Armed Force Wellness Center
Armed Force Wellness Centers (AFWC) provide standardized primary prevention programs and services designed to build and sustain good health and improve the overall healthy lifestyles of soldiers, reservists, retirees, civilians, contractors and their family members (unfortunately our services are not open to local nationals). There are numerous Armed Force Armed Forces Wellness Centers located at garrisons around the world from Japan to Germany, so your test results follow you wherever you go to ensure continuity of care and to stay on track of your goals.
The Armed Forces Wellness Center provides body composition, metabolic, and VO2 submaximal testing with accompanying fitness test, biofeedback sessions, sleep, stress, tobacco, and general nutrition education, individual and group health coaching, and unit testing/education. All appointments include examination of current health habits, analysis of risk factors, exploration of personal health/wellness goals, and an assessment of obstacles that may get in the way of consistent health habits.
Access to care: Referrals can be self-directed or by a physician. Body Composition walk-in hours are available for return clients on select Fridays (please call for details)
Appointments are encouraged to ensure staff availability and minimal wait times.
Armed Forces Wellness Center Services
Body composition analysis
AFWCs use various methods to determine body composition including the BOD POD®, ultrasound, bioelectrical impedance, or skinfold calipers. Body composition goes beyond the number seen on a scale and determines if weight comes from fat or fat-free mass. Fat-free mass includes everything the body is made of that is not fat, such as muscle and bone. There is a strong correlation between high body fat percentage and increased risk for diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Health Educators use exercise test results as a planning tool for exercise prescription and motivation to assist clients in establishing and meeting reasonable physical fitness and health goals.
In conjunction with the body composition test, we recommend participating in the metabolic test to track daily calorie expenditure for anyone wishing to start a weight management program.
Metabolic testing:
This test is done either under a sealed canopy or a face mask and measures for 15 minutes the amount of expired oxygen after each breath and since we know that calories require oxygen to burn, we are able to derive a calorie burn at rest number for a 24 hour period by analyzing the amount of oxygen expired during this 15 minute window. It will tell us if your resting metabolism is fast, normal, or slow. In addition to learning your resting metabolic rate and based on your self-reported lifestyle and exercise activity we derive a daily caloric need that can be adjusted based on your weight management goals.
VO2 Fitness Testing:
VO2 Sub-Max Testing, also known as oxygen uptake testing, measures the rate at which you consume oxygen in milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute of exercise (or ml/Kg/min). This test is the ultimate measure of cardiovascular fitness and offers a wealth of information including overall cardiovascular fitness level, personal target heart rate zones, how many calories you burn in these zones, your anaerobic threshold, and how well your body recovers after exercise. The second part of the VO2 submaximal fit test is completed using state of the art equipment to assess flexibility, and muscular strength. In conjunction with fitness testing, you will receive a comprehensive report that shows current fitness levels as well as coaching on how to meet specific goals. We recommend that you repeat the VO2 fitness test every 90 days.
Healthy Nutrition:
The more you know the more you can navigate through unhealthy food choices. The Army Wellness Center provides education in basic nutrition, reading labels, quick meals, weight management, and understanding your metabolism.
Stress management education:
Stress and strong emotions can cause or worsen health problems like heart disease, hypertension, headaches, stroke, depression, and sleep disorders. AWC services include biofeedback and education in stress relief techniques, and coping skills. Biofeedback is a relaxation technique used to teach clients to control functions like heart rate to reduce stress and build resilience. Intern clients can learn to control their mind and bodies reaction to stress. In addition this can be used to help clients learn specific relaxation techniques to prepare the mind and body for sleep.
AFWCs use a state-of-the art computerized stress relief system called emWave®. This non-invasive system helps clients learn how to control their heart rhythm pattern.
Sleep Management:
Sleep education services include general information about healthy sleep habits, impact of sleep on health and wellbeing, tools, tips and positive action steps to improve sleep. AFWC's Sleep Education class covers the basics of healthy sleep hygiene and walks clients through a self-assessment process to increase awareness of their own sleep habits. The class provides tools for sleep tracking and highlights the latest technology to assist with healthy sleep habits. Clients will craft healthy sleep goals and create a basic sleep plan to improve both quantity and quality of sleep. ACSM recommends 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults.
Unit Level Health Briefings and Assessments:
Any member of the Armed Forces Wellness Center staff can provide unit level health briefings on a variety of health/preventative medicine topics to include self-care, nutrition, fitness, blood pressure, cholesterol, relaxation and more. Units can also come into the Wellness Center for complete assessments.
Wellness Coaching:
Armed Forces Wellness Center Health Educators work closely with you to help set realistic actionable goals and specific targeted education and assessments to help you reach health and wellness goals and needs.
The best part is... AFWC services don’t cost you anything!
These services would cost you approximately $3,000 at a fitness center or civilian provider, so take advantage and schedule an appointment with your local Army Wellness Center today!