Winter 2023 - 28

Q&A with H2F Program Director Mark Taysom
By LTC Randy Ready, PAO, U.S. Army Center for Initial Military Training
M
ark Taysom is the Holistic Health and
Fitness (H2F) Program Director for the
10th Mountain Division's Combat Aviation
Brigade at Fort Drum, NY. His team of 30
interdisciplinary professionals is charged with
the performance readiness of the brigade's
3,000 soldiers.
Mark has been involved in human performance
for more than 20 years as an athlete and a coach.
A Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist,
Mark is a former Strongman National Champion,
previously worked at the U.S. Olympic Training
Center and in the NFL, and was an adjunct
instructor for exercise science at Arizona State
University and Grand Canyon University.
" Ever the teacher, Mark always has a tailormade
thread of wisdom concerning health and
wellness which he is able to expertly, and in a
genuinely compassionate way, connect with his
soldiers and employees, " remarked his previous
brigade commander, Col. Travis Mcintosh. " Mark
has done more for the overall well-being of the
soldiers of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade
than perhaps anyone else. "
Tactical Training & Conditioning: What
made you want to be a part of H2F?
Mark Taysom: I helped start the initiative
more than ten years ago at Fort Carson with the
Iron Horse Performance Optimization Program.
The spectrum of various needs, abilities,
and motivations in the Army is unmatched
anywhere else.
Additionally, in the civilian realm of sports
medicine, there is always the suspicion of the
dollar. An athlete or client may question a coach's
motives, thinking they are just trying to make a
buck. In the Army, the soldier never has to ask
if what I am saying has the alternative motive
of money. Working in the Army allows me to
have those honest and strong relationships with
soldiers much quicker. Plus in the private sector,
an individual can only train to the level of their
budget. Soldiers do not pay out of pocket for my
services; therefore, their wallet doesn't determine
their success. H2F gives me the environment
28 | Tactical Training & Conditioning | Winter 2023
Winter 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Winter 2023
