Spiritual fitness meets physical fitness

ZHOVKVA, Ukraine--The Army's performance triad lists physical activity as one of the most important pillars of overall health.

While physical fitness helps build the cardiovascular and muscular strength required to be a Soldier, in a similar way, spiritual fitness builds the mental and emotional readiness and resiliency it takes to be a strong Soldier.

To build both physical and spiritual fitness, the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team unit ministry team conducted two separate spiritual fitness training events, both leading the Thunderbirds on a hike through the hills around the Krekhiv Monastery near Zhovkva, Ukraine.

The 45th IBCT is deployed to Ukraine as part of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine, an international coalition dedicated to building professionalism within the Ukrainian army and increasing the Ukrainian army's training capacity.

"It's a peaceful break from the operational stress of deployed life, said Staff Sgt. Kevin Rond, the unit's religious affairs NCO. "It gives Soldiers a chance to connect with nature, and disconnect from the mission mindset; at the same time, the physical aspect helps release endorphins which help us handle stress."

The training event was conducted twice, both in May and June, due to high interest from the 45th IBCT Soldiers.

75 Soldiers total attended the two training events.

The training events fostered unit cohesion, increased local cultural awareness and served to improve readiness and resiliency by providing physical activity and helping Soldiers decrease stress and refocus on their purpose, explained the brigade chaplain, Maj. Joshua Byrd.

During the hike, the unit ministry team described to the Soldiers how the monastery was founded.

Monks arrived in the Krekhiv area around 1595, and chose to live a simple life of prayer in the caves near where the monastery stands today.

The monastery itself was built approximately 400 years ago. As the monks built a following, more people chose to live a prayerful life in the Ukrainian countryside.

"Just like the original monks left the distractions of their busy life to connect with God and nature, bringing Soldiers to the forest allows them the opportunity to decrease stress and refocus their minds on their purpose and a bigger picture," Byrd said.