Fitness has always been a priority for the US military, and they’ve doubled down on that with the creation of Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F). H2F focuses on five pillars of preparedness; physical, mental, nutritional, sleep and spiritual. The program has made progress on this front thanks to leaders like Lt. Gen. Johnny Davis and Command Sergeant Major Shade Munday, who are strong supporters of its implementation and purpose.
Davis confirmed: “H2F has been a big component.”
The gold standard at Fort Knox
Not only do both Davis and Munday speak to the importance of fitness, but they have both maintained their own high standards over the thirty-plus years they have each served. Davis has deployed to various locations around the world, including Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. Along the way he was honored with several awards. In January 2025, he was named the first Commanding General of the increased US Army Recruiting Command.
Munday has his own long list of commissions and awards since enlisting in May 1995, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and several others. On March 10, 2023, he became the senior enlisted leader of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Both Davis and Munday are currently stationed at Fort Knox, known for both the gold warehouse adjacent to the base and being home to Army recruiting for four decades. Every morning is a new opportunity to show up and be the example others could and should follow, and that starts with early morning running and regular PT. Being fit and ready has been the constant for both men, no matter where they were stationed or what role they played at the time, and it still is.
“It’s been a journey of fitness,” Davis said. “Fitness is really the key to having the flexibility to do everything you need and want to do in the service.
Munday agreed, saying, “It’s really about a lifestyle. I’m an avid runner and run 25 to 25 miles a week.”
Both Davis and Munday report that programs like H2F and attention to the well-being of their soldiers have improved retention. They also don’t believe this is a coincidence.
“The Army has done a lot to invest in H2F across the Army and give soldiers access to it,” Davis explained. “If you do well in the units, Soldiers tend to stay. We’re seeing historically high retention rates.”
Be all you can be, which means more and better recruits
Another key to their recent recruiting success is the return to their classic “Be All You Can Be” campaign, which has served the military very well in recent years. Munday credited the slogan as reinvigorating the excitement of being part of an elite fighting force.
“Everyone wants to be part of a winning team. The whole lifestyle and mentality is why young men and women want to join now.” Davis added, “That brought a lot of awareness to what we do every day. All the things like PT, ‘we own the night,’ those kinds of things have really resonated.”
The emphasis on preparedness and the return to familiar promotion is already paying off. After years of struggling with recruitment, the tide has turned and increased significantly. Munday reported that on an average workday, almost 300 young people sign up for a service.
“That looks like a small battalion that our recruiters are bringing in,” Davis said. “That number is going up.”
Young Americans see the benefits and rewards that service brings, but Davis and Munday advise that preparing before Day 1 by running, focusing on push-ups and pull-ups, and proper nutrition and recovery will be key as they enter the military.
Munday explained, “Fitness is really the cornerstone. You have to be disciplined and ready to go after it.”
A call to action for veterans
Davis and Munday are both highly decorated and have served in different roles throughout their respective careers. They are walking examples of what the military stands for, and they want their soldiers to be the same, even as they transition to life as veterans. Monday
explained that while they may no longer wear the clothes of the nation, they can still portray all that is great and honorable through service.
“The military is an image,” he shared. “We want them to fit the image of what a warrior looks like, and that extends to life outside the military.”
Munday and Davis also believe that veterans can continue to help the military maintain their momentum by sharing what the service has done for them and helping to impart that wisdom to the young people around them.
Munday said, “The veteran population is some of our best recruiters out there. Whatever they can share with the next generation will be passed on.”
Davis concluded by reminding veterans that no matter how long it has been since they were on active duty, they are still part of the community and therefore respected.
“Being a warrior and fit is our brand. That applies whether you wear a uniform or not.”
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M&F Senior Military Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this article.
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