Guardian Resilience Teams promote holistic health, culture of fitness Published June 17, 2026 By Maristela Romero Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs FALLS CHURCH, Va. -- As the nation’s newest military service, the Space Force continues to refine how Guardians meet the demands of operating in, from and to the space domain. This evolution aligns with the Department of War’s broader shift toward managing the warfighter with the same rigor and accountability applied to any mission‑critical capability - emphasizing disciplined evaluation, sustained performance, and long‑term readiness. Central to that effort is a transition from traditional fitness models to Holistic Health Approach, an integrated and preventative approach that prioritizes the enduring health, performance and resilience of Guardians. U.S. Space Force Master Sgt. D’Ariel Banks, holds a tape measure during a Guardian Resilience Team information session for Space Force Unit Fitness Cell certification training hosted by Dr. Sarah Ward, Holistic Health Integrator for the National Capital Region, in Arlington, Virginia, April 15, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Megan Hearst) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The U.S. Space Force established fitness‑for‑duty standards in its first Human Performance and Readiness manual, SPFMAN 36-2905, in September 2025, introducing leadership actions at the unit and squadron levels to further develop the service’s Holistic Health Approach. What is the Holistic Health Approach? In 2023, U.S. Space Force Headquarters released a memo outlining HHA for uniformed Guardians and its three elements: performance health optimization practices, education, and a two‑year, voluntary Continuous Fitness Assessment study with Air Force Research Laboratory, which is now in its second phase called CFA PRIME. Department of the Air Force leadership recognizes that physical fitness alone cannot sustain a force built on highly specialized, cognitively demanding roles. Modern readiness requires a balanced approach that strengthens physical, mental and cognitive performance together. HHA emphasizes the interdependence of these domains, treating cognitive performance as a core component of operational capability. “Space Force Guardians are cognitive performers,” said Dr. Sarah Ward, holistic health integrator assigned to the Space Force Quality of Life and Resilience Directorate, or S1Q, under Headquarters Space Force. “Evidence-based research and practice show the link between cognitive performance and cognitive health to physical performance and physical health. You can’t have one without the other.” Ward leads two Guardian Resilience Teams that support more than 1,300 Guardians in the National Capital Region. Vandenberg Expands Resiliency Services with their Human Performance Optimization Center A group of Airmen and Guardians train on echo bikes during a physical training session at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., Nov. 21, 2024. The Human Performance Optimization Center hosts training sessions to groups and individual active duty members. (U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua LeRoi) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Delta 12 closed out its first Summer Fitness Challenge with a PT Field Day at Peterson Space Force Base Guardians stretch before beginning the Delta 12 Summer Fitness Challenge Physical Training Field Day at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, Sept. 12, 2025. The event promoted readiness and resilience through squadron-level competition. (U.S. Space Force photo by Keefer Patterson) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res 250110-X-NY190-1029 Space Launch Delta 45 Guardians exercise on rowing machines during a Guardian Resiliency Team workout at Patrick Space Force Base, Florida, Jan. 10, 2025. The SLD 45 GRT supports Guardian‘s overall well-being and readiness by providing resources and strategies to enhance their physical, mental and emotional resilience. Photo Details / Download Hi-Res How Guardian Resilience Teams support HHA practices To support this evolution, GRTs are embedded across the force to deliver proactive, multidisciplinary care. Comprised of specialists in psychological health, strength and conditioning, mental health and physical therapy, these teams guide Guardians toward sustained performance and readiness across the Total Force. Ward noted that GRTs represent a deliberate shift from reactive care to a prevention‑focused model. Instead of preparing for periodic fitness assessments, Guardians are encouraged to adopt consistent, sustainable habits that reduce injury risk and enhance long‑term readiness. This approach prioritizes lifestyle changes that support health and performance throughout a Guardian’s career, rather than short‑term preparation for testing cycles. GRTs also train and certify Guardians to serve within Space Force’s Unit Fitness Cell teams, reinforcing the Department’s expectation that leaders at every level maintain responsibility for the physical, mental and cognitive readiness of their teams. These fitness cells operationalize HHA by delivering training, programming and individualized guidance aligned with national exercise science standards to help Guardians meet mission requirements and stay healthy. Guardians from Space Delta 12 – Test & Evaluation compete against each other during the Guardian Resilience Teams cognitive physical training session at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, August 28, 2024. This event included tactical challenges and tasks intended to emulate the cognitive demands typically faced by members DEL 12. (U.S. Space Force photo by Senior Airman Justin Todd) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res A key component of the HHA program is the use of data‑driven insights to tailor support to each Guardian. Through wearable technology and performance tracking, GRTs help individuals better understand their health, adjust behaviors and optimize performance based on personalized metrics. This reflects the DAF’s emphasis on leveraging modern technology to maintain operational advantage. This personalized, preventative model aligns with the DAF’s broader culture of fitness initiative, which reframes physical training as essential to mission success rather than a standalone requirement. Beyond physical conditioning, GRTs address Guardian‑specific challenges, including shift schedules and cognitively demanding operations. In the NCR region, Ward shared that GRTs often provide guidance on sleep hygiene, nutrition, stress management and recovery strategies to help Guardians sustain performance in their mission environments. “We know we can’t change shift work, so we teach them tips and tricks to the science so they can manage, recover, and heal better,” she said. Future outlook for GRT support to Guardians As awareness of GRT services grows, so does their utilization across the force. Ward said that the increased engagement she has seen reflects both the demand for and the value of their integrated support. The HHA program plans to require lifestyle medicine board certification for all GRT specialists to better equip them with the knowledge to optimize long‑term Guardian health and resilience. Through this continued focus on holistic health, the Space Force is reinforcing a culture that treats fitness, cognitive performance and well‑being as foundational to readiness. “We’re sitting for national board certifications in lifestyle medicine to make sure that we’re at the highest level of education to infuse those true lifestyle changes into the Guardian’s daily activities and duty days,” she said. According to Ward, by emphasizing prevention, personalization and performance, GRTs are building a more resilient force prepared to meet the challenges of an increasingly complex operational environment. GRTs also support the DAF’s commitment to maintaining a force that is ready, capable and dominant over time.