Soldier Care
Chaplain's Corner
By Chaplain (Maj.) Glen Thompson
Article published on: November 1, 2025 in the Army Communicator Fall/Winter 2025 Issue
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While there is no single Army regulation that is solely dedicated to “Care for the Caregiver” and “Self-Care,” the Army focuses on holistic health and fitness (Field Manual 7-22, Holistic Health and Fitness). Soldiers at all echelons often experience stress, burnout, and fatigue.
It is imperative that all Soldiers emphasize on holistic health and fitness. There can be severe negative impacts on Soldiers if neglected. Soldiers may experience physical health issues such as sleep deprivation and weakened immune systems. According to studies, mental health issues are on the rise. There have been higher rates of depression and anxiety. There can be financial strain and emotional distress. Lots of times leaders express feelings of guilt, shame, and frustration. Oftentimes, Soldiers are overwhelmed and sometimes even
make poor decisions.
As the holiday season is behind us, the need to foster a supportive climate is imperative. Recognize and respond to signs of distress by ensuring access to helpful resources. Resources exist, and asking can help. Soldiers have access to their chain of command, chaplains, behavioral health services, and crisis lines such as Military OneSource and 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Self-care must be intentional. We need to prioritize our physical, nutrition, mental, spiritual, and sleep readiness. Self-care is important because it reduces stress, improves physical health, enhances mental and emotional well-being, increases resiliency, and prevents burnout. Small acts can make a huge difference. One can take short breaks throughout the day, eat well, and stay connected with family and friends. One can go to the gym during lunch or take a walk to get the blood flowing.
Physical readiness in the military is priority. According to FM 7-22, Physical Readiness, “Ruck marching, running and swimming serve as the foundations of physical readiness and enable Soldiers to perform their occupational tasks and endure the physical demands of combat.” Regular physical activity, eating healthily, getting seven to nine quality hours of sleep, staying hydrated, and scheduling regular medical appointments are all important. Nutritional readiness is key to survival. FM 7-22 stated, “Nutritional readiness is a critical component of holistic health and contributes greatly to mission success. The development of a comprehensive performance nutrition program, tailored to organizational requirements, can improve individual Soldier performance, overall unit readiness, and mission success.” Mental readiness is a must. Learning activities that stimulate the mind, journaling your thoughts and feelings, problem solving, and saying “no” to extra commitments will help you stay focused. Soldiers must be capable of overcoming adversaries at a moment’s notice. To do this, Soldiers must be mentally – as well as physically – ready. Spiritual readiness is included in this field manual. FM 7-22 explains, “Spiritually-ready Soldiers have developed personal qualities they need to sustain themselves during stress, hardship, and tragedies.” Soldiers have the freedom to exercise their religious liberties. These freedoms are good for our formations. Sleep readiness is necessary to make it through the day. Sleep is essential to maintain peak performance mentally and physically. Aim for six to eight hours a night.
In conclusion, there may not be one single Army regulation that solely is dedicated “Self-Care,” but the subject must be practiced. FM 7-22 takes a holistic health and fitness approach of taking care of oneself. The field manual is the foundation of individual and unit readiness, plus builds “physical lethality and mental toughness to win wars quickly and return home healthy.”