Fort Liberty in North Carolina has unveiled a cutting-edge fitness facility tailored specifically for the Army’s special operations training community.
Known as the Human Performance & Force Generation Training Center—affectionately dubbed HP Forge—this impressive $43 million establishment covers 90,000 square feet and boasts more than 100 stations for weightlifting and cardio workouts.
It also includes a fully equipped kitchen capable of serving a platoon and high-tech digital shooting technologies.
Access to this state-of-the-art center is reserved exclusively for students and staff linked to the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
Investment in Training Facilities
Construction of the HP Forge took three years to complete, and it is designed to support the approximately 1,000 trainees at the Kennedy center, which prepares personnel for diverse roles, such as Green Berets, Civil Affairs specialists, and psychological operations troops.
According to Lt. Col. Mike Handlan, who directs Human Performance and Wellness at the JFK school, this facility underscores the Army’s commitment to addressing the comprehensive training needs of its service members—encompassing both physical and mental aspects.
Innovative Training Technologies
Unlike a standard gym, the center includes a unique synthetic training environment, featuring two highly advanced digital marksmanship simulators.
These systems simulate realistic combat scenarios with various visual and auditory distractions, providing invaluable training experiences that assess trainees through technologies like heart rate monitoring and eye tracking.
Remarkably, up to 25 students can participate in these simulations at once.
In terms of size, HP Forge is nearly double that of another recently opened facility at Fort Liberty, the Duskin Human Performance Training Center, which spans 56,000 square feet and serves the 3rd Special Forces Group.
Strategically positioned next to a cluster of three-story classroom buildings that mimic a university campus, the new gym provides extensive educational resources to those participating in the Kennedy training programs.
Holistic Approach to Soldier Wellness
The design of HP Forge allocates half of its space to workout areas.
The other half comprises classrooms, offices, a fully functional kitchen, and health-oriented spaces, including rooms dedicated to physical therapy and rehabilitation.
Lt. Col. Handlan pointed out that this facility fosters a holistic approach to training that encompasses not just physical fitness, but also mental resilience, cognitive skills, and social well-being.
With a well-rounded team of professionals on board—ranging from strength and conditioning coaches to nutritionists, physical therapists, and mental performance experts—the center is outfitted with equipment comparable to that found in professional sports settings.
An expert trainer from the New York Jets even collaborated with the JFK school to refine the center’s fitness and training protocols.
HP Forge features an impressive array of resources, including 44 strength training racks, various cardio machines, recovery chairs, and a designated training turf area, as well as a “performance kitchen” that can serve up to 49 people at once.
The facility is designed to accommodate workouts for as many as 300 soldiers simultaneously.
Ultimately, the vision behind the design and functionality of HP Forge is to promote early detection of physical and mental health challenges among service members.
Lt. Col. Handlan emphasized that robust research indicates a strong connection between physical health, nutrition, and mental well-being.
By offering a wealth of resources from counseling to performance training, HP Forge aims to equip soldiers with the tools and support vital for success in both their military roles and personal lives.
Source: Taskandpurpose