Create a USPHS PT uniform.
Heard this is in the works. Understandably, with everything else going on it is not a top priority. Having a PT uniform (and requiring officers to own one) may encourage officers to exercise regularly. It could be as simple as stamping USPHS on the shirts and shorts in the spot where the word "NAVY" is usually placed.
Comments (4)
I agree. As we put more and more PHS Officers with the DOD I think it is imperative that we maintain high physical fitness levels and more importantly maintaining a fit physique and looking good in the Army. This is very important to DOD leadership. The Army conducts physical training daily and it would make a huge positive impression if PHS Officers wore their PT uniforms and conducted PT along side their DOD counterparts. I know it sounds weird, but physical fitness if VERY important to the DOD and initial impressions and judgements are made simply by how you look and wear your uniform.
I blogged about maintaining fitness last year:
http://www.phschat.com/forums/content.php?120-Fitness-the-Corps-mission-APFT-and-President-s-Challenge
I think a PT uniform is definately a required first step toward developing a unit fitness mentality.
I found this PT uniform mention on CCMIS, but the target completion date keeps getting pushed back:
http://dcp.psc.gov/eccis/CCISTopics.aspx?name=Physical Training Uniform
This would be an easy fix. Use the PHS black BDU shirt and find a pair of shorts to match. The sweats can be done easy with a little thought. Heck all high schools have "uniforms" made for all there teams and have a lot fewer people than the corps. The trick is finding the color combination to use.