Strengthening the Forces is a health promotion program designed to assist Canadian Forces (CF) members, Regular and Primary Reserve, to take control of their health and well-being. Maintaining a high level of health improves one's ability to perform effectively and safely on CF operations, and to enjoy a high quality of life. Certain programs are open to families and other members of the Defence Team.

The CF's Strengthening the Forces health promotion program includes four Core Program Areas:

• Addictions Awareness and Prevention
• Injury Prevention and Active Living
• Nutritional Wellness
• Social Wellness

Addictions Awareness and Prevention

Freedom from addiction to, or misuse of tobacco, alcohol, other drugs and gambling is a healthy lifestyle which includes effective coping, lifelong learning, positive social interactions, spirituality, balancing work and family, and supportive environmental conditions and organizational policies. From a HP perspective, the CF will support efforts to eliminate addictions and enhance health.

Injury Prevention and Active Living 

Within the Strengthening the Forces Program, ‘Active Living’ and ‘Injury Prevention’ will focus on encouraging CF members to maintain a healthy level of physical activity, and providing guidelines to prevent overuse or repetitive strain, sports, or exercise-related injuries, and to reduce the risk of chronic illnesses such as osteoporosis. It is acknowledged that injury prevention strategies address a combination of environmental, social and individual factors.

 Nutritional Wellness

Includes healthy diet, weight management, nutrition for action, nutrition for special needs (i.e. athletes, pregnant women) heart health and diabetes prevention. Nutritional wellness in the CF involves providing the knowledge and environment to facilitate the ability of CF members to make nutritional choices appropriate to their stage of life, activity level and overall health.

Social Wellness

Is a concept integral to overall HP and focuses on stress management, anger management, suicide prevention, healthy relationships, domestic violence prevention, spirituality, healthy workplaces and healthy families. Social Wellness in the CF acknowledges the role that communities and families play in enhancing the health of individuals.