Navy Recruiting Kicks off NOFFS at NRD Miami

MIAMI (NNS) -- The commander of Navy Recruiting Command (CNRC), selected Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Miami to kick off the Navy's fitness and nutrition program which delivers revolutionary change and fitness support for recruiters nationwide, Nov. 15.

Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling System (NOFFS) deploys a new performance based methodology to keep Sailors ashore and afloat in peak physical condition while reducing the risk of sports injuries which have plagued Sailors in the past and addresses the importance of proper nutrition.

The NOFFS system is based on a world-class sports science training philosophy developed by Athletes Performance Institute, which has worked closely with naval special warfare operators, U.S. Army Special Forces and professional athletes. Navy Recruiting partnered with commander, Navy Installations Command and Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) to bring the NOFFS "train the trainer" course to 19 of 26 recruiting districts that are not geographically located near MWR facilities where NOFFS is routinely taught by fitness professionals. The remaining five NRD's will receive their training at MWR locations near them.

"NOFFS is designed to improve operational performance, decrease the incidence and severity of musculoskeletal injuries while providing foundational nutritional guidance for Sailors. Resiliency, durability and increased readiness for Navy Recruiting personnel are the primary goals of implementing and training recruiters on the NOFFS system," said retired SOCM (SEAL) Victor LiCause, Navy Recruiting Physical Fitness Program manager .

To emphasize how important the NOFFS system is to Navy Recruiting, Rear Adm. Earl L. Gay, commander, Navy Recruiting Command, Force Master Chief Earl S. Gray, Jr., and the national chief recruiter Jimmie Holt were present to communicate their guidance, intent and approval of the NOFFS training and Navy Recruitings' ongoing partnership with CNIC and MWR.

"The NOFFS system is going to help recruiters make better choices in how we exercise and eat, which will lead to improved health, well being and mission readiness. It is designed for Sailors to help us in our day to day tasks at home and in the fleet. That's going to help us and the Navy in the long run," said Gay.

Gay was asked if Navy Recruiting had any immediate plans to introduce NOFFS as the PT platform for future Sailors.

"NOFFS is designed for us as Sailors (Navy Recruiting). Once it's rolled out to our entire recruiter force and we are comfortable with the system, we will consider whether it's an appropriate means of exercise for future Sailors in our pipeline," said Gay. "That's also the reason why we kicked off this program at NRD Miami since it is one of our finest NRD's."

A team of Navy fitness specialists consisting of LiCause, Nicole Gilchrest and Brian Hannah, Navy Morale, Welfare and Recreation, Naval Air Station Pensacola, travelled to NRD Miami and trained 22 personnel to include the command fitness leader, assistant command fitness leaders, and Sailors.

The training consisted of two days of classroom and practical exercises, techniques and procedures that will standardize their Navy physical training and optimize operational performance command-wide. Additionally the NOFFS "fueling" guide was introduced and students learned more about eating for fuel, not about dieting and calorie restriction.

"The fuel that is introduced to the body really does make a difference in physical and mental performance. This is really a complete departure from the days of doing a little stretch followed by sit-ups and push-ups and then heading out for a mile and a half run. This system directly relates to what we actually do as Sailors in our jobs," said Chief Fire Controlman Kurt Morgan, NRD Miami's command fitness leader.

The work Sailors perform, their actions and movements on ships, submarines and installations guided the direction and development of NOFFS. Input from hundreds of Sailors about their real-world job requirements - in the daily grind of lifting, pushing, pulling and carrying or in their office environment in static positions went into NOFFS development.

"Extensive groundwork centered on focus groups and the feedback of 750 Sailors resulted in a physical training system that eliminates the guesswork while providing a progressive and safe fitness and nutrition program. The result is a total body, conditioning and fueling system highly relevant to Sailors in any environment," said LiCause. Sailors now have everything they will need at their fingertips to gain and sustain a high level of physical performance at home or at sea, he added.

The NOFFS card sets come in four series: submarine, surface ship, large deck and group training. Designed specifically for real-world space and equipment limitations, these four categories provide Sailors three different levels of exercises that are based on current fitness and capability. The four series of workout routines include more than 90 exercises that directly translate into operational performance benefits for Sailors including "Pillar Preparation" and "Movement Preparation" (dynamic warm-ups), multi-directional movement training, muscular strength/endurance training, cardio-respiratory training, recovery training and nutritional fueling strategies.

The NOFFS program was further refined and developed through close relationships and involvement from key Navy organizations including Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Navy and Marine Corps Public Health Center , Naval Supply Systems Command, Naval Safety Center and OpNav 135 physical readiness division.

For specific NOFFS information, visit http://www.navyfitness.org/fitness/noffs/.

All work-out series cards, video demonstrations for all 90 exercises and nutrition guide can be pulled from this resource. iPod and iPad users can also download the NOFFS "APP" from this resource.

For more news from Navy Recruiting District Miami, visit www.navy.mil/local/NRDMiami/.