The Eagle Challenge Fitness Tour is a great example of how a community can come together to promote health and good living. Even before the Performance Triad was envisioned, Col. David Dellinger, garrison commander, conceived of a fitness program for Fort Campbell and the local community. He saw a number of fun and fitness events that invited the communities of Hopkinsville and Oak Grove, in Kentucky, and Clarksville, Tennessee, to be key participants.
The Performance Triad of sleep, activity, and nutrition is a building block that can also inspire communities to take action and be healthier. Bringing communities together for a fitness and health program can be a challenge, and Fort Campbell has successfully tackled this by creating its Eagle Challenge Fitness Tour. For the third consecutive year, this program has offered an activity component of the Performance Triad for those individuals and units that want to participate.
The Eagle Challenge provides a model for activity that meets Performance Triad goals and incorporates Gen. Raymond Ordierno's initiative for optimization of human performance. It has successfully built strong bonds with the local civilian community and the program is successful because of full command support and vision for a healthier community. The Eagle Challenge Tour also helps to promote readiness and resilience for the Army community and health issues such as the national epidemic of obesity.
Although the program falls under the oversight of the commander, much of the execution on post is carried out by the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), lead in 2014 by the recently retired Van Stokes.
The Eagle Challenge Fitness Tour includes six events on Fort Campbell, including the USO Ten-Miler, and four events in Hopkinsville and Clarksville. The first event of the year, the Love Your Heart 10K, 5K, and fun runs scheduled for Feb. 21 (weather permitting), includes a health fair as part of the kickoff event. For 2015, the schedule includes 13 total events, including alternate events.
Each event is described by Stokes as "Wounded Warrior friendly, child capable, and having competitive and non-competitive categories." As a result, everyone can and is encouraged to participate. Stokes explained the keys to success. What is needed, he explained, is command support, effective direction from MWR, and support from local community. He also pointed out the importance of local marketing to ensure everyone throughout the community is aware of the events.
Stokes emphasized the need to work with the local community. Community bonds can be enhanced with social opportunities events after the event, including fun activities such as inflatable devices for children. Refueling and rehydrating stations (providing bananas, orange slices, and bottled water, for example) should be available, too.
One way that draws the community into participating is that a designated unit on post hosts each event and helps manage the volume of work. Everything is coordinated by the unit from trash cans to a sound system, to tents and canopies. Once set up, water and refueling stations are manned, and portable restrooms put in place, and monitors guide runners. A timing system is used for results and medics stand by with support vehicles at the ready. Traffic control, parking, and security are addressed as well. The Eagle Challenge is a major logistical undertaking and because units help to lead the effort, there is incredible pride and ownership in each event.
Rewarding the dedication and achievement is important as well. Following the last event of the year, there is a celebration that culminates in an award ceremony to complete the challenge. An Eagle Challenge gold medal is earned by everyone who participates in eight of the ten events. Silver medals are presented to those who participate in six events and a bronze medal for those who make four events. If an individual has conflicts, alternate events can be substituted, such as the Army Ten-Miler at the Pentagon.
Success, as Van Stokes pointed out, is more than having a run or bike ride; it is the total delivery of an event. It's taking care of people, he said, and meeting their needs and having an event that is fun.
Thanks to the vision of the commander and hard work by MWR staff, Fort Campbell provides a model to support the activity goals of the Performance Triad. This community best practice can be replicated anywhere and provides a formula in support of healthier communities both inside and outside of the gates.
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