A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability
The military role and associated occupation-specific training contribute to a high musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) incidence and poor health burden. A fit Force is better prepared for achieving mission success, as well as being more resilient to operational physical and cognitive demands. Conversely,...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1541256/full |
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| author | Joanne L. Fallowfield Jace R. Drain Julia Carins Helen Kilding Emma Williams Ben Fisher Debra Hayhurst Alysia Gourlay Simon Olivotto Garrett Bullock |
| author_facet | Joanne L. Fallowfield Jace R. Drain Julia Carins Helen Kilding Emma Williams Ben Fisher Debra Hayhurst Alysia Gourlay Simon Olivotto Garrett Bullock |
| author_sort | Joanne L. Fallowfield |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The military role and associated occupation-specific training contribute to a high musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) incidence and poor health burden. A fit Force is better prepared for achieving mission success, as well as being more resilient to operational physical and cognitive demands. Conversely, MSKI and ill-health reduce Force readiness. Internationally, militaries have common workforce capacity and capability challenges, where more is being asked of fewer personnel. Unhealthy body composition, low aerobic fitness, poor movement control and poor health behaviours interact to adversely impact human performance. The military workplace—including leadership prioritisation and resource allocation—has generally not strategically managed and supported health and performance interventions to maximise people outcomes. Efforts have focused on the individual and their capabilities to address their ill-health or poor performance. Only through system-based thinking—adopting a Whole System Approach (WSA)—can effective evidence-based interventions to promote health and human performance be: holistically developed; successfully implemented at scale across geographically dispersed organisations to realise meaningful and enduring outcomes; and impacts measured and evaluated. This paper provides a synthesis of scientific and practice-based evidence to operationalise system-thinking in developing integrated WSA workplace interventions for military health and human performance, and measure effect and return on investment. Whilst militaries are recognising the need for a paradigm shift to realise the benefits of effective health and performance interventions, persuasive financial arguments could assist with overcoming large-organisation inertia. Moreover, system-based thinking—addressing individual and organisational factors—could maximise military health and performance, foster resilience and deliver operational effectiveness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8366c29d04c249c49c2e304d6b9409af |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj-art-8366c29d04c249c49c2e304d6b9409af2025-08-20T02:08:23ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2025-04-011610.3389/fphys.2025.15412561541256A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capabilityJoanne L. Fallowfield0Jace R. Drain1Julia Carins2Helen Kilding3Emma Williams4Ben Fisher5Debra Hayhurst6Alysia Gourlay7Simon Olivotto8Garrett Bullock9Institute of Naval Medicine, Ministry of Defence, Alverstoke, Hampshire, United KingdomJoint Health Command, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaSocial Marketing @ Griffith, Griffith Business School, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, AustraliaSports Performance Research Institute New Zealand, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New ZealandJoint Health Command, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaDefence Primary Healthcare, Headquarters Defence Medical Services, DMS Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, Staffordshire, United KingdomHealthcare Governance Lead, Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stanford Hall, Loughborough, Leicestershire, United KingdomJoint Health Command, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaJoint Health Command, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT, AustraliaDepartment of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United StatesThe military role and associated occupation-specific training contribute to a high musculoskeletal injury (MSKI) incidence and poor health burden. A fit Force is better prepared for achieving mission success, as well as being more resilient to operational physical and cognitive demands. Conversely, MSKI and ill-health reduce Force readiness. Internationally, militaries have common workforce capacity and capability challenges, where more is being asked of fewer personnel. Unhealthy body composition, low aerobic fitness, poor movement control and poor health behaviours interact to adversely impact human performance. The military workplace—including leadership prioritisation and resource allocation—has generally not strategically managed and supported health and performance interventions to maximise people outcomes. Efforts have focused on the individual and their capabilities to address their ill-health or poor performance. Only through system-based thinking—adopting a Whole System Approach (WSA)—can effective evidence-based interventions to promote health and human performance be: holistically developed; successfully implemented at scale across geographically dispersed organisations to realise meaningful and enduring outcomes; and impacts measured and evaluated. This paper provides a synthesis of scientific and practice-based evidence to operationalise system-thinking in developing integrated WSA workplace interventions for military health and human performance, and measure effect and return on investment. Whilst militaries are recognising the need for a paradigm shift to realise the benefits of effective health and performance interventions, persuasive financial arguments could assist with overcoming large-organisation inertia. Moreover, system-based thinking—addressing individual and organisational factors—could maximise military health and performance, foster resilience and deliver operational effectiveness.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1541256/fullmilitaryforce readinesshealth promotionworkplace interventionwhole system approach |
| spellingShingle | Joanne L. Fallowfield Jace R. Drain Julia Carins Helen Kilding Emma Williams Ben Fisher Debra Hayhurst Alysia Gourlay Simon Olivotto Garrett Bullock A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability Frontiers in Physiology military force readiness health promotion workplace intervention whole system approach |
| title | A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability |
| title_full | A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability |
| title_fullStr | A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability |
| title_full_unstemmed | A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability |
| title_short | A whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability |
| title_sort | whole system approach to promoting health and human performance in military settings as vital prerequisites for force readiness and operational capability |
| topic | military force readiness health promotion workplace intervention whole system approach |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2025.1541256/full |
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