A 198th Infantry Brigade strength coach guides cadre members through stretching and mobility work during the Tactical Strength and Conditioning Facilitator Course (TSAC-F). (Photos courtesy of author)

As the demands on today’s Infantry Soldiers increase, the U.S. Army has made significant strides toward building a more resilient, capable force through the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program. Integrating H2F into Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) has become a game changer. By embedding strength coaches, athletic trainers, and H2F integrators directly into training, OSUT is transforming how Soldiers develop and maintain peak physical fitness while minimizing injuries.

This article explores how H2F professionals — strength coaches, athletic trainers, and H2F integrators — optimize performance, improve soldier readiness, and lay a foundation for lifelong health and resilience among Infantry trainees at Fort Benning, GA, ultimately leading to a more capable and combat-ready Infantry Soldier for the operational force.

Infantry OSUT and H2F: A Comprehensive Approach

Infantry OSUT combines Basic Combat Training (BCT) and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) into a seamless program, preparing Soldiers for the unique challenges of infantry combat. The addition of the H2F program within OSUT reflects the Army’s commitment to developing well-rounded Soldiers who are physically and mentally prepared for the demands of the infantry.

H2F brings an integrated approach, focusing on all aspects of soldier readiness — physical, mental, spiritual, and injury prevention. Strength coaches, athletic trainers, and H2F integrators work together throughout OSUT to build strength, enhance mental resilience, and reduce injury rates. This team approach ensures that trainees adopt sustainable fitness and wellness practices, improving overall readiness and extending their careers.

The Role of Strength Coaches in OSUT: Building Holistic Fitness Programs

Strength coaches within OSUT focus on functional fitness to meet the physical demands of infantry work. H2F integrators or master fitness trainers (MFTs) at the company and battalion levels collaborate closely with these coaches to design and implement tailored physical training (PT) plans that meet the specific needs of each company.

Building Strength and Muscular Endurance

H2F integrators and MFTs serve as a bridge between the OSUT cadre and H2F specialists. They work directly with strength coaches to align PT plans with training objectives. Integrators and MFTs ensure that PT plans follow proper progression, avoiding overtraining while addressing the unique requirements of each unit. OSUT strength coaches tailor workouts to build functional, combat-ready strength. Trainees work on exercises that enhance overall body strength, core stability, and endurance. From heavy carries to squats, deadlifts, and pull-ups, strength coaches guide trainees through exercises that mimic the weight-bearing and physically challenging tasks they face in the field. This collaboration results in comprehensive, science-based PT programs that balance strength, endurance, mobility, and recovery.

Cardiovascular Fitness

By incorporating a variety of interval and distance running sessions, strength coaches help trainees build a strong cardiovascular foundation. This foundation improves the speed and endurance of trainees, allowing them to perform more efficiently while fatigued. By training a variety of cardiovascular stimuli, trainees are better prepared to face the wide array of physical demands in a combat environment. Company H2F integrators ensure these plans align with unit timelines and objectives while also coaching cadre on proper execution.

Recovery and Mobility Focus

H2F integrators reinforce the importance of recovery and mobility training as part of the company’s PT plans. Together with strength coaches, they incorporate recovery sessions, stretching, and mobility drills into the training schedule. Strength coaches introduce recovery and mobility training early, helping trainees improve balance, coordination, and joint stability. These elements are essential for injury prevention and emphasize the importances of identifying and treating injuries early. This proactive approach reduces the risk of injury and prepares Soldiers for sustained physical activity.

A 198th Infantry Brigade strength coach instructs cadre members on conducting proper warm-up drills. (Photos courtesy of author)

Athletic Trainers: Preventing and Managing Injuries

Injuries can derail a trainee’s progress during OSUT and delay graduation. Athletic trainers embedded in OSUT serve as essential resources for injury prevention, early intervention, and recovery, allowing trainees to stay in the training pipeline and avoid long-term setbacks.

