Skip to main content

Military Health System

METC trains dietician techs to build, support a Medically Ready Force

Image of Military health personnel preparing food trays while wearing a face mask. Military health personnel preparing food trays while wearing a face mask

Recommended Content:

Nutritional Fitness | Total Force Fitness | Health Readiness & Combat Support | Education & Training | Medical Education and Training Campus

Good nutrition is the mainstay of health. It is well known that eating the right foods can oftentimes make a big impact on our physical - and mental - wellbeing.

A healthy diet could help fight off illness and control diseases, improve our mood and mental health, and prevent obesity. In fact, the benefits of healthful eating are so well established that medical practitioners employ nutrition therapy to treat certain diseases and chronic conditions.

National Nutrition Month, observed during the month of March, focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating habits along with physical activity. Being that health and fitness are synonymous with force readiness, it's no surprise that nutrition plays an important role in the military.

The Nutrition and Diet Therapy program at the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC), located on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas, trains students to become Army nutrition care specialists or Air Force diet therapy apprentices.

The eight-week long course prepares students to function as entry-level dietetic technicians in medical treatment facilities and deployed settings. Students are taught to perform patient nutrition screenings and assessments, basic medical nutrition therapy, menu and food modification for therapeutic use, how to operate and clean food service equipment, and participate in procurement, storing and administration of dietetic foods and supplies. Students also learn how to prepare an individually-tailored meal based on a nutrition plan designed by a dietician and serve it to a patient.

Military health personnel wearing face mask speaking to each other
Army Pvt. Tobin Roche, left, conducts a simulated nutrition screening during a practical exercise in the Nutrition and Diet Therapy program at the Medical Education and Training Campus (METC) on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. In this portion of the training Roche is learning to conduct nutritional screenings, assessments, and document finding for a simulated patient.  Maj. Stephanie Gasper, program director, acts as the patient in this scenario. The METC Nutrition and Diet Therapy program prepares students to function as entry-level dietetic technicians in medical treatment facilities and deployed settings (Photo By: Lisa Braun, Medical Education and Training Campus).

According to Army Maj. Stephanie Gasper, METC Nutrition and Diet Therapy program director, the diversity of the career field covers a wide range of areas that promote and maintain nutrition, health, and readiness within the force.

"Military nutrition technicians can work in food service operations and medical field feeding, sports nutrition to optimize performance and support the warfighter, nutrition for general health and wellness or disease prevention, or perform patient care through medical nutrition therapy for diseases or other conditions in both a hospital and inpatient or ambulatory settings," she explained.

"I think there are so many opportunities for soldiers and airmen in the nutrition career field today compared to several years ago, so I'm excited for what lays ahead of them once they leave here. The majority of our students are excited and ready to take what they learn here to improve the health of our force," Gasper added.

Air Force Master Sgt. Jorge Nikolas, a student in the program, said that Nutrition and Diet Therapy is his dream career field. "The military allowed me to get this training so that I can make a positive impact to the long-term health of my fellow airmen and soldiers. With a large aging population, the country needs more skilled diet therapists to help our currently serving and retired military customers."

The importance of good nutrition cannot be over emphasized.

"Everyone has to eat, and what we eat and how much we eat can have a real impact on our physical and mental wellbeing," Gasper pointed out.

You also may be interested in...

