An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Jan. 17, 2018

Spiritual, mental, physical fitness can help G.I. stability

By Staff Sgt. Jennifer Milnes 35th Infantry Division

CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – "When you're spiritually and emotionally fit, you'll take care of yourself because you love yourself," said Master Sgt. David Mundy, 35th Infantry Division chaplain assistant.

While sitting on a bench outside the main chapel at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Mundy made it clear that being spiritual is not necessarily the same as being religious, but that spiritual fitness has the ability to bring a peacefulness to anyone. 

"Being spiritually, mentally, and emotionally fit will help lead to physical fitness and ultimately it all works toward the overall stability fitness and readiness of the individual Soldier," said Mundy. 

To build spiritual fitness, Mundy had a few key pieces of advice for Soldiers that he finds helpful whether at home or in a deployed environment.

"As an individual, accept pain for what it is - don't keep it in," Mundy said. "Once accepted, become transparent and work through the pain and analyze the situation that brought you to that point."

This, in Mundy's experience, helps an individual clarify the problem and work toward a healthy resolution.

In order to successfully work to resolve life's problems and maintain our mental fitness, Mundy explained that there are four types of people we need to surround ourselves with.

"The first type are prophets – everyone needs a person who can hold their feet to the fire and make them own up to their mistakes," said Mundy. "The next type of person is the cheerleader – we need to be surrounded by friends who can cheer us on regardless of the situation in which we find ourselves."

"Teasers are the friends who won't let us beat ourselves up and also make sure to show us a good time," said Mundy. "Finally, we need encouragers. Encouragers help you find the good in your life and expand on that."

After a Soldier establishes these friendships and recognizes the different types of people in their lives, Mundy suggests getting into a workout routine with someone who will help drive them.

"Once you find those people, work out with someone in better shape than yourself in order to push yourself to be better," Mundy continued. "Everyone needs friends who are like-minded, who can encourage yet challenge."

Like any military installation, there are plenty of avenues to work on physical fitness at Camp Arifjan. Options for workouts include anything from volleyball, basketball, swimming and weight lifting to 5Ks, marathons, flag football and soccer.

The key is maintaining a routine. Attaining spiritual fitness, according to Mundy, is no different.

"There are chapels and a mosque on Camp Arifjan if a person is looking for religious support," said Mundy. "It's all about finding and making the time to participate."

If Soldiers are not necessarily religious in their beliefs, Mundy also encourages meeting with behavioral health support specialists to help lift or ease burdens.

"Both chaplains and behavioral health support will help you on your way to establishing spiritual and emotional fitness," said Mundy. "There is no one-size-fits-all approach to Soldier stability, but Soldiers should be aware that they have all the resources available to them to stay strong."

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group prepare dummies for a simulated casualty evacuation at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, July 17, 2025. The 108th Medical Company engaged in a weeklong field medical exercise to validate their readiness and elevate their medical and basic Soldier skills. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Christopher Booker)
Pennsylvania Guard Medics Simulate Chaos in Exercise
By Capt. Christopher Booker, | July 18, 2025
FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers assigned to the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional Support Group, are engaged in a comprehensive two-week field medical exercise here.The...

Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Maintenance Group and 152nd Logistics Readiness Squadron personnel load Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) equipment onto MAFFS #8, aircraft #554 at the Nevada Air National Guard Base on July 12, 2025. U.S. Northern Command activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) Aircraft, one from the 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in California. Two C-130 aircraft equipped with MAFFS and their associated personnel will support firefighting efforts in the Western United States. The 152nd Airlift Wing’s “High Rollers” and 146th Airlift Wing's “Hollywood Guard” report on July 14, 2025, and will be initially based out of Channel Islands Air National Guard Base in California and are anticipated to be in place through August 14, 2025.
Nevada Air Guard Wing Assists in Firefighting Efforts
By Senior Master Sgt. Paula Macomber, | July 18, 2025
RENO, Nev. – U.S. Northern Command has activated two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Aircraft, one from the Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Airlift Wing out of Reno, Nevada, and one from the 146th Airlift Wing out of...

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, join Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, the adjutant general of Texas, for an aerial assessment of flood-affected areas in Central Texas and to visit Guardsmen on duty supporting civil authorities with response efforts, Kerrville, Texas, July 15, 2025. To date, National Guard search and rescue operations, led by the Texas National Guard, have resulted in the rescue of more than 525 Texans. Hundreds of Guardsmen remain on mission to continue working with interagency partners in search and rescue and recovery operations.
Nordhaus, Raines see Heroism, Partnerships in Central Texas
By Master Sgt. Zach Sheely, | July 18, 2025
KERRVILLE, Texas – Early on July 4, almost 30 inches of rain fell within hours across Central Texas’s Hill Country, surging the Guadalupe River and triggering catastrophic flash flooding.Within hours, Texas National Guard...