Exchange School Meal Program Supports Fitness Events in Germany, Japan

Nov 5, 2026

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In brief:

In October, DoWEA schools participated in Presidential Fitness Day.
Exchange school meal program teams supported events in Germany and
Teams emphasized the role nutrition plays in physical fitness.

During October, Exchange school meal program teams supported schools in Germany and Japan that were participating in Presidential Fitness Day, a Department of War Education Activity (DoWEA) fitness initiative.

Students at more than 160 DoWEA schools were evaluated in three fitness areas: core and abdominal strength; cardiorespiratory fitness; and upper-body strength.

The school meal program teams, supporting events at Spangdahlem High School in Germany and at Ryukyu Middle School and Kadena High School in Okinawa, emphasized the role that proper nutrition plays in physical fitness.

“Fitness is about more than how fast you run, how many push-ups you can do, or how far you can jump,” said Mark Inocentes, Okinawa school meal program coordinator. “It’s also about how we fuel our bodies. At the school meal program, our mission goes beyond serving breakfast and lunch. We help provide students with the nutrition their growing bodies need to learn, move, play and reach their full potential.”

During a “farmers market” event at Kadena High School, Mark Inocentes, Exchange school meal program coordinator for Okinawa, hands out stickers students could use to vote for their favorite fruits or vegetables.

In Japan, school meal program team members hosted “Harvest Table/Nutrition Passport” days at as part of “farmers market” events at Ryukyu Middle School and Kadena High School on Okinawa.

At the events, students were invited to sample fresh fruits and vegetables and vote for their favorite color group using stickers (“Purple Power”—grapes—was the winner). Students also had the chance to fill out a “nutrition passport,” which included a checklist of daily challenges for healthy eating (such as “try a new fruit” and “identify a protein food”) to support a strong body and mind as they prepared for the Presidential Fitness Test.

“The Exchange is proud to serve our youngest heroes,” said Pacific Region Commander Col. Jason Beck. “Providing nutritious meals so that kids are active, healthy and ready to learn is an important part of our mission to support military families in the Pacific Region.”

At Spangdahlem High School in Germany, Exchange Europe/Southwest Asia/Africa Commander Col. Benjamin W. Stegmann talked with students, including JROTC cadets, about proper nutrition for fitness readiness and about the school meal program.

Wide shot of Col. Benjamin Stegmann talking with a large group of students siting at a row of tables at Spangdahlem High School — Exchange Europe/Southwest Asia/Africa Commander Col. Benjamin W. Stegmann talks with students about proper nutrition for fitness readiness and about the Exchange’s school meal program during a Presidential Fitness Day event at Spangdahlem High School in Germany.

Stegmann was joined by Spangdahlem Consolidated Exchange (SCE) General Manager Jessica Dean; SCE school meal program Manager Frank Trierweiler; and Europe Region school meal program Specialist Susanne LaFlamme.

The school meal program team served the students two protein options, fruit, healthy sides and hydration options, supported by American Heart Association and USDA Team Nutrition signage promoting such practices as proper hydration and choosing fruit as a snack.

After the briefing, Stegmann and program leaders recognized Spangdahlem Food Services Foreman Derrike Pennington and Food Services Workers Chuck Harper and Joshua Pierson for their hard work and contributions to the school meal program.

“Good meals and proper nutrition for our students don’t happen by accident,” Stegmann said. “It is all possible because of the hard work and creativity of some very talented people who run the school meal program and, of course, do the cooking!”

Since 1955, when it began serving meals in DoDEA (now DoWEA) schools in the United Kingdom, the Exchange has been ensuring that our Nation’s youngest heroes overseas have nutritious breakfasts and lunches. Since the implementation of DoD Directive 1015.5 “DoD Student Meal Program (SMP)” in 1983, the Exchange has been the official feeding source for all DoWEA schools.

The program, in 73 schools in seven countries (Japan, South Korea, Germany, United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy and Turkey), serves meals under the same USDA guidelines as schools in the United States.

“The school meal program is a great way to support Presidential Fitness Day activities,” Stegmann said, “but most important, the program provides daily nutrition to students in communities across Europe and Pacific Region. The events reinforced the important role of the Exchange in the lives and health of our students.”

For more photos from Presidential Fitness Day events, click here.