The members of the United States Armed Forces are regularly acknowledged and appreciated for their efforts and the sacrifices that they make for the betterment of America and its citizens. If you were to ask any of them how they are able to make that level of commitment every day, they would be the first to tell you that they don’t do it alone. There are countless others who play supportive roles that provide what service members need to be prepared as well as to recover from whatever actions they had to take.
Many of these people work within Armed Forces Wellness Centers (AFWC), which are specialized facilities designed to help service members, military retirees, family members, and Department of War (DoW) civilians optimize their physical, mental, and overall health through evidence-based primary prevention programs. Ashlee Henson has spent the majority of her adult life playing a positive role in helping others improve their health and wellness and spent part of her career within the AFWC, being named Director and Senior Health Educator at the AFWC in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Being one of those in a supportive role for the nation’s heroes was a role she never took for granted.
“It was the most wonderful eye-opening environment that I had been exposed to, and I’m so grateful for it,” she said proudly. “I felt closer to the inner workings of our country, hearing and learning about the experiences they had.”
Running Into a New Passion
Henson grew up in a small town outside of Charleston, South Carolina, and she was active in both gymnastics and soccer. She figured out what she was passionate about pretty quickly after she started playing the second sport.
“Funny enough, I realized that in soccer my favorite part was the conditioning, the running.”
Henson embraced running and even started entering 5K races, winning her age group in some of those events. Her high school’s cross-country coach saw her times and advised her to join the team, which she felt was a natural fit.
“That was amazing,” Henson recalled. “I really enjoyed the community aspect of it.”
That passion and joy went beyond the events and camaraderie with her teammates. Henson would start studying more about fitness and how athletes improve, which led her to become a certified trainer during graduate school. Aside from the extra income, Henson thrived in her role of helping people learn and get better.
Henson said, “That was the coolest aspect of it for me.”
Making The Passion a Career
Being in the public health field opened a lot of doors for Henson and allowed her to turn her passion into a profession. Following grad school, she found herself working within the AFWC system and being in that role of helping active-duty service members, veterans, and others improve their quality of life. While they would always thank her for what she did, she would return the appreciation and still has that today.
“There was a big dynamic of gratitude that I will always take with me.”
After leaving the AFWC, Henson was set to take on another role within government, but a hiring freeze prevented her from accepting the job she was originally offered. Meanwhile, her fiancé was offered a promotion in his career that would call for him to relocate to Dallas, Texas. They relocated to the Lone Star State and Henson started searching for a new position in that area, which led her to discover a job opening with Cooper Aerobics.
“After a little bit of research, it clicks. This is Cooper Aerobics, like Dr. (Kenneth) Cooper.”
Connected to the Cooper Community
In early 2026, Henson was hired to join Cooper Aerobics as their Wellness Program Director. This was more than a new job and relocation to Texas for her, though. She now gets to sit under the learning tree of “The Father of Aerobics,” whose efforts, knowledge, and leadership have inspired and helped multiple generations of Americans and people beyond our borders. While the door she was originally set to enter with her government position may have closed, this door opening has led Henson to a rare opportunity that she embraces every day.
“I’m so thankful to be in this environment. Being here has exceeded expectations. I’m excited to see what happens to me just being exposed to an environment like this.”
Being in the AFWC came with a sense of responsibility and pride, and Henson felt a similar sense of both within the walls of Cooper Aerobics. The patients and members whom they serve are looking to them for guidance to maximize both quality and quantity of life. They also want to know they are learning from those who practice what they preach, which is why Henson takes advantage of the access to the Cooper Aerobics campus.
“I lift when I can, I run when I can, and I just make sure to treat my body with respect and stay active.”
Henson’s community has evolved throughout her life: from teammates on the soccer field and cross-country teams to the military with the AFWC, and now with those who help others become “Cooperized.” The common theme throughout every part of her journey is that she has embraced those communities and done her part to make them better. Whether someone is in service, trying to improve their health, or simply looking to live a better life, Henson shared that the community aspect is a vital one. If you find yourself alongside the right people, everyone can benefit and contribute.
“You really do need a community in order to thrive.”
To learn more about Cooper Aerobics, go to their website.
M&F Senior Military Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this Fit to Serve article.