education and prevention, lower back injury
prevention, and alcohol/drug abuse prevention.
Exercise, Physical Fitness, and Weight Control
Each command is required to ensure personnel
meet the Navys physical readiness standards. All
personnel must pass a semiannual Physical Readiness
Test (PRT) that consists of meeting height/weight or
body fat standards, doing a minimum amount of sit-ups
and push-ups, and running a 1.5 mile run within a set
time. Personnel who do not meet the Navys standards
or fail the PRT are required to participate in a command
remedial program. Command remedial programs are
coordinated by each commands fitness coordinator
and vary from command to command, but the basic
program is controlled through the Physical Readiness
and Personal Excellence Program, OPNAVINST
6110.1. Counseling and assistance centers and
residential rehabilitation centers are available to help
personnel conform to Navy PRT standards. Personnel
who continually fail the PRT may be ineligible for
promotion or reenlistment or administratively
separated from the Navy.
All personnel are responsible for maintaining an
acceptable state of physical readiness at all times.
Participation in a personal physical conditioning
program should occur at least three times a week. The
individual physical conditioning activities should be at
least 40 minutes in duration during which at least 20
minutes is continuous aerobic activity.
Commands provide physical fitness and nutrition
education through General Military Training (GMT).
GMT should stress healthy food choices, exercise, and
lifestyle changes.
Each base has a Morale, Welfare, and Recreation
(MWR) department that coordinates an intramural
sports program for all commands attached to the base.
The intramural sports program promotes morale and
helps personnel obtain and maintain an optimum
fitness level. All personnel are encouraged to
participate in their bases intramural sports program.
Nutrition Education
The primary goal of this program is to help Navy
personnel become more fit and healthy. We have Navy
remedial programs at the command level, counseling
and assistance centers, and naval drug rehabilitation
centers. These programs educate, counsel, and treat
individuals who do not meet standards.
A comprehensive plan guides Navy personnel
concerning proper nutrition. Improved training for
mess specialists, menu analysis, and increased food
options in chow halls are a part of the nutrition
education plan.
High Blood Pressure Identification
The Navys goal is for all active-duty personnel,
dependents, civilians, and retirees to be aware of the
risk factors associated with high blood pressure. The
Navy recognizes that high blood pressure is a health
problem; Navywide health fairs and some medical
sites provide mass screening, education, and referral.
Active-duty members receive a high blood pressure
screening as a regular part of all medical and dental
exams. Navy medical units will provide the control
(prescription/medication) and follow-up.
Stress Management
Stress is a real part of Navy life, and learning to
cope effectively is essential. The goal is for 100 percent
participation in stress awareness and education
programs for service members, dependents, and
civilians. Programs exist in medical units, host
commands, and FSCs.
Smoking Education and Prevention
The Surgeon General of the United States has
determined that the smoking of tobacco is the most
preventable cause of illness and death. The
Environmental Protection Agency states that
involuntary/passive smoking poses a public health risk
larger than the hazardous air pollutants from all
industrial emissions combined. Medical evidence
shows overwhelmingly that the use of tobacco
products adversely impacts on the health and readiness
of the entire Navy. Tobacco use impairs such critical
military skills as night vision and eye/hand
coordination. It increases susceptibility to disease. It
also impairs cardiorespiratory endurance, exercise
tolerance, and stamina. The Department of the Navy
(DON) supports the concept that each person has an
obligation to preserve ones health. Additionally, the
DON recognizes its responsibility to enact and enforce
appropriate environmental protective measures to
ensure a safe, healthy, and unpolluted work and living
environment.
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