At T3i, we’ve spent years engaging directly with warfighters—from special operators to fighter pilots, from trainees to senior leaders—to understand their needs, priorities, and perceptions regarding Human Performance (HP). These conversations span a range of communities, yet the results consistently highlight the same critical themes: while HP programs solve specific challenges for each unique population, there are clear, shared priorities across the board.

The question we must now ask ourselves is this: Are we truly meeting the mark when it comes to human performance support?

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Top Takeaways

1. Overwhelming Interest in HP
   • More than 90% of warfighters express strong interest in and desire for HP support.
   • The vast majority report that HP has a significant impact on both their personal lives and their service readiness.
   • Both instructor-level and senior personnel, as well as younger and student-aged demographics, demonstrate significant interest in HP.
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2. The Most Desired Impact: Readiness
   
   • While warfighters value reduced medical visits, faster recovery, and increased fitness, they most commonly report “increased performance and readiness” as the top desired outcome of HP programs.
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3. Accessibility and Quality Define Success
   • Proximity to facilities, program flexibility, and high-quality staffing are critical determinants of program success
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4. Barriers to Overcome
   • Warfighters identify cultural stigmas, lack of buy-in/momentum, and insufficient resourcing as the most significant challenges in HP program adoption and success.
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5. Tailored Programs are Essential
   • Organizations consistently emphasize the need for HP programs tailored to their specific needs, battle rhythm, and culture.
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6. Facilities Matter
   • Warfighters stress that facilities must:
     • Be large enough to accommodate personnel and equipment.
     • Include strength and conditioning resources and recovery equipment, which is a recurring priority.

7. HP Programs Boost Morale
   • Beyond physical performance, warfighters report that HP programs are a significant morale booster across all ranks.
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8. Initial Skepticism is Common
   • HP professionals often encounter inertia and skepticism when starting new programs, driven by cultural stigmas and perceived risk. Building trust is essential.
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9. Extending Service Length
   • Warfighters believe that HP access is, or will be, a major contributor to extending their service careers—whether through better health or confidence that their organization is truly investing in its people.
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10. The Professional Athlete Proxy
    • Warfighters consistently view themselves as the professional athletes of their profession and expect training, treatment, and resources that reflect that standard.
    • They commonly report a desire for
      • Access to functional supplementation (e.g., hydration supplements, post-workout nutrition).
      • Individualized coaching tailored to their needs.
      • Specialized recovery techniques to optimize performance and longevity.
      • Performance psychologists to strengthen their mental game and maintain peak readiness.

A Call to Action

‍These takeaways highlight a clear opportunity: Human Performance is not just a “nice to have”—it’s a mission-critical effort for enhancing readiness, morale, and retention.

But with these insights in hand, we must ask ourselves: 

• Are current HP programs meeting warfighter intent?
• Where can current efforts improve?

The voices of 770 warfighters speak volumes. It's up to us to ensure we're listening!