Bridging the Siloed Landscape of Health and Wellness Programming in the Military: A Systems Approach to Integration and Communication

This study highlights the pressing need to transition from a fragmented, program-centric model to a systems-based approach to health and wellness in the Coast Guard. Key recommendations include embedding cross-functional liaisons, establishing recurring interdisciplinary working groups, consolidating digital infrastructure, improving navigation, integrating family engagement, and institutionalizing real-time feedback loops. Implementing these strategies will require a paradigm shift from isolated, expert-led programs to coordinated, user-centered ecosystems. Without this shift, even innovative efforts risk remaining disconnected, duplicative, and insufficient to meet the evolving needs of the force. Aligning structures, strategies, and communication will be critical not only to improve well-being but also to strengthen performance, readiness, and retention across the military.