FIT & ACTIVE: The West Point Physical Development Program

We all know the dilemma: Kids are tuning in to TVs and video games and tuning out physical activity. As a result, kids are more overweight than ever. More than half of the adult population in the United States are overweight, and almost a third are clinically obese.

An obvious answer is to become and stay fit through regular physical activity. The authors of Fit & Active: The West Point Physical Development Program know this, and in response they developed a program at West Point―the academy that's been educating U.S. military and political leaders for over 200 years. Now you can use the West Point fitness program to meet the needs of your students.

Fit & Active: The West Point Physical Development Program is a practical, ready-to-use resource that will help you inspire the kids under your charge to be more physically active. It includes the following features:
-The system that has worked for the authors in their West Point program, along with detailed strategies for modifying their approach for various ages and environments
-Activities and ideas that have been reviewed by high school physical education teachers to ensure the suggestions are appropriate for high school students
-New ideas and information that will help you improve your program
-Assessment strategies to help you meet state and national physical education standards

At West Point, fitness is seen as a solid foundation for emotional and intellectual well-being and as a way to help prepare students for a lifetime of health, physical activity, and success―in the classroom and beyond.

With that in mind, the authors focus on how to develop and assess your program in part I, and in part II they provide core activity courses (including basic movement, swimming, boxing, self-defense, and obstacle courses) that develop motor skills. In part III they delve into wellness and personal fitness strategies, workout designs, assessments, and related issues, and in part IV they outline courses for lifetime activities such as tennis, golf, ice skating, and rock climbing.

As a result, you get a comprehensive resource that is easy to use, well illustrated, adapted for high school, and appropriate for a variety of groups―and one that will also help you meet state and national standards. Along the way your students will learn leadership skills through sports and become motivated to make physical activity and fitness an integral part of their lives long after they leave school.

BG(R) Maureen K. LeBoeuf, EdD, graduated from St. Bonaventure University in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in education and received a direct commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. During her 28-year career in the Army, she held various staff and leadership positions and flew UH-1 helicopters in the continental United States and Europe. Most noteworthy was her assignment as the professor and head of the department of physical education at West Point from 1997 until her retirement in 2004. Her position carried the unique title "Master of the Sword." She was the first female department head at the United States Military Academy, founded in 1802. On retirement, Maureen was advanced to the rank of brigadier general.

During previous assignments in the department of physical education at West Point, Maureen was an instructor as well as the director of instruction. While the head of the department of physical education at the United States Military Academy, Maureen oversaw the four-year physical education and fitness development programs for the 4,000-member Corps of Cadets. Maureen was the first woman inducted into the Seneca Battalion Affinity Group, St. Bonaventure University Reserve Officer Training Corps Hall of Fame. She is a member of the Board of Trustees at St. Bonaventure University.

Maureen holds master's and doctoral degrees in education, curriculum and instruction from the University of Georgia as well as an executive diploma in strategic leadership from the U.S. Army War College and an executive diploma in management and leadership from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College.

Currently Maureen is engaged in independent consulting in the areas of leadership development, fitness and wellness, mentoring, and coaching. She has worked with the Duke University Global Executive MBA, Duke Executive Education, and the Duke Leadership programs.

Lawrence F. Butler, EdD is currently a professor of physical education at West Point. Larry graduated in 1976 with a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education from Pennsylvania State University, where he was a member of the Division I national championship gymnastics team. He received his master's and doctoral degrees in curriculum and instruction from Teachers College at Columbia University, as well as a master's degree in counseling education from Long Island University. Larry began teaching at West Point when he was 21 years old and has since taught 19 courses at the academy. Larry has served in a variety of leadership positions in his more than 30 years at West Point, and he currently serves as the director of research, assessment, and outreach for the department of physical education.

Larry was the recipient of the Apgar Award for Excellence in Teaching at West Point and the Amazing Person Award in Higher Education from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. He has been awarded the Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic Achievement Award three times. In addition, he has received the Commanders Award for Civilian Service and the Department of the Army's Achievement Medal for Civilian Service. He has authored the textbook Teaching Lifetime Sports as well as a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals, and he has made over 20 presentations at state, national, and international conferences.

Larry's interests span the entire curriculum at West Point. He has served as the chair of the West Point Teaching Committee, which includes all 13 academic departments and focuses on improving teaching, and he has chaired numerous academy-wide committees. He has served as the president of the Higher Education Section for New York State AHPERD, chaired the organization's Constitution and By-Laws Committee, and served as the Higher Education Section's program planner for the annual state conference.

Most recently, Dr. Butler, a civilian professor, has voluntarily deployed three times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Kabul, Afghanistan, since September 11, 2001. In one deployment he served as chief of the 15-person U.S. support team and mentored the new president of the academy (a general officer) on a daily basis.