. Youths were introduced to everything from proper running technique to resilience training.

"The OPR is a blend of Performance Triad, CSF2 and Army wellness center resources," said Elkins. "We learn things or don't learn things at a young age. If we can give them those fundamentals at this age, maybe it can become a part of their DNA."

Although this isn't their first Rodeo, the OPR is targeting youths as part of an ongoing health awareness effort across the Army Community.

"It's not just the service member in the Army it's the whole family," said Lt. Col. Melissa Rosol, director, Fort Bliss Ready and Resilience Center. "Now you got the whole Army Family on the same team, speaking the same terms."

In 2012, retired Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, 43rd Surgeon General of the Army, introduced the Performance Triad composed of activity, sleep and nutrition. The Performance Triad shifts thinking from a healthcare system to a System for Health, made possible through the education and training of Soldiers and beneficiaries.

In the October-December 2013 issue of U.S. Army Medical Department Journal, Horoho explained the shift in thinking meant advocating a culture shift in Soldiers and beneficiaries by optimizing their own health.

"The Performance Triad is the enabler of our transition to a System for Health, as well as the framework for helping to change the mindsets of those for whom we are professionally and personally responsible," wrote Horoho. "If we can improve the health literacy of the Army community, our Army Family will make better decisions about activity, nutrition and sleep."

"They're part of the Army community," said Elkins. "We want to show them the resources available and choices that contribute to a healthier lifestyle."

For more information about the Performance Triad or the OPR, call 744-6436.