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Like the Army’s focus on maintaining physical fitness among its Soldiers, U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern also endorses a Civilian Fitness Program that works to improve physical fitness and morale, relieve stress, and minimize health risks.
This Army program allows U.S. Army civilian employees and local nationals to be excused from work for up to three one-hour sessions a week for six months to exercise.
“Studies show that staying fit increases work performance and decreases the chance of illness or injury,” said Cathy Douglas, health promotion coordinator for the Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine for Kaiserslautern and Baumholder. “If we’re not stressed out at work, we’ll feel better and be more productive.”
The program is intended to establish a foundation for the employee, Ms. Douglas said. “Civilian fitness is a one-time deal to get people started while they’re here, and motivate them to continue on with their physical fitness, for life,” she said.
Although completely voluntary, civilian employees and local nationals must coordinate the terms of their fitness program times with their supervisors.
Exercise periods may be combined with employees’ breaks or lunch periods, but unused exercise hours are not carried forward to subsequent weeks, said Ms. Douglas. Supervisors are encouraged to adjust work schedules to permit training and exercise where possible and consistent with the workload and mission.
The enrollment and screening dates for USAGK employees are: 9 to 11 a.m.
Sept. 12 at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Fitness Center; 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 13 at the Kleber Fitness Center and Gymnasium;
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 14 at the Health and Wellness Center on Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
To make an appointment, call the Landstuhl HAWC at 486-8614. For more information and an enrollment package, call Cathy Douglas at 489-6238 or 0631-536-6238 or visit www.kaiserslautern.army.mil/sites/installation/civfit.asp.
(Courtesy of the Center for Heath Promotion and Preventive Medicine)
