4.) Being Paid to Be Fit
Let’s be honest, not everyone wants to take off work to go to the gym. But in the military, the emphasis on fitness is necessary and palpable. Subjectively, you have to look professional in uniform; objectively, you must pass regular fitness exams which include performing a minimum number of certain exercises in proper form, plus maintaining a minimum run time and waist measurement.
All that takes a long-term dedication to regular exercise. To ensure personnel are staying in shape, most units offer group physical training sessions and/or offer duty time (when the mission allows) for folks to hit the gym.
Most civilian jobs aren’t going to do this! As a result, many Veterans let their personal fitness slide. Weight is gained, muscle tone is lost, and all too soon your former fitness regiment is a faded memory.
How to cope: It’s back on you to manage your own exercise schedule now. Your civilian employer may not care a bit, but they shouldn’t have to. Personal fitness is an individual commitment. It’s for our own sake, so we’ll be healthier for ourselves and our loved ones.
The military looks after us when we’re in. Once we’re out, we have to look after ourselves! So hold yourself accountable and stay active!
