The U.S. Army’s new “Stronger People are HARDER to KILL!” campaign marks a shift towards holistic health and fitness, emphasizing combat readiness through improved physical and mental well-being.
If this is the U.S. Army under the command of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump, we are so back.
At a Glance
- Army’s new H2F program focuses on holistic health and fitness to enhance combat effectiveness
- Congress directs Army to increase fitness standards for combat-arms jobs
- New Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) replaces decades-old Army Physical Fitness Test
- Concerns raised about ACFT’s impact on women’s participation in combat roles
- H2F aims to optimize performance, prevent injuries, and improve overall soldier readiness
Army’s Holistic Approach to Fitness
The U.S. Army has launched a new advertisement campaign, “Stronger People are HARDER to KILL!”, featuring SFC Scott Dalrymple demonstrating weightlifting. This campaign is part of the broader Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program, which aims to foster a culture of fitness that aligns with enhancing soldiers’ combat effectiveness through a comprehensive understanding of health.
The H2F program represents a significant shift in the Army’s approach to soldier readiness, focusing on physical, cognitive, spiritual, nutritional, and emotional health. This comprehensive initiative includes updates across doctrine, organizations, training, materiel, leader development, personnel, facilities, and policy.
Congress is directing the Army to increase fitness standards for combat-arms jobs through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA mandates that the Army enhance the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) standards for ground troops, including infantry, cavalry scouts, and Special Forces, within 18 months of the bill’s enactment.
“H2F represents a cultural change for ‘My Squad.’ Soldiers must optimize physical, nutritional, sleep, spiritual and mental readiness in order to master the fundamentals of being a soldier,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston said.
The ACFT has been a contentious issue since its introduction, with lawmakers expressing skepticism and the test becoming a political topic. The test is seen as easy to pass but challenging to achieve top scores, requiring diverse physical abilities.
Challenges and Controversies
While the Army aims to improve overall soldier readiness, the implementation of the ACFT has not been without controversy. The test has led to increased failure rates for women compared to the previous Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), while men’s pass rates remain high.
Critics argue that the current ACFT structure may reinforce biases against women in combat roles, potentially limiting their participation and undermining national security. Some propose a comprehensive fitness test that incorporates endurance, agility, and flexibility, with gender-specific assessments for physical fitness and gender-neutral evaluations for combat tasks.
Despite the challenges, the Army continues to evolve its fitness standards and programs. The ACFT is expected to undergo further changes based on feedback and research to better meet Army needs and improve combat readiness. Additionally, the Army is testing a new six-event Army Combat Readiness Test (ACRT) to better measure a soldier’s combat readiness.
As the Army moves forward with its holistic approach to health and fitness, it aims to create stronger, more resilient soldiers capable of meeting the demands of modern warfare while addressing the concerns and needs of all service members.
