MOPs & MOEs

MOPs & MOEs is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠powered by TrainHeroic!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.This episode includes a reference to this Defense Health Agency report that found that the more H2F resources provided for Reserve soldiers, the better results they saw.If you follow the MOPs & MOEs blog, you already know this week's guests from things like his 5 part series "The Other 28 Days" on how to implement human performance for part time service members or his "Maximizing Fitness Efficiency" piece on minimal effective dose training. Members of our discord server know he's always bringing research citations to the conversations happening there.Mark Christiani is an Army Veteran who served in Ranger Regiment before transitioning into the human performance space. He currently works with O2X as an On-Site Human Performance Specialist at the 81st Readiness Division of the Army Reserve. Mark served as the Brigade Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach for GAP Solutions for not just any brigade, but 44th Medical Brigade where Drew works. He holds a Master of Science in Sports Medicine from Georgia Southern University and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC). 

This week's episode we're answer a few audience questions, going through some military fitness news, and discussing some recently published research. It's a bit of rapid fire content, if you want a deeper dive on any of the individual topics, please let us know!Here's everything we discuss:Joint Fitness Test RumorsAir Force Fitness Test ChangesOccupationally Specific Fitness Test for EODMarine Corps Body Bearers PT StandardsUpdates on Athletic Trainer ContractsNDAA and Human Performance FundingCongressional Amendments and Military SpendingRunning Injuries and Research InsightsModernizing Army Dining: A Critical PerspectiveMAHA Wins: Analyzing Food Industry ChangesNeck Training: Myths and Practical Insights

MOPs & MOEs is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠powered by TrainHeroic!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.Find Tactical Alpinism on Instagram hereYou can find Mauri's podcast on Spotify or on Apple PodcastsYou can download a copy of Mauri’s thesis, “Relationship Between the Lactate Thresholds and Endurance Performance in Trained Runners” hereIn this episode we're returning to the topic of how mountain athletes and tactical athletes have similar fitness demands. Mauri is particularly qualified to discuss this topic since he is a bit of both. His perspectives include being an infantry officer, alpinist, coach to endurance athletes, certified mountain guide, and more.Mauri served in a multitude of leadership roles as an infantry officer in the US Army. During that service he applied many advanced planning and navigation techniques to make mountain missions successful. He adapted the military's operational planning process for use in the mountains by combining military planning and navigation techniques with mountain objectives. He now leads Tactical Alpinism, where he provides training and education for both tactical professionals and civilians pursuing high levels of performance in the mountains. This includes both physical training and technical mountain navigation.

MOPs & MOEs is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠powered by TrainHeroic!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.A few weeks ago we mentioned that the Navy provides pilots with human performance resources, but it turns out we were wrong! A common complaint in that community is "I've been told my entire career that I'm an athlete, but I haven't been treated like one." Our guest this week is a Sports Medicine MD who is working on several initiatives to bring human performance resources to the fleet.We'll forgive him for his past affiliation with Navy football. Commander Kevin Bernstein, MD, MMS, CAQSM, FAAFP is currently Director of Sports and Performance Medicine for Naval Special Warfare Group TWO in Virginia Beach, VA. He is also Chairman of the Human Performance Sub-Community for Navy Medicine’s Neuro-Musculoskeletal Readiness Community and Specialty Leader for Navy Primary Care Sports Medicine. He is an Associate Professor of Family Medicine at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences.He received his Bachelor of Science in pre-medicine with minors in biology and Jewish studies from the Pennsylvania State University, and his Master of Medical Science and Medical Degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. He completed residency training at Naval Hospital Pensacola where he served as Chief Resident, and fellowship training in Sports Medicine at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton.After residency, he reported to Fleet Surgical Team SEVEN forward-deployed 24 months as staff Family Physician on 5 patrols augmenting medical support aboard 3 large deck amphibious platforms (LHA 5, LHD 6, LCC-19) in support of amphibious and expeditionary exercises in 7th Fleet.He then reported to Naval Health Clinic Annapolis, serving as Team Physician for 10 NCAA D1 teams including Navy football, Director for Public Health, Chair of the Medical Executive Committee, and Sports Medicine faculty for 5 GME residency programs and USUHS medical students.

