Introducing Tactical Vitality

Launching Tactical Vitality

How can tactical athletes perform at a high level–and keep doing it for a lifetime? 

Tactical Vitality is my personal effort to explore that question. It unifies three domains I’m deeply interested in: human performance, rehabilitation, and longevity.

Through my clinical experience, I’ve seen firsthand how and why breakdown and injury occur–and I’ve learned how to rehabilitate those injuries and reduce the risk of them happening again. At the same time, I’ve spent years studying high performance: what drives it and what principles make it sustainable. Not just in the short-term, but for an entire career and lifetime.

Too often, I’ve seen high performers–people who’ve accomplished incredible things throughout their careers–reach the end of that road broken, in chronic pain, and operating at a fraction of what they used to. They may leave with a pension and a disability rating–but the physical cost remains.

That’s where longevity enters the conversation. High performance matters. Mitigating injury is important. But the real prize is sustaining high performance over the long haul—and therefore aging well in the process. Tactical Vitality exists to bridge that gap by merging high performance, rehabilitation, and longevity science —empowering tactical athletes to thrive across their entire career arc and beyond.

There’s no doubt that tactical operators face unique physical and mental demands–something I’ll explore more in later posts. But I believe those same demands have the potential to forge the very attributes that matter most for longevity. When approached intentionally, the pursuit of high performance can actually lay the groundwork for healthy aging and lasting physical capability.

This project is about building high performance for tactical operators through the lens of a rehab professional–with a deliberate focus on long-term sustainability.  My goal is to share practical, evidence-informed insights that help tactical athletes train smarter, perform better, and prioritize long-term health. Because performance and longevity don’t have to compete—when approached intelligently, they reinforce each other.

Where Tactical Vitality lives–at the intersection of human performance, rehab, and longevity science

What Do I Mean by “Tactical Athletes”?

When I say “tactical athletes”, I’m referring to individuals whose professions demand high levels of physical and mental performance in dynamic, high-stakes environments. This includes military service members, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders–past, present, and future. It also includes performance-minded individuals who train with the same intensity, purpose, and mindset. Tactical athletes train to be ready, capable, and durable for the real-world demands they face.

Who I Am

I’m Cody Frey, an Army Physical Therapist and board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist. I earned my B.S. in Kinesiology from Penn State and my Doctor of Physical Therapy from the Army-Baylor DPT program. I work extensively with tactical athletes in a clinical setting, while also dedicating significant time to studying the science of human performance.  That combination of experience has shaped how I think about performance, recovery, and long-term health—and it’s what inspired me to launch Tactical Vitality as both a creative outlet and a way to give back.

What I’ll Cover

Tactical Vitality will cover topics including physical training, mitigating injury risk, recovery, sleep and stress management, nutrition strategies, and cognitive performance–all geared towards real-world demands and long-term sustainability. Each post is designed to be clear, practical, and actionable–no matter where you are in your journey.

Who This Is For

Tactical Vitality is for:

• Current and aspiring tactical operators trying to perform for as long as possible
• Retired tactical operators who want to stay capable for life
• Coaches, trainers, and healthcare providers supporting tactical athletes
• Anyone committed to sustainable high performance

If you're driven to perform at a high level for the long haul, Tactical Vitality is for you.

My Experience with This Community

I’ve had the opportunity to work with tactical athletes at every stage of the journey.

I’ve worked with basic trainees during the earliest phase of their military careers.  I’ve treated service members in their prime, performing under the demands of operational life. I’ve supported those approaching retirement, dealing with the accumulated wear of years in uniform.  And I’ve worked with retirees navigating life after service–often dealing with pain or limitations that were never fully addressed.

This full-spectrum exposure has fundamentally shaped how I view training for tactical athletes.  I believe the information I share here can help tactical athletes at any stage pursue high performance and longevity.

Why I’m Doing This

This is a personal passion project–something I’m building on my own time to refine my thinking and give back to the community that’s shaped me. If it helps even a few people train smarter and stay healthier, it’s worth it.

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