Reach Your Health Goals with the Armed Forces Wellness Center!
Did you know that as an active-duty service member, dependent, or veteran, you can get free health and wellness services that are tailored to your needs?
If you live on or near a military base, you likely have access to the Armed Forces Wellness Center (AFWC)! The AFWC began in 2008 as an Army program but is now available to all branches.
My journey of working with the military community started at the AFWC at Fort Liberty, where I worked as a Health Educator.
The AFWC is a great resource for anyone looking to improve their overall wellness, reach new health goals, or learn more about developing healthy eating habits or how to manage stress levels.
The AFWC’s main objective is to provide services that reduce the risk of injury, improve performance, and increase the self-efficacy of clients to develop and maintain healthy habits and behaviors.
The AFWC takes a holistic approach to health and wellness, offering a variety of services to promote both physical and mental health. Each service is geared towards primary prevention, to stop illness and injury before they begin.
The AFWC consists of Core Programs, each of which are made up of specific services.
The Core Programs and services are:
- Health Assessment Review: Risk Stratification, Wellness Questionnaires, and Biometric Screening
- Physical Fitness: Exercise Testing and Exercise Prescription
- Healthy Nutrition: Metabolic Testing, Weight Management, and Healthy Nutrition Education
- Stress Management: Stress Management Education and Biofeedback
- General Wellness Education: Wellness Coaching, and education on Healthy Lifestyle Habits (including education on Tobacco Cessation) and Healthy Sleep Habits.
The services provided through the AFWC are evidence-based and are designed to improve and maintain the overall health, performance, and readiness of the Armed Forces.
Each of these services are provided by trained Health Educators, who conduct metabolic testing, biofeedback, body composition testing, exercise testing, and teach classes on multiple health topics.
AFWCs are part of the Comprehensive Care Plan and the Patient Centered Medical Home. To be seen at the AFWC, individuals can self-refer, be referred by their healthcare provider, or be referred by their unit (for those on active duty).
While walk-ins are accepted, appointments are encouraged so that Health Educators can provide tailored services that best meet the needs of the client.
There are AFWC locations in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Alaska, Georgia, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. OCONUS locations include Germany, Italy, and Japan.
If you’re interested in learning more about the services that AFWC provides, you can find more information here.
If you’d like to get started or continue your own health journey, you can make a free appointment at your local office. Speaking from personal experience, the AFWC staff are happy to work with you to help you reach your health and wellness goals!
For more information, check out this link.
*For more from Heather, check out her M:M Expert Page.
0 Comments