FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Army health officials have announced an Installation Management Command-wide pilot program that aims to make exercise a lifestyle among Army civilian employees by exploring changes in restrictions to Civilian Fitness Program participation.
As it stands now, the CFP limits participants to one six-month experience. With the pilot, however, officials are inviting IMCOM civilian employees at Fort Drum and other garrisons, including former and current CFP participants, to be a part of the six-month test program.
"Our leaders strive for a healthy, happy, productive workforce," said Kelsey Stiner, health promotion research assistant with the U.S. Army Public Health Command at Fort Drum. "Leaders also want to take this opportunity to give something back to their employees."
The CFP is a six-month wellness program authorizing Army commanders and supervisors to give civilian employees administrative leave for three hours of exercise each week to boost productivity, improve morale, and reduce stress and illness.
Once participants coordinate the terms of their participation with supervisors, and according to mission requirements, they may pursue a variety of approaches to wellness -- from fitness centers and hiking trails to seminars and places of worship.
"We want to emphasize a broader view of wellness and not just the physical aspect," said Stiner, referring to the physical, emotional, social, family and spiritual dimensions of the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program.
After the six-month pilot, Army leaders will assess enterprise-wide metrics collections and make a case for changing Army Regulation 600-63, which governs CFP, to offer the program as a recurring opportunity throughout all Army civilians' careers.
"The pilot program, which is strictly for IMCOM employees, is the only chance for re-enrollment in the CFP at this point in time," Stiner said. "After analyzing the results, we hope to integrate the pilot program into the policy for all civilians."
Promoting health and wellness among Army civilians is a way of "safeguarding our assets" in an environment where "demands for diminishing fiscal and human resources (are) at a premium," according to an operations order issued last month by IMCOM headquarters in Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Officials on post encourage all IMCOM employees who are interested in participating in the pilot to request an enrollment packet directly from Stiner and submit the completed packet to her by Sept. 28.
Stiner said the enrollment packet consists of a Wellness Contract, Release and Waiver of Liability, Required Assessment Data Form, Personal Readiness Assessment Form, Medical Approval Form and Enrollment Approval Form.
For participants who submit the packet in time, their next step will be to attend a mandatory physical assessment at Monti Physical Fitness Center from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 2 (last names beginning A-M) and from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 3 (last names beginning N-Z).
A makeup session is scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 4.
The metrics of the pre-CFP assessment, which includes height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure and resting heart rate, will help determine program validity. A person can be turned down due to doctor or supervisor disapproval.
Upon completion of the pilot program next spring, post-CFP assessments will be conducted in April, allowing participants and program proponents to track health improvements.
Stiner stressed the importance of the fitness program in terms of the civilian workforce's overall contentment and their satisfaction in effectively serving Soldiers and their Families.
"It has been shown that happy, healthier employees tend to be more productive," Stiner said. "It helps civilians harvest a healthy mind and body, which eventually shows in their work performance.
"A healthy workforce is a happy workforce."
For more information, contact Stiner at 315-772-9012 or kelsey.e.stiner.ctr@mail.mil.
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