There’s a group inside the US Military referred to as the 3^rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. A few of you studying this may increasingly know them higher as The Outdated Guard. The regiment is the oldest active-duty infantry unit within the Military, having served the American individuals since 1784. In case you’ve ever seen a particular occasion involving a President, sure ceremonial occasions involving international leaders, or particular safety within the case of an emergency, then you definately’ve probably seen members of The Outdated Guard in motion.

Spencer Posey is among the members of this elite group, and you’ll inform how vital it’s to him simply by listening to him converse of their position and impression on America.

“It’s such a novel piece of American historical past. Now we have such a novel mission set.”

Apart from being concerned with moments at locations such because the White Home and The Pentagon, one in every of their most vital roles is in mortuary companies. Members of 1 battalion are concerned in funerals laying their brothers and sisters to relaxation.

“We’re not on the market taking pictures and communication, however we’re finishing a really completely different and vital set of missions.”

Spencer Posey has been concerned with each battalions, and he’s positively serving in a task he was meant to be in. As a child, Posey performed three sports activities in addition to chess. The game he personally loved probably the most was wrestling due to the one-on-one facet that got here with matches in that sport. Chess served him very nicely additionally.

“All the duty lies in your shoulders,” he defined. “They helped me perceive how the world works. What you set into it’s what you get out of it.”

The bodily challenges that got here with wrestling mixed with the psychological stimulation of chess made Posey a pure for serving his nation. It additionally was in his household historical past. Each of his grandfathers served in World Warfare II, and his father labored for the Military Corps Engineers in Iraq as a civilian. He additionally has a cousin that’s lively within the Marines. Posey joined the Nationwide Guard in 2008.

“My father had a giant half in serving to me make that call.”

Posey would spend a few years within the Nationwide Guard, however he expressed that the advantages of his time there stayed with him lengthy after.

“I grew up a really huge quantity,” he mentioned proudly. “For me, that preliminary army service at 18 actually jumpstarted my maturity and my capacity to deal with intense and tough conditions.”

He additionally credit that point of his life for renewing his dedication to bodily health. As a three-sport athlete in highschool, he thought he was prepared for the pains of army coaching. Nonetheless, he admitted that he was not prepared for the psychological facet of it.

“The lengthy ruck marches, the early mornings and late nights, and the lengthy walks that construct resilience mentally and bodily had been powerful. Being surrounded by very match individuals impressed me to push the bar on my private health.”

That push to excel in private health has helped him each personally and professionally. Except for being licensed as a private coach and diet coach, he would ultimately be part of the Outdated Guard and has been lively in serving to his fellow Outdated Guard members keep in high form because of the Military’s Holistic Well being and Health (H2F) System. H2F was created to assist current and future heroes stay in high form in 5 completely different domains – bodily, psychological, non secular, dietary, and sleep.

Posey defined that “Our completely different mission set takes a unique toll on our troopers. Nearly all of the toll that it takes isn’t bodily. It’s psychological, non secular, lack of sleep, and lack of diet.”

When Posey first joined his present infantry, he was part of the Mortuary Affairs Staff, which meant he was part of many funerals. In some instances, he helped carry the caskets of people who made the final word sacrifice. At one level, he was concerned with over 70 funerals in two weeks. He thought of that place an honor to have, but it surely got here with numerous strain as nicely.

“Every part we do must be good. We’re the final illustration of the US army to be with these fallen troopers. I took numerous delight in that, but it surely’s so heavy. It took a toll on me.”

Spencer Posey consulted with senior management and shared he felt that the distinctive roles his fellow troopers had required for them to have one of the best assist attainable to allow them to proceed doing their work. As nice because the troopers appeared and carried out, further deal with the opposite 4 domains can be helpful for his or her short-term and long-term futures. Senior management agreed, and Posey’s request for empowerment was granted. He’s now an H2F lead, and one in every of his tasks now could be to construct a scalable program for The Outdated Guard.

“We’re going to coach and empower present and future troopers on Holistic Well being and Health.”

It received’t simply be these in Mortuary Affairs working inside H2F. These members of the batallion that work particular occasions and escorts may even handle all 5 domains. They might not be in the identical circumstances, however they face their very own distinctive strain and stress.

“Their tempo is so excessive. They’re consistently working, and their mission is to share the Military expertise to the bulk. They should be one of the best of one of the best, and so they should current one of the best face to the world.”

H2F is a system that can impression the Military for generations to come back. Posey is in a novel place as a result of his position is as a direct resolution to points that many previous members of the Armed Forces struggled with for many years. Past the soldier in service, that member’s family members may probably prosper.

“We recruit the soldier, we retain the household,” mentioned Posey. “If we are able to empower the soldier in service, then they may have larger expertise and be higher built-in into society for themselves and their households. Investing into individuals like that’s the proper factor to do.”

Spencer Posey is personally making a profound distinction, and he hopes that youthful People will see that becoming a member of the army can be a selection that not solely serves their nation, however themselves for the remainder of their lives. Exterior of H2F, Posey shared that the Military is investing into certifications and schooling as nicely.

“They will have that establishment and infrastructure make investments into them,” he mentioned. “Whether or not they step out of uniform or proceed service, they’ve these resume builders. There are numerous ways in which younger individuals can serve their nation within the army in non-combat roles. They are going to be put in positions in order that they will excel.”

Observe Spencer Posey on LinkedIn. You may see extra info on H2F on the U.S. Military web site.