November is acknowledged as Nationwide Navy Health and Wellness Month, an initiative that was based by M&F’s Senior Navy Editor, the Honorable Rob Wilkins. The mission for this month is to extend consciousness of the significance of health and wellness for all servicemembers, veterans, and their households and supporters.
Health has at all times been a precedence for the US Military, and so they have doubled down on that with the creation of Holistic Well being and Health (H2F). H2F focuses on 5 pillars of readiness; bodily, psychological, diet, sleep, and non secular. This system has been making strides on this entrance because of leaders reminiscent of Lieutenant Normal Johnny Davis and Command Sergeant Main Shade Munday, who’re massive advocates of its implementation and objective.
Davis confirmed, “H2F has been a giant part.”
The Gold Customary At Fort Knox
Each Davis and Munday not solely converse concerning the significance of health, however they each have additionally lived as much as their very own lofty requirements for the 30-plus years that every have served. Davis has been deployed to a number of places world wide reminiscent of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait, amongst different locations. He has been honored with a number of awards alongside the best way. In January 2025, he was named the primary commanding common of the elevated U.S. Military Recruiting Command.
Munday has his personal lengthy listing of assignments and accolades since he enlisted in Might 1995, together with the Bronze Star Medal, the Protection Meritorious Service Medal, and a number of other others. He grew to become the senior enlisted chief for U.S. Military Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on March 10, 2023.
Each Davis and Munday are presently stationed at Fort Knox, identified for each the gold depository that’s adjoining to the bottom in addition to the house of Military recruiting for 4 a long time. Each morning is a brand new alternative to indicate up and be the instance that others may and may comply with, and that begins with early morning runs in addition to common PT. Being match and prepared has been the fixed for each males, no matter the place they had been stationed or what function they had been taking part in on the time, and it nonetheless is at this time.
“It has been a journey of health,” Davis mentioned. “Health is absolutely the important thing to having the flexibleness to do all of the stuff you want and wish to do in service.
Munday agreed and mentioned, “It’s actually a couple of life-style. I’m an avid runner and run 25-30 miles every week.”
Each Davis and Munday report that because of applications like H2F and the eye to the well-being of their troopers, retention has been bettering. They don’t consider that could be a coincidence, both.
“The Military has completed loads to spend money on H2F throughout the power and having troopers with entry to it,” Davis defined. “When you’re doing properly within the models, then troopers have a tendency to remain. We’re seeing some traditionally excessive retention charges.”
Be All You Can Be Means Extra and Higher Recruits
One other key to their current success with recruitment is returning to their basic “Be All You Can Be” marketing campaign, which served the Military very properly in earlier years. Munday credited the slogan for reinvigorating the thrill of being part of an elite preventing power.
“Everyone is eager to be part of a profitable group. The entire life-style and mindset are actually why younger women and men wish to be a part of proper now.” Davis added, “That introduced a whole lot of consciousness to what we do each single day. All of the issues like PT, ‘we personal the evening,’ issues like which have actually resonated.”
The emphasis on readiness and the return to acquainted promotion have already been paying off. After years of wrestle with recruitment, the tide has turned and has elevated considerably. Munday reported that almost 300 younger persons are signing up for service on a typical workday.
“That is sort of a small battalion that our recruiters are bringing in,” Davis mentioned. “That quantity goes up.”
Younger People are seeing the advantages and rewards that include service, however Davis and Munday advise that getting ready earlier than Day 1 by working, specializing in pushups and pull-ups, and correct diet and restoration shall be key as they enter the navy.
Munday defined, “Health actually is the cornerstone. You must be disciplined and able to get after it.”
A Name To Motion For Veterans
Davis and Munday are each extremely adorned and have served in a wide range of roles over their respective careers. They’re strolling examples of what the Military represents, and so they need their troopers to be the identical, together with as they transition to life as veterans. Munday
defined that whereas they could now not be sporting the nation’s material, they will nonetheless painting every thing that’s nice and honorable from serving.
“The Military is a picture,” he shared. “We wish them to suit that picture of what a warrior appears like, and that features life exterior of the Military.”
Munday and Davis additionally really feel that veterans can proceed to assist the Military maintain their momentum by sharing what service has completed for them and assist instill that knowledge into younger people who they’re round.
Munday mentioned, “The veteran inhabitants are a few of our greatest recruiters on the market. No matter they will share to the following technology carries over.”
Davis concluded by reminding veterans that no matter how lengthy it’s been since they had been on lively responsibility, they’re nonetheless part of the group and revered for it.
“Being a warrior and match is our model. That carries each time you’re in uniform or not.”
For extra data on the U.S. Military, click on right here.
M&F Senior Navy Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this text.
