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Strong B.A.N.D.S. 2025

Commit to Stay Fit this May with STRONG B.A.N.D.S. 

STRONG B.A.N.D.S. – Strong Balance, Activity, Nutrition, Determination, and Strength – promotes healthy, active lifestyles for Army communities. It helps motivate Army Soldiers, Families, Retirees, and Civilians to get and stay fit.

Commit today! Get stronger and faster. Eat right. Join garrison fitness and wellness opportunities. Learn more about how to improve your body, mind and total health.

Tell your friends and Family about STRONG B.A.N.D.S., and invite them to make the commitment, too!

STRONG B.A.N.D.S runs from May 1 - June 7. 

This year there is a FRESH new retro look and theme: Let's Get Physical! 

And be sure to check out the fitness and nutrition resources we have put together from Human Performance Resources (HPRC) and the Exchange's BE FIT program and get started today!

Human Performance Resources (HPRC) by CHAMP, is a DoD initiative that provides evidence-based information that empowers members of the military community to be physically and mentally fit, fuel and hydrate properly, maintain social ties, and stay resilient—all pieces of the puzzle that make up Total Force Fitness. 

Strong B.A.N.D.S 2025 Events

May 1 - May 31 - 5th Annual Softball Tournament - Doniphan Field

Hey batter, batter, batter! 

Games: Every Monday and Wednesday 5:30PM - 8:30PM at Doniphan #1. 

There will be a coaches meeting on Wednesday, April 16th at 5:30PM at Gruber Fitness Center.

Letters of Intent are due by COB Wednesday, April 30th. 

Open to Active Duty, DoD Civilians, Retirees, Dependents, Spouses, and Contractors working at Fort Leavenworth ages 18 and older.

League awards given for tournament runner ups and tournament champions.

Cost: FREE

For more info: (913) 684-3224/5136

 

Saturday, May 3rd – CGSC Triathlon (0800-1100) – Harney Sports Complex

200 Yard Swim, 12.6 Mile Bike, 5k Run.

Cost - $75 for Individual Racer, $90 for Relay Team

Register at Gruber Fitness Center, Harney Sports Complex, or Resiliency Center

 

Saturday, May 10th – 1000lb/400lb Club Meet (0800-1700) – Gruber Fitness Center

Participants will do a 1 rep max in the squat, deadlift, and bench press. They will have 3 attempts at each exercise. The highest successful attempt in each exercise will be added together. Male participants whose total weight equals or is more than 1000lb will win a      t-shirt and female participants whose total weight equals or is more than 400lbs will win a t-shirt. We will also have division winners (Male heavyweight 180lb +, male lightweight 179lb -, female middleweight 160lb+, and female lightweight 159lb -). We will have time slots people can sign up for prior to event. Not allowed: Wrist wraps, knee wraps, bench shirts, squat suits.

Cost – Free

Must sign up and reserve time slot prior to event – Sign up at Gruber Fitness Center or call 913-684-5120.

 

Saturday, May 17 & Sunday, May 18 - 1st Annual Kickball Tournament (0900-1900) – Gruber Fitness Center

You won't want to miss this NEW Strong B.A.N.D.S. event! 

Games: Saturday and Sunday, 9AM-7PM at Gruber Baseball Field. 

There will be a coaches meeting on Wednesday, April 30th at 5:30PM at Gruber Fitness Center.

Letters of Intent are due by COB Wednesday, May 7th. 

Open to Active Duty, DoD Civilians, Retirees, Dependents, Spouses, and Contractors working at Fort Leavenworth ages 18 and older.

League awards given for tournament runner ups and tournament champions.

Cost - FREE

For more info: (913) 684-5136/3224

 

Saturday, May 24th – Disc Golf Tournament (0800-1100) – Disc Golf Course

18 hole, two person team, best shot rules. The two-person best shot format will be used. Both players throw from each lie (starting with the tee shot), then the team chooses which of the resulting lies to continue play from, until the hole is completed. For score integrity purposes, each team is required to keep the score of their opposing twosome. Teams will be sent onto the course with another team and will keep scores for both their own team and the opposing team. Any team that does not participate with an opposing team will not be eligible to win the tournament. Prizes will be given out for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Staggered start from 0800-0900.

