Top 10 Takeaways: What Warfighters Told Us About Human Performance

At T3i, we’ve spent years engaging directly with warfighters—from special operators to fighter pilots, from trainees to senior leaders—to understand their needs, priorities, and perceptions regarding Human Performance (HP). These conversations span a range of communities, yet the results consistently highlight the same critical themes: while HP programs solve specific challenges for each unique population, there are clear, shared priorities across the board.

The question we must now ask ourselves is this: Are we truly meeting the mark when it comes to human performance support?

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Top Takeaways

1. Overwhelming Interest in HP
   • More than 90% of warfighters express strong interest in and desire for HP support.
   • The vast majority report that HP has a significant impact on both their personal lives and their service readiness.
   • Both instructor-level and senior personnel, as well as younger and student-aged demographics, demonstrate significant interest in HP.
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2. The Most Desired Impact: Readiness
   
   • While warfighters value reduced medical visits, faster recovery, and increased fitness, they most commonly report “increased performance and readiness” as the top desired outcome of HP programs.
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3. Accessibility and Quality Define Success
   • Proximity to facilities, program flexibility, and high-quality staffing are critical determinants of program success
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4. Barriers to Overcome
   • Warfighters identify cultural stigmas, lack of buy-in/momentum, and insufficient resourcing as the most significant challenges in HP program adoption and success.
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5. Tailored Programs are Essential
   • Organizations consistently emphasize the need for HP programs tailored to their specific needs, battle rhythm, and culture.
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6. Facilities Matter
   • Warfighters stress that facilities must:
     • Be large enough to accommodate personnel and equipment.
     • Include strength and conditioning resources and recovery equipment, which is a recurring priority.

7. HP Programs Boost Morale
   • Beyond physical performance, warfighters report that HP programs are a significant morale booster across all ranks.
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8. Initial Skepticism is Common
   • HP professionals often encounter inertia and skepticism when starting new programs, driven by cultural stigmas and perceived risk. Building trust is essential.
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9. Extending Service Length
   • Warfighters believe that HP access is, or will be, a major contributor to extending their service careers—whether through better health or confidence that their organization is truly investing in its people.
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10. The Professional Athlete Proxy
    • Warfighters consistently view themselves as the professional athletes of their profession and expect training, treatment, and resources that reflect that standard.
    • They commonly report a desire for
      • Access to functional supplementation (e.g., hydration supplements, post-workout nutrition).
      • Individualized coaching tailored to their needs.
      • Specialized recovery techniques to optimize performance and longevity.
      • Performance psychologists to strengthen their mental game and maintain peak readiness.

A Call to Action

‍These takeaways highlight a clear opportunity: Human Performance is not just a “nice to have”—it’s a mission-critical effort for enhancing readiness, morale, and retention.

But with these insights in hand, we must ask ourselves: 

• Are current HP programs meeting warfighter intent?
• Where can current efforts improve?

The voices of 770 warfighters speak volumes. It's up to us to ensure we're listening!