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Mind, Body, Battle Ready

Chiefs' Readiness Challenge

CHIEFS’ READINESS CHALLENGE OFFICIAL LAUNCH – OCTOBER 2026

Readiness is at the heart of our identity as members of the Profession of Arms.


This challenge aspires to help you articulate your identity as a War Fighter. It aims to foster mutual support and encouragement amongst teammates while infusing healthy daily, weekly, and monthly habits; habits selected to support readiness and the realization of your desired identity.

Directly aligning with the Mind, Body, Battle Ready Initiative, The Chiefs’ Readiness Challenge is rooted in promoting tactical health and seeks to operationalize the aim of Fighting Spirit: the need for perseverance, teamwork, adaptability, strength, and readiness, ultimately preparing CAF teams to thrive in dangerous and uncertain environments.

Visit monthly for more information and updates about The Challenge! 

Chiefs' Challenge

  • Chiefs' BONUS Challenges
    Check in here at the start of each month for specific challenges that will earn you bonus points.

    November Bonus Challenge:

    1) Engage a school or community group on the topic of Remembrance Day (50 points)
    2) Complete a "Buddy Check" on a distrant colleague or friend (10 points per) 

  • How the Challenge Works
    Step 1: Complete Your Identity Statement (Optional)
    • Complete the Identity (ID) Statement Form to help define your goals and commitments.
    • Participation in this step is encouraged but not mandatory.
    • You may update your ID Statement each month if your goals or priorities change.

    Step 2: Read the monthly introduction
    • Visit the Chiefs’ Readiness Challenge webpage for an introduction to the monthly wellness theme. Events, character reflection activities, and bonus challenges to earn bonus points will be found here.

    Step 3: Track Your Daily/Weekly/Monthly Habits
    • Use the monthly Habit Tracker to record your habits and activities throughout the month.
    • Update your tracker regularly to ensure your points are accurately captured.

    Step 4: Earn BONUS Points
    • View the Monthly Chief’s Bonus Challenge for an opportunity to earn more points.
    • Track your total bonus points over the month.

    Step 5: Calculate Your Monthly Points
    • At the end of the month, review your Habit Tracker.
    • Add up all the points you earned to determine your monthly total.

    Step 6: Submit Your Points
    • Enter your total monthly points into the online submission form.
    • Be sure to submit your points before the monthly deadline provided.

    Step 7: Repeat Each Month
    Continue the process for the duration of the challenge:
    • Update your Identity Statement if needed.
    • Review the monthly theme.
    • Track your habits.
    • Calculate your points.
    • Submit your total before the deadline.

    Point Submission Form 
    Each month, two participants will be recognized:
    • One top performer
    • One randomly selected participating Warfighter
  • Personal Goals & ID Statement
    Inspired by James Clear’s Atomic Habits, an identity statement is a purposeful description of the person you want to be, rather than what you want to accomplish.
    This statement can include all facets of your personal and professional life and should provide a clear vision from which you will design your daily, weekly, and monthly habits. Lasting behaviour change starts with identity change.
    This statement can evolve over time as the vision you have for yourself grows.
    Formula: Identity → Habits → Results
    When you consistently act in alignment with your identity, your habits become easier to maintain, and your desired results naturally follow.
    Download your Personal Goals & ID Statement form here: CLICK TO DOWNLOAD
     
  • Download Complete Book

    Click here to download the English Chiefs' Readiness Challenge Book. 

  • Micro-Workout Menu
    A micro-workout consists of a minimum of 3 minutes of planned and sustained effort consisting of aerobic, strength-based, balanced focused activities, or combination thereof.
    Ex. push-ups, abdominal exercise, air squats, pull-ups, climbing stairs, plank, leg raises, etc.

