The internet has been buzzing this week in reaction to a Department of Defense (DoD) report that the U.S. Navy is leading the armed forces in the prevalence of obesity among its members. The current rate of obesity sits at a staggering 22 percent—a figure which has been trending upward over the past decade. While the news is alarming, we all should take care to avoid alarmist, knee-jerk reactions. Solving this physical fitness crisis will require time and an all-encompassing, deliberate response throughout the Navy.
While the report is embarrassing, we hope the Navy can forego the typical knee-jerk reaction in favor of a more thoughtful approach. The natural reaction, one that many of us are guilty of, is to simply ramp up the intensity of physical training (PT) over a short period of time. This, however, is counterproductive and will only serve to suppress morale, increase PT related injuries, and exacerbate the problem.
Physical training is a chance to build camaraderie, confidence, and physical ability, but when mandatory PT gets pushed down from the top in reaction to bad news it smells like a punitive measure. The Navy needs to communicate to its sailors that in this bind we are all stakeholders.
Ultimately, physical fitness is a responsibility that we all share, together, as one Navy. It is an opportunity to lead: up, down, and across ranks. From the most junior sailor to the most senior, we all can—and should—play a role in improving physical fitness and helping our peers achieve their goals.
Leading through empathy
Out-of-standards sailors are not the enemy. No one wants to be or enjoys being out of standards. For some of our peers, hitting the physical standards is much more difficult than it is for others. For those who are consistently and easily reaching physical standards, this is your chance to lead the charge, the change, and to lend a helping hand.
Sailors realize their personal fitness through a variety of paths—there is no one way to get in shape. In San Diego, for example, some sailors elect to get their cardio by swimming in the ocean instead of the usual formation runs.
The fitness routine you take for granted could be exactly what one of your peers needs to get back on track. For some, the biggest obstacle to getting in shape is not the physical pain of exercise, but the feeling that in the pursuit of fitness they are completely alone and hopelessly behind.
What can I do to help?
When physical training becomes a team effort, great things happen. We need sailors at all levels to reach out and help their peers achieve their fitness goals. The Navy has taken steps to expand fitness opportunities: extended gym hours, better food at the galley, a panoply of fitness classes offered. The problem is not that we lack the resources to get in shape, but that we lack the support network needed to improve and maintain fitness.
It is much easier to get into shape, and maintain your fitness level when you work out with a group of peers. And it’s also more fun! At our current command, we have a small group of sailors who work out on the beach every weekend and then get breakfast together. No one told them to form that group. They have no appointed ACFL telling them what to do. None of them are receiving an eval bullet for their involvement. It started because one of their friends wanted to improve his physical fitness. This is the kind of organic culture we need to encourage among our sailors.
Effective PT is centered on three tenets: encouraging camaraderie, building confidence, and improving physical performance. Tailoring PT—organic or formal—around them is the first step in a long fight for Navy-wide physical readiness
