Supporting the Well-Being of the Force

In October 1999 the United States Army began its most significant transformation to move beyond the Cold War mind-set and to reorient itself to a new era and a new century. While moving through this transformation we must pay specific attention to the efforts of supporting the Well-being of the Force. Well-being is an expansion of the concept of the 198Os quality-of-life programs and is inextricably linked to readiness. It is central to the active Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers the Department of the Army Civilians retirees and veterans. The Well-being concept is the human dimension of Army transformation and since its inauguration has made significant strides in its implementation. Over the past five years the Army has started to institutionalize the concepts and processes of Army Well-being. The current Chief of Staff of the Army and his predecessor both recognized the true value for the support of Well-being and the force. This paper will address the progress made with Army Well-being concepts challenges that face the program and suggested recommendations supported by theory and metrics which will help create the momentum needed to further the Well-being framework.