    Full Body Blast 
    • 40 sec jumping jacks
    • 40 sec squats
    • 40 sec push-ups
    • 40 sec mountain climbers
    • 40 sec plank
    •  
    Lower Body Burn
    • 20 body weight squats
    • 10 standing lunges (each leg)
    • 45 sec wall sit
    Repeat x2

    Core Crush
    • 20x bird-dog
    • 30 Sec plank
    • 10x Supermans
    • 20 bicycle crunches
    Repeat x2

    Desk Power Minute
    • 12 desk push-ups
    • 12 chair squats
    • 12 calf raises
    • 30 sec 1 leg stand
    Repeat x2

    Team Relay
    • In teams of 3-4, compete to complete the following, as fast as possible:
      • 10 jumping jacks

    Burpee Burner
    • Burpee Countdown
      • 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
      • 10 second break between

Character as a Force Multiplier

Readiness is more than fitness, skills, and equipment, it’s having the character to make the right decisions and act when the situation demands it. Our character influences how we make decisions under pressure, respond to adversity, treat our teammates, and accomplish the mission.

Over the coming months, this page will feature monthly character offerings designed to explore these dimensions and connect them to everyday CAF service. 

Developing the warfighter means developing character along with competence and readiness.

Month 2 - Integrity

Doing the right thing when nobody is watching.

"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."

– General Norman Schwarzkopf

Integrity. We’ve heard that word throughout our careers, but is it just simply doing the right thing? Yes…sort of…most of the time, but that’s a lot easier said than done. Integrity is consistently aligning our actions with our values, even when doing so is inconvenient, unpopular, or has a personal cost.

Military operations are built on trust. Every 9-line, release to service, intelligence assessment, aircraft clearance, or tactical recommendation depends on someone believing the information is accurate. Take a shortcut, exaggerate a story, or omit information and it will destroy confidence and introduce unnecessary risk. Technical competence may garner respect, but integrity earns trust. Without trust, teams cannot function effectively.

Integrity is often tested in small, subtle moments, rather than large, dramatic ones. It’s admitting you made a mistake before someone else discovers it. It’s acknowledging that you don't know the answer instead of pretending you do. It’s reporting what actually happened instead of what you wish had happened. These actions rarely make headlines, but they shape your reputation over an entire career.

As warfighters, we are expected to make decisions in complex and uncertain environments where, at times, no one is standing over our shoulder. We are trusted to make the right decision and, as leaders, lead our teams effectively. That responsibility begins with our character. Character fills the gap between supervision and action. When standards become habits, integrity becomes instinct. That’s what allows commanders to trust their people and teammates to trust one another.

Integrity also means having the moral courage to speak up when something is wrong. It can be uncomfortable to challenge unsafe practices, question inaccurate information, or hold peers accountable. However, protecting the mission and the people around us must always take precedence over protecting our own comfort. Remaining silent when we know something is wrong is rarely neutral…it simply transfers the risk to someone else.

Being an effective warfighter is not about appearing flawless...it's about being trusted to do the right thing, every time.

Reading Assignment

"Trusted to Serve"

  1. Review the Military Value “Integrity”
  2. The associated expectations within the Values, Principles and Expectations Matrix

"Fighting Spirit"

  1. Read: Section 2.2 – Fundamental Imperatives 
  2. Section 2.4 – Professions and Trust

Review:

Figure 2.2 – The Development of Trustworthiness

Ivey Character Leadership Framework

Integrity


Reflection Question

"Was there a moment this month when doing the right thing was difficult?"

  1. Integrity (defined by the Ivey Leader Character Framework):
  2. Is consistently acting in accordance with moral principles, values, and ethical standards. It means being honest, transparent, and authentic, while ensuring that one's words and actions are aligned.
  3. Leaders who demonstrate integrity:
    1. Tell the truth, even when it is difficult;
    2. Keep their promises and commitments;
    3. Act consistently with their values;
    4. Admit mistakes and accept responsibility;
    5. Avoid misleading others or taking unethical shortcuts; and
    6. Build trust by ensuring their actions match their words.

Character Framework Dimensions

Citation: Crossan, M., Seijts, G., Gandz, J. (2016). Developing leadership character. New York, NY: Routledge Publishing.

Resources

Check out these resources to continue your personal and professional development.

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