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Two past participants credit the Army’s Civilian Fitness Program for helping them make a lifestyle change that has continued to the present.
The Civilian Fitness Program grants Department of the Army civilians and local nationals three one-hour sessions each week during normal duty hours to exercise. It operates for six months at a time and is a one-time enrollment opportunity.
Enrollment dates for the next six-month program in the KMC are Tuesday, Thursday and March 27. The program is designed to help people get in the habit of incorporating physical activity into their daily lifestyle, said Lauren Mullins, U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine-Europe health promotion coordinator.
“This program helps the participants to not only get moving, but it also teaches them the benefits of physical activity, assists them with developing personal goals and arms them with stress management tools, nutritional tips and recipes,” she said.
Gwen Galloway, a DA civilian who used to work for U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern, participated in the program more than five years ago. Ms. Galloway said the program helped her lose 24 pounds in six weeks.
“I developed a new lifestyle in which I really began to care about what I ate and if I didn’t exercise as I should have,” she said. “No matter what, I at least do some walking even if it’s just for five minutes.”
Guni Hinkel, a local national employee with the 21st Theater Sustainment Command’s Theater Logistics Support Center-Europe, also participated in the program.
“The fitness program changed my way of life,” she said. “I realized I could do more than just your normal gym exercise program by trying out walking, swimming and aerobics to build my own exercise program.”
Ms. Mullins said the beauty of the program is that participants can choose any type of exercise activity such as walking, running or lifting weights. Before the initial assessment, participants must complete an enrollment package that includes supervisor’s approval and a health history questionnaire.
The questionnaire is the first step in getting medically cleared for the program. Depending upon their answers paired with their blood-pressure screenings, participants may have to get approval from their doctor before they can actively participate in the program. Exercise periods may be combined with employee’s breaks or lunch periods to maximize gym time; however, unused exercise hours are not carried forward to subsequent weeks, Ms. Mullins said.
The program requires participants to attend the initial and post assessments. Participants are weighed and measured for body fat at both assessments. The initial assessment shows participants what health and fitness areas they need to concentrate on. The post one highlights the progress they have made in the past six months.
The enrollment and screening dates for KMC employees are: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Kleber Fitness Center, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Landstuhl Fitness Center and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 27 at the Rhine Ordnance Barracks Fitness Center.
To make an appointment, call the Landstuhl Army Wellness Center at 486-8614. For more information, visit www.chppmeur.healthcare.hqusareur.army.mil/sites/dhpw/civfit.aspx.