MOPs & MOEs is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠powered by TrainHeroic!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠join our Discord!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.This week's episode is just the two of us, and we're discussing a topic that we've referenced a few times on social media: Nazareth Syndrome. One of the simplest ways to explain this phenomenon is "nobody trusts the hometown kid." The origins of this idea are biblical (Jesus was rejected by his own community because to them he was just the carpenter they knew), but the applications are very practical. Have you ever seen a leader latch onto an idea from a guest speaker or outside consultant that their subordinates have been trying to explain for ages? That's because human nature makes us more receptive to these messages from outsides than from people we're too familiar.In this conversation we break down how this affects the military, and specifically how it plays out in human performance settings (both within teams, and between the teams and the units they support).

Dr. Rachele Pojednic, Director of Scientific Research & Education at Restore Hyper Wellness and a Stanford lecturer, dives into the science of human performance. She discusses the interconnectedness of holistic health practices with longevity, highlighting nutrition, sleep, and social connections. Rachele emphasizes the importance of effective science communication, advocating for infographics to bridge gaps in public understanding. She also critiques the impact of misinformation on health perceptions and calls for proactive health management over profit-driven solutions.

Dr. Rachele Pojednic, an expert in nutrition and physical activity from Restore Hyper Wellness and Stanford, dives into the critical gap between human performance research and practical application. She discusses the complexities of research funding, the hype versus reality of CBD, and the importance of rigorous studies on supplements. Rachele highlights the need for collaboration between scientists and practitioners to improve health communication. She also advocates for reform in physical education, emphasizing engaging methods to enhance youth health.

Dr. Rachele Pojednic, an expert in nutrition and performance, dives into the intricate balance of carbs and protein for athletes, debunking common myths about post-workout nutrition. She highlights the crucial role of lifestyle medicine in chronic disease prevention and discusses the unique roles of health professionals in ensuring effective physical support. Rachele also addresses communication gaps in healthcare and fitness, and emphasizes the importance of balanced nutrition amidst popular diet trends, while exploring the rising interest in supplements like NAD.

MOPs & MOEs is ⁠powered by TrainHeroic!⁠To continue the conversation, ⁠join our Discord!⁠ We have experts standing by to answer your questions.This is a quick hits episode! Instead of spending an hour on a specific topic, we hustle through a series of hot topics that either address current events, add to previous episodes we've done, or just don't quite make the cut for a full episode of their own. These topics include:- Athletic Trainers in the military- The nomination of Casey Means for Surgeon General- The validity of the Standing Power Throw- Some concerns with the new combat standards- Are frequent changes to fitness standards a problem?- How the side shuffle got added to the sprint drag carry- Do alternate cardio events need full scoring scales?

MOPs & MOEs is powered by TrainHeroic!To continue the conversation, join our Discord! We have experts standing by to answer your questions.One of the classic problems with tactical strength and conditioning is that, unlike many athletic settings, you can't assume a common baseline level of fitness. Even in combat arms units, it's normal to have extremely wide ranges of fitness levels in the same unit. The same platoon might have powerlifters, distance runners, and gamers who would rather not exercise at all. In this episode Nate Palin joins us to share some lessons learned about navigating this challenge. He has coached diverse populations ranging from civilians to special operators, all of whom have influenced his current perspective. We touch on a number of important topics: Novelty in training can significantly impact engagement Barbells are not always the primary tool in tactical trainingEngagement and enjoyment are crucial for participation in trainingCoaching relationships are essential for effective training outcomesLifestyle conversations often take precedence over strict programmingReal-time monitoring can enhance training effectiveness and safetyPerformance programs focus on pushing limits, while wellness programs aim to elevate the baselineWellness and high performance are interconnectedTactical professionals have diverse roles beyond physicalityKnowledge sharing is vital for effective coachingMotivation is a leader's responsibility, not just a coach'sHard work remains the foundation of success in training