![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Shuttle-Run.jpg.jpg\")
While working with injured cadets, our coach discovered significant patterns, such as running overuse injuries. She taught cadets proper stretching and recovery strategies they could share with their own soldiers after commissioning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unit test scores increased. A cadet set a new school fitness-test record. Nearly every cadet posted a max score in all four parts of the OPAT. On a more personal level, Coach Natalie\u2019s firsthand experience working with cadets offered insight into military training and the importance of fitness in service \u2014 something other civilian trainers could learn and pass on to their university and other civilian communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking a nod from collegiate athletics, the U.S. military \u2014 primarily within the various special operations communities \u2014 has incorporated trainers into their own physical fitness regimens. However, the very real benefits derived from this initiative are not universally enjoyed across the broader U.S. military footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While most active-duty units do not have ready access to funds to pay a certified sports trainer, there are other solutions outside of monetary payment to hire a coach. Most military bases are located near colleges or universities with sports-related degrees like sports science, health and fitness, and kinesiology. These undergraduate or graduate students normally require a hands-on internship of 450-540 hours as part of their degree requirements. Coach Natalie, for example, completed 450 hours in pursuit of her sports science degree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Units located far from a college might contact local area gyms or fitness centers for volunteer instructors willing to share their time and knowledge. A third option is for leaders to look within their own formations for certified fitness instructors and include them in their own PRT program planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This experience has been enlightening for both the cadre and its coach, and opened a new door within the well-being and performance of our service members. The next step is to help make this collaboration more prevalent throughout all units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lt. Col. Christopher J. Heatherly, a former professor of military science at Washington State University, is the deputy intelligence officer for operations, plans and training at U.S. Army Europe Headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany. His opinions do not reflect those of the Army, Defense Department or any government agency.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An Army officer on how his ROTC unit improved its test scores, and all-around health, with a new civilian addition … and how your unit should consider following suit.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":37409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":73,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[73,101,69,26,13,14],"tags":[],"coauthors":[4991],"class_list":["post-16244","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","category-daily-news-roundup","category-military-fitness","category-newsletters","category-off-duty","category-opinion"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"BUFZDI7IW5HXTF7DHUEUCGSABE","arc_canonical_url":"\/opinion\/commentary\/2017\/11\/14\/commentary-units-should-tap-sports-trainers-for-fitness-assist\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Coach-Natalie-Reetz.jpg.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LTC-Chris-Heatherly-web.jpg.jpg\")