Insights from AUSA Hot Topic: Holistic health and the resilient Soldier
On March 5, I had the opportunity to join the AUSA Hot Topic event focused on Holistic Health and the Resilient Soldier in Arlington, Virginia. Alongside Col. Brian Koyn, 82nd Airborne Division chaplain, and Brig. Gen. Deidre Teyhen, Defense Health Network National Capital Region director, our panel discussed how the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program can improve Soldier readiness and resilience. From my civilian background in human performance, education, and data analytics, I shared thoughts on how we can build both resilience and robustness in our Soldiers—and why these qualities matter in combat. Watch the whole discussion here: Resilience: A core element of readiness Resilience is the ability to recover from setbacks. In human performance, it means staying calm under pressure, adapting to challenges, and bouncing back quickly. For the Army, resilience is more than just a buzzword—it’s a proven way to keep Soldiers strong in tough situations. Robustness: More than just recovery While resilience is about recovering after stress, robustness is about staying strong during stress. A robust Soldier can maintain focus, decision-making, and performance through difficult conditions. This connects to the idea of being “anti-fragile”—getting stronger, not just surviving, under pressure. The H2F framework supports this by combining physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, and spiritual training. This integrated approach helps Soldiers better manage stress and stay ready, even in high-pressure environments. Turning physical training into mental toughness Physical training isn’t just for fitness—it’s a daily chance to build mental strength, decision-making under fatigue, and team cohesion. As Teyhen said: PT is where the warrior spirit gets built. Well-planned training sessions can help Soldiers learn how to regulate their bodies and minds, improve self-awareness, and perform when it counts. These daily opportunities shape performance far beyond the gym. Up next In the AUSA Hot Topic blog series, I’ll share more insights from the panel, including the importance of fatigue management, the power of knowledge sharing, and how data and AI can support—not distract from—what really matters. Read more Chris Frankel holds a PhD in Health Exercise Sports Science with more than 30 years of experience in the field: from research and teaching at the university-level, to working in fitness training and education with the U.S. military, pro- and college-sports programs. He is the Head of Human Performance Innovation at BeaverFit USA. Share this… FacebookFacebook Save Twitter