Enhancing Soldier readiness in Poland

WIESBADEN, Germany - Soldier readiness was recently enhanced at three additional Forward Operating Sites in Poland.

New functional fitness equipment arrived at FOS Boleslawiec in Poland on March 6, 2023. Each set costs approximately $250k each. The installation took two days and was coordinated by MWR Recreation Specialist Fred Lane who oversaw the installation on an additional two sites in March.

"It's a lot of coordination," said Lane, who works closely with the FOS Mayor Cell to coordinate the Polish Life Fitness installation team access, as well as Soldier support to support the effort. Soldiers helped clear out old equipment, plates and dumbbells to make room for the multifunctional athletic rigs, multifunctional lifting racks, free weight, and cardio machines.

"It impacts Soldiers on the ground now, but (also) those coming to the theater a year or two from now, because this equipment is going to stay there, and it's going to be utilized and well loved" said Rebecca Yarling, a recreation specialist with 21st Theater Sustainment Command.

The process for getting the equipment purchased required a "really good joint effort to get items of need that would last and make sense for the theater," said Yarling, with coordination "between 21st TSC G1, IMCOM G9, and USAREUR-AF as well."

"The new functional fitness set provides Soldiers a great environment to relieve stress in their off time and get their minds off of being away from home. It also allows time to increase their fitness," said SGT Elizabeth Flores at FOS Boleslawiec.

Spc. Rilyn Esper agreed. "The new gym equipment is helping them achieve and work towards their H2F standards."

Others found the new equipment to be a catalyst for more than just a workout.

"Finding a motivation and purpose is hard to do, but once you have discovered that and you have a goal set, it's easy to chase at that point. All the new gym equipment we have here is giving young lifters, young weightlifting enthusiasts an opportunity to really build a good foundation while here in Boleslawiec," said Staff Sgt. Nicholas Nelson.

"Morale is very high regarding the new workout space," said FOS Torun MWR Recreation Specialist Christopher Jackson as he began working on a frame to create motivational signage. "I was building the frame [and] these two 'artist' Soldiers were eager to chip in,” said Jackson. “When Monday came, I was very surprised to see the results. I'm so excited to hang them up."

Pfc. Kelly Erisma and Pvt. 2 Cenit Nelson created the artwork to add in the FOS Turon.

"Having the new equipment here in the facility has definitely helped us to get better at making ourselves better, and also improving at the ACFT," said Sgt. 1st Class Donavon Hilliard.

The theme of bettering oneself aligns with the Army's "Be All You Can Be" slogan which Hilliard also noted. The new Army Directive 2023-08 (Army Body Fat Assessment Exemption for Army Combat Fitness Test Score) published on March 15, 2023, gives Soldiers an added incentive to improve their results on the six testing requirements: leg tucks, deadlifts, a standing power throw, hand-release pushups, a sprint-drag-carry and two-mile run. According to the memo, the ABCP modification allows for all Soldiers who score 540 points or more on the ACFT to be exempt from the Army body fat circumference-based tape assessment.

FOS Trzebein Deputy Mayor Staff Sgt. Kevin Webster said, "Since arrival of the equipment, it has raised morale extremely. The Soldiers are happy. A lot of the Soldiers, prior to the equipment getting on ground, were not going to the gym, were not doing any PT on their own. … Everybody is motivated now since we have the proper equipment on the ground. And from me, and everybody on the FOS, we would like to say thank you to everybody that had some kind of a hand in it. The Soldiers extremely, extremely, appreciate all the efforts."