ENDURE: May 2012

Fit Body, Focused Mind, Effective Warrior, Strong Country!

Interview with Major Rich Vaill, Marine Corps and Desert Storm Veteran

With Memorial Day around the corner, we caught up with former Marine Corps Major, Rich Vaill to get an in depth understanding of just how important health and fitness is to those we rely on most, the United States of America military service personnel.....those honorable men and women defending our freedom, and keeping our country strong! USA, USA, USA!




Pro-Activity: How does physical fitness play into a service member's ability to be effective in their duties?


Major Vaill: The underlying core of you as a serviceman or woman is your physical fitness, it's the center of everything, because at the end of the day if your body can't execute even the most well laid plans to achieve your mission, there is no point in putting the plan together or pursuing it.


Pro-Activity: What is the most key aspect of fitness for military personnel?


Major Vaill: Well, really it's similar to all people, it's not just about raw strength, although that's a part of it, but more your bodies ability to endure for the long haul...no matter what the mission is, be it force on force, or a humanitarian mission, all have a physical component and you need physical endurance to be successful. And I've witnessed first-hand that when you have that physical endurance, it gives you the mental endurance to continue, push forward, and achieve.  


Pro-Activity: What kind of training do military personnel prepare with?


Major Vaill: Regardless of what line of service you are in, whether you to go boot camp, officer candidate school, or whatever, the initial boot camp stages are just the foundation, but it's never ending. You and your unit are expected to maintain your physical fitness throughout, and you are tested annually to ensure your fitness is at it's peak. The Corps tests pull-ups, sit-ups, and a 3 mile run, but regardless of what branch of the military you're in, your physical fitness is always being tested. In fact, in order to get promoted your physical fitness must be top notch. You can be great in everything else, but if your fitness is not up to par, you won't get promoted. The physical side of things is just too critical to the Corps.


Pro-Activity: If the United States military is world-renowned for it's ability to execute the most difficult tasks and missions, and they're putting the physical fitness of their personnel as one of the most important components of success, does it make sense for corporations in the private sector to follow?


Major Vaill: I have heard of some organizations that are starting to put the health and physical fitness of their people as a critical component of business strategy. I believe these companies are on to something big and are unlocking the code to the most productive and effective workforce.


Pro-Activity: How can the lessons about the importance of physical fitness and health, learned while in military service, carry over into civilian life?


Major Vaill: I believe physical fitness and health can be your edge. It's what allows us to go longer, push harder, and achieve more with the same given resources. It's a step up on the competition. It my professional life (in banking and sales) I often draw on my physical fitness to work longer and harder when necessary to achieve a goal and push through the mission. Without it, my body would fail before my mind or desire. I'm a big believer that whatever your mission is, whether if your mission is to get home after a twelve hour day and have the energy to take your kid to little league, or if your mission is that of your company's, without physical fitness, you're already a few steps behind.




We'd like to thank Major Rich Vaill for his contributions to this month's edition of ELEMENTS, and taking the time to complete this interview, but most importantly for his service to our country. In addition to his full-time role as a sales executive, father, and husband, Rich leads "Major's Boot Camp", an authentic fitness boot camp class that meets at 0600 on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at Pro-Activity's BaseCamp 31 facility. He is very involved in helping veterans find employment when they return home from active duty. Rich lives in Clinton Twp., NJ with his wife and two kids.