MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The Marine Corps Office of Personnel Management has recognized that job attitude, work performance and overall morale in civilian employees increase when they are involved in health promotion programs and a consistent exercise plan.
Base Order 6100.1 offers all civilian personnel assigned to Camp Pendleton, a continuous health and fitness program called the Civilian Fitness Program which has been designed to improve personal physical health and improve readiness and productivity from a healthy workforce.
Activities approved by the CFP are running, swimming, weight training, aerobics, biking, stress reduction/relaxation exercises, and organized team sports. Sports such as golf, bowling, and softball are not considered to be aerobic and are not permitted.
“I can’t wait to get started,” said Delia E. Lopez, financial systems analysis, Camp Pendleton. “This will be a great way for us to get out of the office and stretch our legs.”
Employees participating in the CFP may be excused from work no more than 3 hours a week without a charge to their leave. Since the program is a privilege given to employees, it can be withdrawn at any time the supervisor deems necessary. Participation is not allowed on days when overtime, compensatory time or credit hours are earned.
“This is a wonderful idea, not only will employees have more energy to do work, they will also be making themselves healthy,” said Barbara J. Spittal, senior lead financial systems analysis, Camp Pendleton.
Being that employees involved in the program are considered to be in a duty status, injuries sustained during the physical fitness activities may be covered by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Program. Injuries received must be reported promptly to the first-level supervisor even if no medical care is needed.
To begin the CFP, employees and supervisors must take full responsibility to ensure a primary care provider has authorized a Fitness Education Assessment stating that physical fitness activities are permitted with or without limited conditions.
The supervisors in charge of the program within the workforce must record the employees’ time in the fitness program and control employee participation.
To make the CFP more convenient and less time consuming for employees and supervisors, the fitness program activities being conducted must take place at the employee’s assigned work site. The excused time includes any time it takes to get to the location of the exercise and time to change over.
Having our work-out session right outside our office is great, this gives us plenty of time to get ready when we’re done so we can get back to work, said Lopez.
The program may not be used to arrive late for work or depart early from work. Employees who choose to exercise at the beginning of the work day must report to work first and those who decide to exercise at the end of the day must report back to work prior to going home.
For more information regarding the Civilian Fitness Program, refer to Base Order 6100.1.