Preventive Screening and Prehab

While athletic trainers in OSUT do not conduct initial screenings for trainees, they play a vital role in injury prevention by collaborating with strength coaches and H2F integrators. The strength coaches assess movement patterns during technique instruction to identify areas of weakness or improper form. By addressing these issues through targeted corrective exercises, the team helps trainees strengthen vulnerable areas such as knees, shoulders, and lower backs. This coordinated approach mitigates the risk of common training injuries and supports trainees in maintaining their readiness throughout OSUT.

Injury Treatment and Rehabilitation

When injuries do occur, OSUT athletic trainers are equipped to provide on-the-spot assessments, treatment, and customized rehabilitation plans. By managing injuries in real time, trainers enable trainees to return to training safely, minimizing recovery time. This support allows trainees to recover effectively without risking further injury, maintaining the continuity of their progress.

Education on Recovery Techniques

Athletic trainers and H2F integrators teach recovery techniques that trainees can use throughout their careers, emphasizing techniques such as stretching, hydration, foam rolling, and proper sleep. By making recovery a priority, trainees avoid overtraining, reduce muscle fatigue, and build sustainable fitness habits. These techniques, ingrained early in OSUT, become integral tools trainees carry with them into their next assignment.

The Impact of H2F in Infantry OSUT

The integration of H2F has yielded measurable benefits in training outcomes, with a particular focus on injury prevention, improved performance, and enhanced resilience.

Reduced Injury Rates

While data collection is ongoing across all Infantry OSUT units, early results indicate that incorporating H2F practices has significantly reduced trainee injury rates. One notable example comes from 2nd Battalion, 19th Infantry Regiment, which has seen a 46-percent decrease in injury volume since H2F was embedded two years ago.

Injury Evaluation Trends: At 2-19 IN, the number of initial evaluations conducted by athletic trainers per 100 trainees in 22-week cycles has steadily declined as H2F became fully integrated:

  • Fiscal Year (FY) 22 (no H2F): 65 evaluations
  • FY23 (H2F introduced): 52 evaluations
  • FY24 (H2F fully operational): 35 evaluations

Impact of Strength Coaches: The first company training cycles to fully implement strength coach-led programs at 2-19 IN experienced an average 35-percent reduction in injury volume compared to previous cycles. Below is the percentage decrease in injuries by company:

  • A/2-19IN: 29.5-percent decrease
  • B/2-19IN: 20.7-percent decrease
  • C/2-19IN: 44.3-percent decrease
  • D/2-19IN: 32.7-percent decrease
  • E/2-19IN: 50.0-percent decrease

This success stems from carefully planned PT programs developed by strength coaches in collaboration with H2F integrators and athletic trainers. The emphasis on progressive training, recovery, and early intervention prevents setbacks and ensures trainees complete training on schedule.

Enhanced Physical Performance

Trainees demonstrate significant improvements in strength, endurance, and agility under H2F-guided programs. They complete exercises with better form, increased strength, and greater endurance, all of which are essential for the high demands of infantry operations. The trainees’ physical progress, achieved through the collaborative efforts of H2F professionals, also bolsters their mental resilience as they gain confidence in their abilities.

Increased Combat Readiness

H2F ensures that Soldiers graduate from OSUT not only physically fit but also mentally resilient. The integration of holistic fitness practices equips them with the skills needed to adapt to complex operational environments and sustain performance under stress.

Sustainable Fitness Practices

The collaboration between H2F integrators and strength coaches establishes a foundation for lifelong health. Trainees leave OSUT with the knowledge and habits to maintain their physical readiness, contributing to longer, healthier careers.

A 198th Infantry Brigade strength coach runs cadre members through dynamic warm-up drills during the TSAC-F. (Photo courtesy of author)

The Role of H2F Integrators in Bridging Training and Operational Needs

H2F integrators and MFTs are essential in aligning OSUT fitness programs with the broader goals of the operational force. By coordinating with strength coaches to design and implement PT plans, they ensure that trainees develop the skills and resilience required to excel in their units.

