The Canadian Armed Forces Physical Performance Strategy: all about BALANCE

Backgrounder

April 23, 2019 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Building on many previous efforts to improve health and physical fitness in the CAF, the Physical Performance Strategy represents a significant evolution in its approach, including:

  • A decentralised component to its execution, wherein base and wing-level steering committees are equipped with best practices in order to take on initiatives at the local level.
  • An understanding of the interplay between individual responsibility and organisational accountability in the adoption and maintenance of the P4 behaviours.
  • An implementation framework that takes into account behavioural determinants at the individual, interpersonal, base/wing/unit, command and CAF-wide levels.
  • A detailed strategy-to-action plan supported by a robust reporting and evaluation framework.

Four performance behaviours

The aim was to have military members achieve a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Research and analysis identified four key behaviours to be targeted in an integrated and holistic approach to improving the overall physical performance of members of the Canadian Armed Forces.These are: physical activity, performance nutrition, sleep/rest, and injury prevention.

Implementation

The strategy will be implemented in the Canadian Armed Forces from the top down, with leadership focussing on governance, training, education, and awareness, and developing and strengthening programs and services that support the four performance behaviours. Those at the command-level will motivate and act as champions, and hold both leaders underneath them and individuals accountable. They will be reinforcing the national priorities, highlighting command-specific issues and priorities, and identifying challenges and how changes will be implemented into operations. At the local level, steering committees will be established to gather information and data from studies about the performance behaviours, as well as disseminating infographics on best practices to promote health and fitness in the workplace in their communities and bases.

Desired outcomes

The Canadian Armed Forces has a legal obligation to ensure the operational fitness of  their military members, as well as a moral duty to support military member’s general health and wellbeing throughout their careers. The Canadian Armed Forces is fully committed to a culture of physical fitness and wellness, where soldiers, sailors, airwomen and airmen take their wellbeing seriously and proactively. All Canadian Armed Forces leaders are expected to create conditions that optimize physical performance, as well as model behaviour as outlined in this strategy. It is each member’s responsibility to maintain a reasonable level of fitness, and leadership’s responsibility to encourage, support, and ultimately, ensure that their subordinates are remaining physically fit.

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Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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