This field manual fully revises the previous Army’s physical readiness training (known as PRT) doctrine. The Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System directed by this doctrine is designed to address the readiness of every Soldier. Performance readiness experts of the H2F System will assess each Soldier’s physical and mental status and design programs to sustain or improve that Soldier’s ability to meet the demands of their military occupational specialties (MOSs), duty assignments, and combat-specific tasks. This individualized approach is sustained across the Soldier’s Army career. It represents a cultural shift from the industrial scale approaches of the past where massed formations received the same training in a one-size-fits-all approach— often with no equipment or expertise required to lead the training. It also represents a shift from expecting individual Soldiers who often train remote from their units to independently develop and implement a performance training program. The H2F System addresses those individual Soldiers’ needs, too. Figure introduction-1 illustrates the H2F System. Figure Introduction-1. The Holistic Health and Fitness System This doctrine directs leaders and Soldiers to use unit-level experts, facilities, and equipment to develop the physical and nonphysical components of Soldier readiness. This doctrine has evolved from the lessons learned, Soldier feedback, and Soldier testing throughout a prolonged period of ground combat. Lessons learned in that period are combined with the best performance and medical science to prepare Soldiers for a wide range of threats in complex operational environments. The H2F System is an immersive, comprehensive approach to readiness centered on brigade-owned H2F facilities and personnel. In the initial phase of H2F, recruits and new Soldiers will train to perform the Occupational Physical Assessment Test (OPAT) and prepare to conduct warrior tasks and battle drills (WTBD), high physical demand tasks (HPDTs), and the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). In the sustaining phase of H2F, Soldiers will continue to build readiness. From their first units of assignment (FUAs) to separation from the Army, they optimize and mitigate the rate of loss of physical and mental preparedness for any mission at any time. Using this doctrine, Soldiers will sustain high levels of foundational performance for extended periods. They will know how to quickly develop peak physical performance along with the mental toughness required of operational assignments. They will be ready to deliver collective overmatch in multi-domain operations, win quickly, and return home healthy. The H2F doctrine is divided into four parts: system, design, build, and deliver. PART ONE: SYSTEM The H2F System has five critical elements: governance, program, equipment and facilities, personnel, and leadership education. These elements are distilled from careful doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities (known as DOTMLPF) analysis and research into past and present H2F-related initiatives. Each element is critical to creating a system for Soldier readiness. G OVERNANCE In the H2F System, the governance element is defined as the command and control, regulations, policies, evaluation and resourcing provided by DA H2F leadership. For the H2F System to work it must be implemented properly. Governance at the senior leader levels ensures consistent adoption, application and compliance. H2F System governance includes an Army H2F steering committee, an Army H2F Capability Development Integration Directorate, and an Army H2F Program Manager. These groups work with existing Army organizations and industry, inform science and technology efforts, and integrate H2F programs and initiatives. Other key components of the governance element are surveillance and quality control, enabling leaders to track program execution and program results to hold subordinate leaders and trainers accountable. Governance allows the H2F System to be rapidly modified based on outcomes and lessons learned. P ROGRAM The program element for the H2F System is the doctrinal description of how leaders will implement the H2F System in their units. The program includes the five domains of physical readiness, nutritional readiness, spiritual readiness, mental readiness, and sleep readiness. The doctrine provides the foundation for all Soldier readiness programs. It is the standard to optimize Soldiers’ performance as they move about the Army and the battlefield. The physical programming includes a much broader range of physical readiness training modalities than has previously been described in doctrine. It includes programs such as Army Water Survival Training, Running Skill, and Pregnancy and Postpartum Physical Training. The program also includes nonphysical domains of readiness. Nutritional readiness emphasizes eating for performance in garrison and operational settings. Spiritual readiness is contextualized for all Soldiers and their leaders against the Army’s moral and ethical fabric without regard for specific religious beliefs or traditions. Mental readiness includes techniques to improve cognitive thinking skills, emotional control, and interpersonal skills. Sleep readiness directs Soldiers on the proper dosing and techniques for maintaining the health of their most important body part—the brain. P ERSONNEL The personnel element in the H2F System are those Soldiers, government service and contracted performance experts who are assigned to brigade-sized units. They have been validated by the Army as experts in H2F programs and know how to synchronize each domain to optimize Soldier readiness. These personnel form the commander’s H2F performance team—a team dedicated to performance readiness. They include individuals such as physical therapists, registered dietitians, occupational therapists, and strength and conditioning specialist and athletic trainers. These highly qualified experts work with the brigade chain of command, unit-level H2F trainers, master fitness trainer (MFT) instructors, and ACFT graders, as well as unit medical and installation personnel to develop and coordinate performance readiness.

The Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) System is the organizational structure required to implement H2F doctrine across the Army to optimize Soldier lethality.

Part Two explains the scientific basis of Soldier performance and how the H2F training program is designed. Training approaches described in Part Two address the “why” of H2F—the science and rationale behind the program. The principles discussed in Part Two form the approaches used in Part Three to build H2F program content for individual Soldiers and collective unit readiness and deployability.

This part describes the details of each of the five domains used to build the physical and nonphysical training programs of H2F. The domains are physical readiness, nutritional readiness, mental readiness, spiritual readiness, and sleep readiness. It also discusses the special conditioning requirements.

This part of the doctrine provides practical examples for leaders and H2F performance experts to coach Soldiers about the H2F programs.

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