Case Study: Developing an Overweight Program

Developing an Overweight Program Throughout history, the united States Army has had a proud heritage and reputation of being the greatest fighting force in the world. It has upheld this status by maintaining the physical fitness and appearance of its soldiers. Every soldier is individually responsible for his or her overall fitness and body fat percentage. In addition to this, every unit appoints a Weight Control Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) to ensure that established weight and body fat standards are adhered to and followed.It Is the sole responsibility of the Weight Control NCO to Identify soldiers tot meeting the standards and develop a program in order to assists those soldiers In meeting the standards. If a unit's Weight Control NCO successfully develops and implements an effective program, the unit will have a high percentage of physically fit soldiers, who can be mission ready at all times.

Background Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, currently has 25 soldiers, who are overweight and do not meet the body fat standards.In light of this problem, First Sergeant (1 SO) Jeffery Clark quickly appoints Staff Sergeant (ASS) David Upton as the company's new Weight Control NCO and charges ASS Upton with the ask of developing a program to solve the overweight problem In the company. To accomplish his task, ASS Upton will have to develop a program that incorporates periodic weigh-ins, body fat percentage tests (also known as tape tests), extra physical fitness training, counseling, and nutrition advice for the 25 overweight soldiers. Key Problems When he begins developing a successful overweight program for an Army unit, ASS Upton may encounter several problems.Although most of these problems will be small and easy to solve, there are four key problems that can prove to be difficult o handle if not dealt with efficiently. These problems are finding time, motivating overweight soldiers, providing effective extra physical fleetness, and providing nutritional advice.

Finding Time The first key problem In developing a successful overweight program Is finding time to gather soldiers to conduct periodic weigh-ins, tape tests, extra physical fitness training, counseling, and nutrition advice.Due to mission requirements and the possibility of these soldiers being spread throughout the unit, it will be difficult to get them together In the same place and at the same time. Motivating Overweight Soldiers The second key problem in developing a successful overweight program Is motivating overweight soldiers. Because the majority of overweight soldiers tend to lazy, it can be quite difficult to motivate them to participate in the overweight program and take it seriously, especially when regarding extra physical fitness training.Providing Effective Extra Physical Fitness The third key problem In developing a successful overweight program Is providing effective extra physical fitness for the overweight soldiers. Because most units in the plan to conduct extra physical fitness.

Providing Nutritional Advice The final key problem in developing a successful overweight program is providing nutritional advice. There are not an abundance of nutritional experts in the United States Army, and because of this fact, it can be almost impossible for a unit's Weight Control NCO to provide nutritional advice for overweight soldiers on how to maintain their diet.Alternatives With the above-mentioned key problems of finding time, motivating overweight soldiers, providing effective extra physical fitness, and providing nutritional advice, there are several possible ways ASS Upton can successfully solve each of them. Finding Time There are two possible solutions for ASS Upton to make use when regarding finding time to gather soldiers to conduct periodic weigh-ins, tape tests, extra physical fitness training, counseling, and nutrition advice.The first solution is for ASS Upton to coordinate with each individual soldier and his or her supervisor to determine the best time for the soldier to be available to conduct these tasks. The second solution is for ASS Upton to ask 1 SO Clark and the Company Commander to mandate a specific place and time for the overweight soldiers to meet with ASS Upton to accomplish each individual task.

Motivating Overweight Soldiers When it comes to motivating overweight soldiers, there are three possible solutions for ASS Upton to make use of.First, ASS Upton can verbally counsel all 25 soldiers at one time to let them know the repercussions of not meeting the weight requirements and remaining on the overweight program. Second, ASS Upton with the assistance of each soldier's supervisor can counsel each soldier individually about the repercussions of not meeting the weight requirements and remaining on the overweight program in writing. Finally, ASS Upton can ask SIS Clark or the Company Commander to counsel each soldier individually or as a group on the repercussions of not meeting the weight requirements and remaining on the overweight program.

Providing Effective Extra Physical Fitness As stated before, most units in the Army conduct physical fitness daily, but there are still three possible solutions to problem of providing effective extra physical fitness. First, ASS Upton can research in the appropriate manuals on what physical activities are best for overweight soldiers and then develop a plan for extra physical tenets based on his research. Second, ASS Upton can coordinate with each soldier's supervisor to determine what each soldier is already doing for physical fitness every day.Then with the assistance of the company's Master Fitness NCO, he can develop a detailed plan on exactly what each soldier will be doing for his or her extra physical fitness training. Finally, because physical fitness is an individual responsibility, ASS Upton can simply inform the overweight soldiers that they are required to conduct extra physical fitness and leave it up to them whether or not they do it.

Providing Nutritional Advice When it comes to the problem of providing nutritional advice to overweight soldiers, there are two possible solutions.First, ASS Upton can talk with the company's medical personnel to coordinate and schedule times for each overweight soldier to talk with a licensed nutritionist or dietician in order for him or her to nutrition and healthy diets. Then, he can counsel each overweight soldier on the fundamentals of eating a healthy diet. Proposed Solution After weighing the key problems and their possible solutions, ASS Upton should evolve his overweight program by following these steps.

Step One First, ASS Upton should ask 1 SO Clark and the Company Commander to mandate a specific place and time for the overweight soldiers to meet with ASS Upton to accomplish each individual task. He should do periodic weigh-ins and tape tests at least once a month to track the progress of and each overweight soldier. Next, he should counsel each soldier on their progress immediately after the periodic weigh- ins and tape tests. Also, he should conduct extra physical fitness training with all 25 overweight soldiers two to three times per week depending on their already prescribed daily physical fitness sessions.After all, ASS Upton does not want to wear out these soldiers by overworking them.

Step Two Second, ASS Upton should counsel each soldier individually about the overweight program in writing with the assistance of each soldier's supervisor. This will provide a record of him informing each soldier on his or her situation without involving 1 SO Clark or the Company Commander. Step Three Third, ASS Upton should coordinate with each soldier's supervisor to determine hat each soldier is already doing for physical fitness daily.Then with the assistance of the company's Master Fitness NCO, develop a detailed plan on exactly what each soldier will be doing for his or her extra physical fitness training. This will ensure that each overweight soldier is conducting effective extra physical fitness sessions and not getting worn out by being overworked.

Step Four Finally, ASS Upton should talk with the company's medical personnel to coordinate and schedule times for each overweight soldier to talk with a licensed nutritionist or dietician in order for him or her to develop a plan to eat healthier.