Blog | May 15, 2023

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Frank Ponds Delivers Keynote Address on Child Nutrition

Admiral Ponds was a featured speaker at the 37th National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Sponsors Association’s National Child Nutrition Conference

In April, long-time Mission: Readiness member Rear Admiral (Ret.) Fernandez “Frank” Ponds, U.S. Navy, delivered a keynote address at the 37th National Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Sponsors Association’s National Child Nutrition Conference in San Diego, California.

The National CACFP Sponsors Association’s National Child Nutrition Conference takes place each year bringing together professionals from child care centers, home providers, sponsoring organizations, school districts, afterschool programs, Head Start programs, food banks, tribal nations and state agencies.

Admiral Ponds spoke at the event’s General Session to share how federal nutrition programs aid America’s military preparedness. In his address, he detailed the detrimental impact of obesity on our country’s military recruitment and ways to combat childhood malnutrition and food insecurity and widen the eligibility pool.

Mission: Readiness released a factsheet in January highlighting that a staggering 77 percent of youth, ages 17-24, cannot qualify for the armed services, due in part to medical issues like obesity.

Watch a recording of Admiral Ponds’ remarks below.

States

  1. California