PHILADELPHIA –
The Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support’s construction and equipment supply chain is contributing to military readiness through the Holistic Health and Fitness program, or H2F, by streamlining access to commercial fitness supplies that support physical and mental preparedness across the services.
Customers can receive everything from astroturf to ice baths directly from vendors through DLA’s long-term Army Combat Fitness Test contract.
“H2F allows our customers to order commercial, non-National Stock Numbered, fitness-related supplies via customer direct-delivery orders,” contracting officer Matthew Eckenrode said, adding that vendors can fulfill a wide range of fitness needs.
Although initially created to support warfighters, any federal agency can take advantage of this DLA contract.
Origins
In 2020, the Army began modernizing its approach to individual readiness and fitness, modeling its new program after the Special Forces and professional and collegiate athletic training programs.
The goal is to maximize individual performance on and off the battlefield by providing soldiers with the proper resources and education regarding their health and fitness. The H2F program focuses on five readiness domains: physical, mental, nutrition, sleep and spiritual.
“H2F is helping us change the culture of fitness in the United States Army. We’ve seen improvements to soldier readiness and overall health because of H2F,” Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer said on the H2F website.
This aligns with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s push to improve physical fitness, body composition and grooming throughout the military branches. In a March 12 news release, Hegseth spoke about the importance of having a fit and healthy fighting force.
“High standards are what made the United States military the greatest fighting force on the planet. The strength of our military is our unity and our shared purpose,” he said. “We must remain vigilant in maintaining the standards that enable the men and women of our military to protect the American people and our homeland as the world’s most lethal and effective fighting force.”
Built for Warfighters
Launched in June 2024, DLA’s H2F program falls under the already established ACFT contract, which supports the Army’s annual physical fitness testing. Eckenrode said the program is a perfect fit for the construction and equipment supply chain.
“The DLA H2F Program came to be from the C&E director of supplier operations, Tom Page,” Eckenrode said. “He saw that our warfighter customers have a critical need to remain in top physical and mental condition. After careful consideration, it was determined that C&E would be best suited to run a program dedicated to health and wellness.”
More than 30 orders have been processed for customers worldwide since August 2024. The vendor stays in contact with customers and DLA Troop Support throughout the process and until delivery.
Eckenrode said anything with a part number that falls under the f itness umbrella is available, from saunas and treadmills to weights and gym flooring. Customers can also customize equipment by adding logos, crests or other unique branding to items.
How It Works
“We designed the process to be as easy as possible for customers,” said Kate Turner, chief of construction and equipment’s customer operations branch. “The customer simply sends a request for quote. From there, we confirm scope, connect the customer to the vendor, a quote is issued, funding is provided to DLA, the award is made, and the vendor delivers the product.”
The vendor uses its buying power and contracts to give the customer competitive prices, Eckenrode added.
“Working with the vendor, they get better pricing than is commercially available,” he said. “All the negotiations and contracting work is done beforehand, so the customer can say this is what I want and here is the money for it.”
A Resounding “Yes”
Customers have given positive feedback.
“Our experience ordering with the vendor and the DLA H2F contract was extremely easy and very professional,” said Susanne Koch Craig, holistic health and fitness director for the Army’s 17th Field Artillery Brigade. “Within just a few months, we had a high-quality performance training floor installed in our facility. We got the product we wanted within our price range.”
Editor’s Note: For more information on the program or to request a price quote, email trpspt_h2fitness@dla.mil.