Recommended Wellness Recommendations:
* Command Policy. Establish a command policy or memorandum to promote a culture of health and wellness at your worksite. Ensure your subordinate leaders know this is a priority for you.
* Establish a healthy nutrition environment. Motivate employees to choose healthier snacks through educational awareness and labeling. Consider implementing the "Go for Green" program in your dining facilities. Promote healthy "treats" on desks (such as nuts, fruits, popcorn, etc.). Engage with your local AAFES/NEX/MCX or MWR leadership on providing healthy options in vending machines. Promote clean inviting food storage/eating areas (i.e. refrigerators, microwaves, break rooms).
* Promote sleep as a critical component to healthy living. Communicate the benefits of adequate sleep during a variety of meetings at all levels of the work force. Employees who get adequate sleep perform at a higher level than those that do not. Adequate sleep reduces injury, improves morale, and enhances job performance.
* Create a culture that supports activity throughout the day. Encourage walking or standing meetings, standing work stations, and employees taking short activity breaks. Implement bike to work days where and when appropriate. Sponsor organizational activity days built around physical fitness. Initiate a command-sponsored civilian fitness program (CFP) through a healthy worksite memorandum or policy. One strategy is to develop a civilian enrollment form maintained by the employee, first-line supervisor, and an organizational site for the documents. Contact APHC under the "Health Promotion Resources" for examples.
Department of the Army Civilian Fitness and Health Promotion Program
* Army Directive 2021-03 
establishes policy for the Department of the Army Civilian Fitness and Health Promotion Program. This program is designed to encourage Army Civilians to engage in a regular regimen of exercise. Positive health habits enhance the health and quality of life of the civilians, while increasing organizational wellness and mission productivity.
* Three hours per week excused absence is authorized to participate in physical exercise
* Program must include exercise and nutritional education.
* Participation requires supervisor's approval.
* Supervisors may adjust employee work schedules (flex hours) to permit training and exercise where possible and when it is consistent with the workload and mission.
CFP Frequently Asked Questions
1) What Army Regulation covers establishing a Civilian Fitness Program (CFP)? Civilian fitness programs are governed in the Army by AR 600-63, Army Health Promotion, chapter 5-2c . Federal policies, DODD 1010.10 Health Promotion and Disease/Injury Prevention and the Federal Employee Health Program provide guidance and support the implementation of wellness and fitness programs for civilians.
2) Where do I begin? Gaining command support through a written policy memorandum is the initial step to be accomplished. Once this has been done, a community assessment of your population should be completed to determine the number of staff available and interested in participating. If your installation has an Army Wellness Center, they can partner to help provide fitness assessments. Alternatively, the fitness center staff can be engaged to help provide community wide assessments to kick off the program.
3) How long can a civilian employee stay on the program? The Army allows a government Civilian to participate.
4) Can my supervisor refuse my request to participate in a CFP? Yes, participation requires supervisor approval. Participation should not impede or reduce accomplishment of the mission of the organization.
5) Do I have to be overweight or have a medical issue in order to participate? Participation is NOT dependent upon having a medical or weight control issue. However, if an individual has a history of a medical condition, a medical screening is required to ensure that anyone having an existing medical condition that would put them at risk has a physician approval before participating. If the health history and written health survey indicate no health risks are present, then the person is not required to have a physical before participating. Appropriate health care provider guidance should be obtained before beginning any fitness program.
Commander's Readiness and Resilience Council (CR2C)
The Commander's Readiness and Resilience Council
(CR2C) supports the health and resiliency of our Soldiers, Family Members, and
Civilians on the installation and in tactical environments. The CR2C can help facilitate efforts for planning, implementing, and evaluating civilian fitness programs. The chair of the Physical Fitness Working Group of the CR2C can help to ensure the status, results, and impacts of the CFP are reported at the quarterly briefings. The Health Promotion Representative will coordinate with the Physical Fitness Working Group to ensure execution in accordance with published standards; but is not a manager of any specific health promotion program.
Resources to help you get started...
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Work-Life Health and Wellness The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is committed to helping Federal agencies integrate prevention strategies into their workplace. Worksite health and wellness programs help employees modify their lifestyles and move toward an optimal state of wellness. Federal agencies are encouraged to develop and sustain programs that address the current and future needs of their employees to produce the healthiest possible workforce.
OPM Employee Health Services Manual, Chapter 2: Providing Physical Fitness Programs
Federal Occupational Health Wellness/Fitness Federal Occupational Health provides the facilities, programming and support to design and implement a Wellness/Fitness program to meet the specific needs of each agency and its employees unique health and wellness interests. All FEHB health plans cover flu shots at no cost to members.
CDC Workplace Health Promotion The use of effective workplace programs and policies can reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for American workers. Learn more about workplace health promotion and how to design, implement, and evaluate effective workplace health programs.
