FORCE test reward program launched

Photo by Peter Mallett, Lookout

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

A new rewards program is giving Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members added incentive to do well on their mandatory fitness and operational readiness test.

On Jan. 1 the FORCE Rewards Program was rolled out at military bases across Canada, enabling military personnel a chance to receive prizes and special recognition for registering high scores in their FORCE (Fitness for Operational Requirements Canadian Armed Forces Employment) test.

All Regular Force and Class B Reservists are eligible to participate in the rewards program.

Alyssa Jesson, a Personnel Support Programs Fitness coordinator who works at the Naden Athletic Centre, thinks the rewards program will be a motivating factor to improved fitness.

“I think it was definitely time for some sort of rewards [system] to come into play,” said Jesson. “I am excited that in the coming weeks PSP staff will be seeing members coming through the front doors of our athletic facilities already wearing their FORCE Rewards gear.”

After completion of their FORCE Evaluation test the results of members are plotted on their FORCE Fitness Profile and placed in one of four classification categories: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. That placing is based on their performance in comparison to how others of the same age and gender score on the test.

Those who place in the top three categories receive the following prizes: Silver, high-performance t-shirt; Gold, high-performance hoodie; Platinum: high performance hoodie, certificate of recognition, and a pin to be worn on dress uniform (not CADPAT).

The Force Rewards Program was developed in consultation with members in uniform, and relies on scientific evidence about what motivates people. Over 15,000 questionnaires and seven focus groups were undertaken to determine what motivates CAF members. The findings demonstrated that rewards provide a sense of accomplishment for people attaining their fitness goals, as well as the pride of being recognized by their colleagues for their achievement.

PSP staff members will inform those eligible for a prize and how to claim it on the FORCE Rewards Logistik Unicorp website.

For more information about the FORCE Rewards program, visit www.cafconnection.ca/FORCErewards.