Their involvement enhances communication between H2F professionals, cadre, and leadership, creating a unified approach to soldier readiness. This collaboration not only benefits individual trainees but also improves the overall effectiveness and cohesion of OSUT companies.

Why H2F Is Crucial for Delivering a Better Infantry Soldier to the Operating Force

The integration of H2F in Infantry OSUT is not just about preparing trainees for graduation – it’s about delivering the best-trained, healthiest, and most resilient Soldiers to the operational force. By introducing trainees to comprehensive, science-backed fitness and wellness practices from day one, the Army is building a stronger Infantry Soldier that is better suited for the high-stakes demands of modern warfare.

Increased Combat Readiness

Infantry Soldiers arriving at their units after H2F-integrated OSUT should have a higher level of readiness than those who trained without this holistic approach. Their advanced physical and mental conditioning means they should perform combat tasks more effectively, adapt to complex environments, and endure prolonged physical strain. This heightened readiness ensures that units can rely on new Infantry Soldiers to contribute immediately to mission success.

Reduced Medical Downtime

H2F’s emphasis on injury prevention and sustainable training practices aims to reduce injury rates not only during OSUT but also at the trainees’ next duty station. By equipping trainees with proper recovery techniques, progressive training methods, and a focus on physical resilience, H2F helps prepare trainees to withstand the demands of their new units. Although data is still being gathered, the program encourages early intervention for health concerns and promotes habits that can reduce the risk of injuries, ensuring Soldiers remain mission-ready in their operational roles.

Sustainable Health and Operational Longevity

H2F’s emphasis on injury prevention and recovery helps trainees sustain their health over longer careers, reducing attrition due to physical burnout. Infantry Soldiers who train under H2F are equipped with the skills and knowledge to manage their health, helping them maintain operational effectiveness and reducing long-term wear and tear on their bodies. This sustainability directly benefits the Army by reducing the need for replacements and maintaining experienced Soldiers in the ranks.

Higher Morale and Unit Cohesion

Physically fit, injury-resistant Soldiers who are resilient in body and mind contribute to higher morale within their units. Units benefit from a team of Soldiers who are confident in their capabilities and share a common foundation in the H2F principles. This shared experience builds cohesion, allowing units to perform with greater coordination and effectiveness in high-stress environments.

Shaping the Future of Infantry Training

The inclusion of the Holistic Health and Fitness program in Infantry OSUT is transforming how the Army prepares its Infantry Soldiers. The collaborative efforts of H2F integrators, strength coaches, and athletic trainers are delivering Soldiers who are stronger, more resilient, and less prone to injury.

The results will soon be clear: Trainees who train under H2F are not only stronger and more agile but also more resilient and less prone to injury. The knowledge and habits they acquire in OSUT form the foundation for a lifetime of physical and mental wellness, benefiting their personal and professional lives. This means the Army is delivering Infantry Soldiers to the operational force who are ready to face the challenges of modern combat — capable, dependable, and prepared for the demands of any mission.

These outcomes directly enhance operational effectiveness, reduce medical downtime, and increase unit cohesion. By investing in H2F, the Army is building a healthier, more capable infantry force, one Soldier at a time

LTC Mike Moore currently commands 2nd Battalion, 58th Infantry Regiment, 198th Infantry Brigade, at Fort Benning, GA. An Infantry officer, he has served in various command and staff positions within airborne and Stryker brigade formations. He has completed four combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, and an operational deployment to Haiti. He received his undergraduate degree in mass communication from Miami University and has a Master of Aeronautical Science from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. LTC Moore is also a Pose Method Certified Running Technique Specialist.

This article appeared in the Spring 2025 issue of Infantry. Read more articles from the professional bulletin of the U.S. Army Infantry at https://www.benning.army.mil/Infantry/Magazine/ or https://www.lineofdeparture.army.mil/Journals/Infantry/.