Programs that effectively strengthen Soldier and Family resilience will not be lost to looming budget cuts, the Provost Marshal General of the Army said Jan. 28 during a video teleconference with 1st Infantry Division leaders at Fort Riley, Kan.
Maj. Gen. David Quantock, who is also commander of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and Army Corrections Command, said effective programs that fall under the service's new Ready and Resilient campaign are "pretty much locked in" despite declining resources Army-wide.
"We will not sacrifice these programs," the general said.
Quantock's remarks to the Big Red One team focused on a variety of readiness and resilience issues, and illustrated the effort to build and sustain a force that is mentally and physically strong does not lie in the hands of one organization or office.
"Working together to preserve human life is our ultimate goal," Judy Woodward, 1st Inf. Div. Health Promotion Officer, said. "We all have a piece of the total health of the force picture."
Joining Quantock during the three-hour presentation was Col. Kenneth Riddle, director of the Army's Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness (CSF2) program. CSF2, a key component of the Ready and Resilient campaign, is a program driven by the goal of ensuring Soldiers and Families enter the Army strong, build strength while serving and transition back into their communities stronger than when they left.
"We are in a new era," Riddle said. "We have to focus on realms of fitness other than physical."
The Ready and Resilient campaign discussed by Quantock and Riddle focuses on medical and personnel readiness, and topic areas including physical, behavioral, psychological, social, Family and nutritional health. These components, Quantock said, are vital in generating health and discipline in the force.
Everything, Quantock added, is related and must be considered when building strong Soldiers and Family members who are "ready" for whatever mission may await them in the coming years.
"Resilience is the most important piece of our foundation and, therefore, the most important piece of our future," Riddle said.
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