Cost – Free

Sign up at Gruber Fitness Center or call 913-684-5120 prior to event.

Week 1 (May 1 - May 10): Balance

It’s key to practice strong communication skills, manage your time and stress, focus on
nutrition, and stay physically active to boost your performance and achieve a healthy work-life balance. #STRONGBANDS

Military life balance

Stress management skill worksheet 

How social fitness impacts mental fitness

 

Week 2 (May 11 - 17): Activity

Staying active can touch just about every aspect of your physical and mental health. It makes sense why many experts say, “Exercise is medicine.” #STRONGBANDS

Physical activity builds character

Learn how sleep impacts your performance

Exercise: Your TFF took to boost brain health 

Week 3 (May 18 - 24): Nutrition

When you choose nutrient-rich, high performance foods and beverages, you feel
better and perform better. #STRONGBANDS

Power Plate: Eat to Fuel Your Performance

Infographic: Caffeine and Performance

Protein for performance: The basics 

Week 4 (May 25 - 31): Determination

Military life can be tough. But sometimes the most challenging moments of military life are also opportunities to build and showcase your strength. #STRONGBANDS

Falling Forward: 6 Ways to Recover from Setbacks

SMART Goals Worksheet for performance optimization

Your route to readiness and resilience 

Week 5 (June 1 - June 7): Strength

Physical fitness is a key component of military fitness, general health, and well-being. It's an important priority for deployability and performance optimization. #STRONGBANDS

Guidelines to progress your physical training over time

Overcome obstacles to physical fitness

Military workout planning for beginners 

Be Fit Live Videos

Click HERE to view our Be Fit Live Videos! 

ACFT Prep

Download flyer HERE! 

 

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HPRC Recipes

Check out these awesome recipes! 

Apricot Overnight Oatmeal:

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Baked Cod Fillets:

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Baked Creole:

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Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie:

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Health and Fitness Resources

The Consortium for Health and Military Performance (CHAMP) is a Defense Center of Excellence at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS).
CHAMP’s Human Performance Resource Center (HPRC) translates Human Performance Optimization (HPO) research about physical, mental, performance nutrition, and relationship fitness into practical information for Warfighters, their families, and those in the field of HPO who support them. Learn more at hprc‐online.org. CHAMP also provides Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS), the DoD resource for dietary supplement safety, at opss.org.

 

An Exchange initiative to empower Military customers, their families and communities with fitness information, nutrition tips and tools to help them live healthy, Be Fit lifestyles. Be You. Be Healthy. Be STRONG. BE FIT! We ask you to work with your local Exchange general manager to incorporate their involvement in the campaign. Take advantage of submitting an Exchange radio announcement request to promote your STRONG B.A.N.D.S. events and invite the Exchange to participate in the events that you anticipate will have the highest attendance. The Exchange could feature health and fitness related items available at their stores to enhance your overall event. You may be able to obtain local prizes or giveaways from the Exchange to promote to your patrons in advance of the event to increase participation. Work with your MWR commercial sponsorship manager if this is something you’d like to pursue and have that person contact the Exchange General Manager at your garrison to see if getting prize/giveaway support is something they’d like to provide.

More Sports & Fitness

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Strong B.A.N.D.S. 5th Annual Softball Tournament

May 1
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CGSC Triathlon

May 3 8 am
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Strong B.A.N.D.S. 1000lb/400lb Club Meet

May 10 8 am - 5 pm
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Strong B.A.N.D.S. 1st Annual Kickball Tournament

May 17 9 am - 7 pm
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All-Army Sports

Attention Soldier-Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers! Are you ready to compete for a coveted spot on the Army's prestigious sports teams?

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All-Army Sports

Attention Soldier-Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers! Are you ready to compete for a coveted spot on the Army's prestigious sports teams?

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Armed Services YMCA DoD Military Initiative

Learn more about Family & MWR local partnerships with the YMCA for Army sports and fitness activities when an Army facility isn’t nearby.

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Armed Services YMCA DoD Military Initiative

Learn more about Family & MWR local partnerships with the YMCA for Army sports and fitness activities when an Army facility isn’t nearby.