Military officers meet to discuss recruitment. They are using a laptop.
Boiling Springs native featured in national publication for Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program
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Asia Tabb
Military officers meet to discuss recruitment. They are using a laptop.
AIRED; August 22, 2025
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
A Pennsylvania native is receiving national attention for her work helping soldiers build resilience beyond physical training.
Maj. Erin Stone, originally from Boiling Springs, was recently featured in Men’s Health for her expertise in the U.S. Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system. The program, known as H2F, aims to improve soldier readiness by focusing on five areas: physical, mental, nutritional, sleep, and spiritual.
As an occupational therapist and mental readiness expert, Stone’s work emphasizes the often-overlooked role of mental strength.
“People sometimes think of fitness as just about pushups and running,” Stone said. “But we know that if you aren’t mentally ready — if you can’t regulate your emotions, focus, or bounce back from setbacks — you won’t be at your best, whether that’s on the battlefield or in everyday life.”
In her Men’s Health feature, Stone explained tools soldiers use to strengthen mental readiness, including visualization and reflection. She says these same skills can help civilians handle daily challenges.
“One of the things I teach is to take a few minutes after you’ve completed a task to reflect on what went well and what you can improve next time,” Stone said. “That self-awareness builds confidence and resilience over time.”
The H2F initiative represents a shift in how the Army trains, moving away from solely physical conditioning toward a more comprehensive approach.
“Our soldiers need to be ready for anything,” Stone said. “That means making sure they’re getting good sleep, eating the right fuel, caring for their spiritual wellbeing, and building mental toughness. It’s about taking care of the whole person.”
Stone’s Pennsylvania roots make her recognition especially meaningful.
“I grew up here, and it’s where I first learned about discipline, hard work, and community,” Stone said. “Being able to bring that mindset into my career and now have it recognized at a national level is incredibly humbling.”
The Army hopes stories like Stone’s will help broaden understanding of what modern soldier readiness looks like.
“At the end of the day,” Stone added, “this isn’t just about the Army. These are skills anyone can use — from managing stress at work to parenting to dealing with life’s unexpected challenges.”
