Soldier fitness course includes mental health, personal finance and nutrition
The Minnesota Army National Guard requested educational assistance from Extension Family Development for their Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Course. The weeklong course identifies and changes lifestyle health behaviors and increases retention of soldiers who have weight and physical fitness challenges. Readiness for the National Guard’s state and federal mission begins with the readiness of individual soldiers. The course helps soldiers build physical, mental and spiritual readiness.
Five Extension educators provided virtual education via Zoom with 20 soldiers at the Jan. 3-9 course held in St. Peter:
- Cari Michaels and Chelsea Williams provided a one hour mental health & self care session at the beginning of the week and followed up with a half-hour ‘Mental well-being and reflection” at the end of the week.
- Kelly Kunkel and Mary Schroeder provided a one hour quick meal ideas session.
- Sara Croymans provided three one hour sessions on preparing for a financial disaster, making and managing a spending plan and building your credit history.
Participants provided positive feedback on the sessions in their daily After Action Reports including:
- “Good to hear about easy quick meals to cook up.“
- “Great [preparing finances for a disaster] class for soldiers who have just begun their careers within the first couple of years.”
- “Liked the mental well-being discussion throughout the class to relate with each other.”
With positive feedback from the course coordinators and participants we anticipate collaborating on future events.