Allyssa Richardson

How long have you been a part of the Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) Program?

I have been a part of the H2F program since the pilot program starting in May 2019. I first started with 519th Military Intelligence Battalion and am now with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

What is something you’ve learned during your time in the H2F Program?

Something one of my Sergeant Majors taught me when I first started, was when building a program that has to be approved by a commander, to think of the questions that could be asked, and have answers ready. Learning that has made me a better critical thinker and problem solver.

What does your typical workday look like?

My typical day is from 0615 to 1415. I begin my mornings working with our medics in our health clinic, triaging musculoskeletal injuries and then depending on the day, I could move on to seeing my injured soldiers for their scheduled appointments or going out into the field with my soldiers to watching ranges, training exercises, or working a drop zones. My team and I also offer educational opportunities to our brigade medics which allows them the opportunity to learn and hone their skill sets to build their “tool belt” that they can use out in the field.

In your Athletic Training career, what challenges have you had to overcome and how did you accomplish this?

One of the biggest challenges that I have had to overcome is burn out. Burn out is very common in athletic training due to the demands of our job in certain settings. I was actually considering leaving the profession until this opportunity of being an athletic trainer for the army came my way. Leaving my former job setting and entering this one actually renewed my love for athletic training and has given me the work-life balance that I was desperately needing.

What is one thing you’d tell your younger self if you had the opportunity?

Don’t be afraid to take chances and be open to every opportunity that comes your way, because our biggest regrets in life are the risks we didn’t take.

Who has provided the biggest inspiration / motivation in your life?

My high school athletic trainer, Amanda Miller is the reason why I am an athletic trainer today. Her dedication and compassion for the profession and her athletes really helped shape me into the athletic trainer that I am today. From watching her tend to my own injuries as an athlete, to standing on the sidelines and learning from

her during games, to encouraging me to chase after my own dreams, if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be where I am today. She helped motivate me to strive for the best and to show the same care and compassion for my soldiers that she showed me and countless other athletes over the years. I appreciate her more than she will ever know.