Total force fitness: the military family fitness model.
The military lifestyle can create formidable challenges for military families. This article describes the Military Family Fitness Model (MFFM), a comprehensive model aimed at enhancing family fitness and resilience across the life span. This model is intended for use by Service members, their families, leaders, and health care providers but also has broader applications for all families. The MFFM has three core components: (1) family demands, (2) resources (including individual resources, family resources, and external resources), and (3) family outcomes (including related metrics). The MFFM proposes that resources from the individual, family, and external areas promote fitness, bolster resilience, and foster well-being for the family. The MFFM highlights each resource level for the purpose of improving family fitness and resilience over time. The MFFM both builds on existing family strengths and encourages the development of new family strengths through resource-acquiring behaviors. The purpose of this article is to (1) expand the military's Total Force Fitness (TFF) intent as it relates to families and (2) offer a family fitness model. This article will summarize relevant evidence, provide supportive theory, describe the model, and proffer metrics that support the dimensions of this model.
The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, 408 4th Avenue, Washington, DC 20319.
Stephen V
SV
Bowles
Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Human Performance Resource Center, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Liz Davenport
LD
Pollock
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury, 1335 East West Highway, 9th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Monique
M
Moore
Military Family Research Institute, Purdue University, Hanley Hall, Room 210, 1202 West State Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
Shelley MacDermid
SM
Wadsworth
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury, 1335 East West Highway, 9th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Colanda
C
Cato
Department of Defense, Military and Community Family Policy, Pentagon, Washington, DC 20301.
Judith Ward
JW
Dekle
Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, XueYuan Road No. 37, HaiDian District, Beijing, China.
Sonia Wei
SW
Meyer
Department of Psychology, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.
Amber
A
Shriver
Human Systems Integration Directorate, 711 HPW/HP, 2510 Fifth Street, Room W400E, Wright Patterson AFB, OH 45433.
Bill
B
Mueller
Department of Family Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.
Mark
M
Stephens
Department of Psychology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901.
Dustin A
DA
Seidler
Office of Religious Affairs (J1), The Pentagon, Room 2C856, Washington, DC 20318.
Joseph
J
Sheldon
Department of Veterans Affairs, Northern California Health Care System, 150 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553.
James
J
Picano
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury, 1335 East West Highway, 9th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Wanda
W
Finch
5th Brigade, U.S. Army Cadet Command, San Antonio, TX 78204.
Ricardo
R
Morales
The Eisenhower School, National Defense University, 408 4th Avenue, Washington, DC 20319.
Sean
S
Blochberger
Behavioral Health Services Division, United State Coast Guard, 2703 Martin King Jr Avenue, Southeast, Washington, DC 20593-7907.
Matthew E
ME
Kleiman
Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Bragg, NC 28310.
Daniel
D
Thompson
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health & Traumatic Brain Injury, 1335 East West Highway, 9th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Mark J
MJ
Bates
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D066067:Military Family / Q000523:psychology*; D008889:Military Personnel; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States