Wednesday August 7, 2013
What is it?
A major priority for the Army Surgeon General and Medical Commander Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho, is the health, readiness and resiliency of the force. The Performance Triad (Activity, Nutrition, and Sleep) pilot program supports the Army’s Ready and Resilient campaign, and begins this September at three U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) units located at Fort Bragg, N.C., Fort Bliss, Texas and Joint Base Lewis McChord, Wash.
To prepare Army Medicine leaders and staffs to better support these units during the pilot, Lt. Gen. Patricia Horoho declared Aug. 8, 2013, as Army Performance Triad Stand Up for Health Day.
What has the Army done?
Leaders, Soldiers, providers and staffs at all Army regional medical commands, major subordinate commands, medical treatment facilities and clinics will take a knee for a few hours on August 8 to receive training on the Performance Triad Pilot Program led by the Surgeon General. During the training, Lt. Gen. Horoho will present her vision to move Army Medicine from a health care system focused on disease, to a system for health focused on prevention, to sustain the health, readiness and resiliency of Soldiers and the Army family.
Why is this important to the Army?
The health and wellness of the force is critical to the Army remaining mission ready and fit to fight. Soldiers, like elite athletes, require exercise, proper fuel for their bodies and adequate sleep to perform at their optimal best. Currently, 45 percent of the Army’s total force is medically not ready due to musculoskeletal injuries. Seventy percent do not get the 7 to 8 hours of recommended sleep each night and 60 percent of the force is overweight. The August 8 training prepares Army Medicine leaders and staffs to support the FORSCOM units during the pilot and helps the leaders and staffs to serve as communication ambassadors to help influence a cultural change in the Army about prevention to embed healthy activity, nutrition and sleep behavioral and lifestyle changes into the Army’s DNA.
What does the Army have planned for the future?
Key elements of the Performance Triad program to train and educate Soldiers and line leaders about the benefits of making healthy lifestyle and behavioral choices will be tested and refined during the six-month pilot. Lessons learned will help the Army modify and improve the Performance Triad program, the educational materials and resources before further expansion across the total Army.
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