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 7 - July 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Low back pain, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2009; Thoracolumbar spine fractures, active and reserve components, 2000-2009; Tendon ruptures, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2009; Surveillance snapshot: Plantar fasciitis; Surveillance snapshot: Abnormal glucose tolerance test; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, July 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through June of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 12 - December 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Numbers, proportions, and natures of conditions that are diagnosed for the first time within six months before retirement, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2003-2009; Osteoarthritis and spondylosis, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2009; Surveillance snapshot: Pertussis diagnoses among service members and other beneficiaries of the U.S. Military Health System, January 2008-November 2010; Surveillance snapshot: Coccidioidomycosis diagnoses by location, active component, 2000-2009; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, December 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through November of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 2 - February 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Medical evacuations from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), active and Reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, October 2001-September 2009; Accidental injuries from hand-to-hand combat training and combat sports, U.S. Armed Forces, 2002-2009; Surveillance Snapshot: Medical evacuations for humeral fractures due to arm wrestling; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, February 2008-February 2010; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through January of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol.17 No. 4 - April 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: To readers of the Medical Surveillance Monthly Report (MSMR); Hospitalizations among members of the active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2009; Ambulatory visits among members of the active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2009; Absolute and relative morbidity burdens attributable to various illnesses and injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, 2009; Surveillance Snapshot: Illness and injury burdens among U.S. military recruits; Reportable medical events, active and Reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2009; Acute respiratory disease (ARD) and streptococcal pharyngitis rates (SASI), basic combat training centers, U.S. Army, by week, April 2008-April 2010; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, March 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through March of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 9 - September 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Contact transfer of vaccinia virus from U.S. military smallpox vaccinees, U.S. Armed Forces, December 2002-May 2010; Updates: Routine screening for antibodies to HIV-1, civilian applicants for U.S. military service and U.S. Armed Forces, active and reserve components; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through August of 2009 and 2010; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, September 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 11 - November 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Supplemental report: Selected mental health disorders among active component members, U.S. Armed Forces, 2007-2010; Mental disorders and mental health problems, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2000-December 2009; Hospitalizations for mental disorders, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2000-December 2009; Childbirth, deployment, and diagnoses of mental disorders among active component women, January 2002-June 2009; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, November 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through October of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 8 - August 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Sexually transmitted infections, U.S. Armed Forces, 2004-2009 (corrected version: posted 30 March 2011); Surveillance snapshot: Malaria among deployers to Haiti, U.S. Armed Forces, 13 January - 30 June 2010; Upsurge in reported cases of Shigella sonnei, Fort Hood, Texas; Brief report: Recurrent chlamydia diagnoses, active component, 2000-2009; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, August 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through July of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 6 - June 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Incident diagnoses of cancers and cancer-related deaths, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2000-December 2009; Surveillance Snapshot: Lightning-related medical encounters, 2009-2010; Brief Report: Japanese encephalitis surveillance among beneficiaries of the U.S. Military Health System, 2000-2009; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, July 2008-July 2010; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, May 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through May of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 17 No. 10 - October 2010

Report
1/1/2010

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Illness and injury diagnoses within six months before retirement after 20 or more years of active service, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2009; Cold weather injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, July 2005 - June 2010; Brief report: Incidence of interstitial cystitis and painful bladder syndrome, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2009; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, October 2010; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through September of 2009 and 2010.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 16 No. 9 - September 2009

Report
1/1/2009

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Cold weather-related injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, July 2004 - June 2009; Surveillance Snapshot: Influenza immunizations among health care workers; Preliminary report: Outbreak of novel H1N1 influenza aboard USS Boxer, 29 June - 31 July 2009; Mental disorders after deployment to OEF/OIF in relation to predeployment mental health and during deployment combat experiences, active components, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2006 - December 2007; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, September 2007 - September 2009; Deployment health assessments update; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through August of 2008 and 2009.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 16 No. 4 - April 2009

Report
1/1/2009

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Hospitalizations among members of active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2008; Surveillance Snapshot: Deaths among active component service members, 1990-2008; Ambulatory visits among members of active components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2008; Absolute and relative morbidity burdens attributable to various illnesses and injuries, U.S. Armed Forces, 2008; Reportable medical events, active and reserve components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2008.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 16 No. 12 - December 2009

Report
1/1/2009

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Deriving case counts from medical encounter data: considerations when interpreting health surveillance report; Risk factors for migraine after OEF/OIF deployment, active component, U.S. Armed Forces; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, December 2007-December 2009; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, November 2009; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through November of 2008 and 2009.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 16 No. 7 - July 2009

Report
1/1/2009

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Lyme disease among U.S. military members, active and reserve component, 2001-2008; Asthma, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 1999-2008; Deployment health assessments update; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through June of 2008 and 2009; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, June 2007-June 2009.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 16 No. 2 - February 2009

Report
1/1/2009

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Relationships between the nature and timing of mental disorders before and after deploying to Iraq/Afghanistan, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2002-2008; Diabetes mellitus, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 1997-2007; Update: Deployment health assessments, U.S. Armed Forces, January 2009; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, February 2007-February 2009; Sentinel reportable medical events, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through January 2008 and January 2009.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health

MSMR Vol. 16 No. 6 - June 2009

Report
1/1/2009

A monthly publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch. This issue of the peer-reviewed journal contains the following articles: Motorcycle accidents, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 1998-2008; Lightning strike injuries, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 1999-2008; Accidental drownings, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2004-2008; Surveillance Snaphot: Envenomations; Deployment health assessments update; Sentinel reportable medical events, service members and beneficiaries, U.S. Armed Forces, cumulative numbers through May 2008 through May 2009; Acute respiratory disease, basic training centers, U.S. Army, June 2007-June 2009.

Recommended Content:

Health Readiness & Combat Support | Public Health
<< < ... 11 12 13 14 15  ... > >> 
Showing results 211 - 225 Page 15 of 24
Refine your search
Last Updated: December 28, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery