Lower Back Injury Prevention The Navy Health and Physical Readiness Program supports the wellness and physical fitness of all Navy personnel. One element of the program is lower back injury prevention. Back injuries affect over 90 percent of all service members at some point in their careers. Over 50 percent of lost workdays experienced annually by the Navy are due to back injuries. Education programs delivered by physical therapy officers can result in a significant reduction in the incidence of back injuries. These programs contribute to a higher state of physical readiness to meet mission requirements. SUMMARY This  chapter  introduces  the  Navy’s  people programs that address quality of life issues. The main thrust of these programs is to help the Navy reach its goal of sustained combat readiness and capability using all its human potential. By design, the various programs give all Navy personnel the chance to develop their capabilities to the maximum.  In  turn,  this  maximum  development promotes sound leadership and strengthens the chain of command. The entire Navy benefits when people perform at their best. In  this  chapter,  you  studied  the  following programs:    The Personal Excellence Program—Encourages adherence  to  and  support  of  education, health/fitness,  citizenship,  and  personal excellence partnerships.    The   Family   Support   Program—Provides information,  resources,  and  services  to  support and enrich the lives of Navy families as well as single members.    The  Equal  Opportunity  Program—Guarantees impartial   treatment   for   all   and   eliminates unlawful   discrimination,   thereby   creating   a favorable  climate  for  maintaining  high  morale, discipline, and readiness.    The    Navy    Alcohol    and    Drug    Abuse Program—Stresses that alcohol and drug abuse costs   lost   labor   hours   and   unnecessary administrative   and   judicial   processing.   The abuse  of  alcohol  and  drugs  weakens  a  person’s combat  readiness,  safety,  discipline,  judgment, and loyalty. Zero tolerance stresses that there is no toleration of alcoholism and drug abuse in the Navy.    The Health and Physical Readiness Program—Every Navy member should strive to achieve  and  maintain  the  highest  standard  of physical   readiness   to   ensure   operational effectiveness in the Navy.    The  Military  Cash  Awards  Program—Provides for  payment  of  cash  incentives  based  on  the amount   of   money   saved   by   a   suggestion   to reduce  costs  and  improve  productivity  in  the Navy, Department of Defense, and other federal government operations.    The   Family   Housing   Program—Assures military   members   that   suitable   housing   is available   for   them   and   their   families. Construction   authority   for   military   housing occurs when the civilian housing market cannot meet military personnel needs. In addition to these programs, you read about two areas of special concern to the Navy—personal finance and  suicide  prevention.  You,  as  a  supervisor  or  petty officer,  must  be  knowledgeable  in  each  of  these  two areas   to   pass   on   information   and   help   your subordinates  and  shipmates  whenever  possible.  The Navy  provides  counselors  in  a  number  of  different programs to provide expert advice and assistance. 3-16 Q11. To maintain physical readiness, a person should exercise at least three times a week for (a) at least how many minutes total duration and (b) how many minutes of continuous aerobic activity? 1. (a) 60   (b) 40 2. (a) 50   (b) 30 3. (a) 40   (b) 20 4. (a) 30   (b) 25 Q12. The Navy’s goal is for what percentage of participation in stress management awareness programs? 1. 75% 2. 85% 3. 95% 4. 100% REVIEW QUESTIONS