MHAFB selected for DOD assessment

Published April 18, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Shane M. Phipps
366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho -- MHAFB has been selected to undergo an assessment of its ability to provide and encourage healthy lifestyles.

As part of the Department Of Defense's Operation Live Well, the Healthy Base Initiative aims to not only implement a healthier atmosphere on MHAFB, but share any efficient and established practices amongst other installations.

According to DOD officials, the goal is to increase the health and wellness of the total force -- The Healthy Base Initiative will assess 13 installations to develop a program for service members, their families and civilians to take charge of their health through nutrition and fitness.

One of the factors the assessment team will look into will be the caliber of easily accessible food on base.

"Really the Healthy Base Initiative came about because of some unhealthy things we tend to do on military installations," said Mark Tschampl, 366th Aerospace Medicine Squadron director of the Health and Wellness Center. "For example, there really aren't a lot of healthy places to eat on base. That's one identified issue within the military environment, and they believe it is one of the reasons our military force is getting heavier and heavier to the point they're worried it will affect our ability to accomplish the mission."

Tschampl explained possible solutions for dietary concerns would likely be an increase in healthier alternatives.

"The other things they want to look at are just fostering as physically active an environment as possible," said Tschampl. "Basically trying to implement some improvements or add any new initiatives that are out there, both in the civilian and military world, that might help bolster a more-active force."

For MHAFB, the evaluation will begin in early May. The installation was selected for various reasons, but wing leadership's emphasis on physical fitness was a major factor.

"The primary criteria for selecting the installations included commanders who are committed to a healthy lifestyle, sites that have places to work out and places to eat," explained Charles E. Milam, acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for military community and family policy. Milam added that eight of the sites have on-base schools, and the assessments will include each school's fitness and lunch programs.

The assessment is a unique opportunity for MHAFB to not only help improve the Air Force but the entire DOD. MHAFB was one of only 13 DOD installations selected for the assessment.

"It's about building a more fitness-and health-conscious culture within the military," said Tschampl. "Ultimately, it really does affect the mission and we would like to be part of the solution."

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