It is the responsibility of each service member to:

Maintain a lifestyle that promotes optimal health and physical readiness and develop a regular, year–round, fitness program of aerobic, flexibility, and muscular strength and endurance exercises using resource information and the assistance of the Command Fitness Coordinator (CFC) and recreational services departments.

This guide has been prepared to assist you in your efforts to gain or maintain a high level of physical fitness by combining sound nutritional and physical fitness practices. An overview of basic nutrition and physical fitness programs including aerobic conditioning and strength training are provided.

Information for designing exercise programs for individuals at various levels of physical fitness is provided in this guide. Because deployment is part of a Navy career, the importance of nutrition and exercise in maintaining physical readiness when deployed is discussed in Chapters 10 and 12. Also, many people take nutritional supplements to enhance physical performance.

The benefits and risks associated with using performance enhancing supplements is discussed in Chapter 14. In another chapter (Chapter 15) women’s issues such as nutrition and exercise during pregnancy and lactation are discussed.

The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat–ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas.