Stop Guessing With Your Health — 98 Octane
98 Octane — Nonprofit Health Education

STOP GUESSING
WITH YOUR HEALTH.

THE MANUAL TEACHES THE WHY.
VITALITY STACKS CAN HELP WITH THE WHAT.

98 Octane helps military, veterans, first responders, and active-duty communities understand food, sleep, stress, recovery, and safer supplement decisions — from the inside out. Education first. Supplements optional.

Explore Optional Supplement Support

Education first. Supplements optional. Not medical advice.

The MFR Health Picture
78%
MFRs overweight or obese
60 lbs
Sugar consumed per American per year
88%
Don't understand basic nutrition
!

Important Notice: 98 Octane is a nonprofit health education organization. This page is for education only and is not medical advice. Supplements are optional and may not be appropriate for everyone. If you are active duty, subject to drug testing, taking medication, managing a medical condition, pregnant, nursing, or under medical care, speak with a qualified healthcare professional before using any supplement.

Tier 1 — The Foundation

The Operator Manual
teaches the why.

The 98 Octane Operator Manual is a plain-language health education resource built specifically for military, veterans, and first responders. Six chapters covering how your body actually works — the gas tank, performance, cardiovascular health, testing, recovery, and sleep. No jargon. No guessing. The same way you understand your equipment.

Sponsor a manual for yourself, your unit, your firehouse, or your department. Bulk orders available for platoon offices, police stations, and MFR organizations.

Sponsor Manuals for Others
Chapter 1 The Gas Tank
Chapter 2 Performance
Chapter 3 Cardiovascular Health
Chapter 4 Getting the Right Dipstick
Chapter 5 Recovery
Chapter 6 Sleep

Why This Matters

Most people buy supplements
without a plan.

The problem isn't the supplements. The problem is buying without understanding your body, your diet gaps, your schedule, or what you actually need. The Operator Manual helps you build that understanding first.

01

No foundation in place

The Operator Manual is clear: supplements support the gaps food leaves behind. They are not a replacement for a solid diet, consistent sleep, and an understanding of how your body actually processes what you put in it.

02

Lifestyle affects what you may need

Rotating shifts, high physical stress, poor nutrition, and inconsistent sleep all affect how your body responds to food and supplementation. A one-size-fits-all approach may not reflect your actual situation.

03

Education changes the decision

Understanding the basics — how your gut processes nutrients, how sleep affects recovery, how inflammation relates to food choices — gives you a framework to make better decisions, with or without supplements.

The Operator Manual's core message: food first, supplements optional. Understand the system before you start adding to it. Education is the starting point — not a product.

Supplement Safety

Before you take anything —
know what to check.

Supplements are not regulated the same way medications are. Before adding anything to your routine, the Operator Manual recommends reviewing these questions — especially if you are in a medically complex situation.

Talk with a qualified healthcare professional — especially if you are on medications, managing a health condition, or receiving clinical care.

Active duty or subject to drug testing? Check every supplement against the DoD Prohibited Dietary Supplement Ingredients List before use.

Understand the label — more does not mean better. The manual covers how to read supplement labels and understand dosage context.

Food first — supplements fill gaps in an already solid diet. They are not a replacement for real nutrition. Start with the food chapter.

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Active Duty — Read This First

CHECK BEFORE
YOU TAKE IT.

If you are active duty, in a drug-tested role, or subject to DoD guidance, check every supplement before use. Unknown ingredients in supplements have ended careers. This is not a warning to avoid — it is a warning to verify.

Check OPSS Before You Take It →
Review the DoD Prohibited List

The DoD maintains a list of prohibited dietary supplement ingredients. Review it at opss.org before starting any supplement protocol.

Use the OPSS Scorecard

Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS) provides a free scorecard to help you evaluate whether a supplement is appropriate for your role and situation.

Ask the Expert

OPSS offers an Ask the Expert service for active duty, veterans, and military families. Use command-approved resources or speak with your medical provider if you are unsure.

Talk With Your Provider

98 Octane is an education platform. We are not a medical provider. If you are under medical care, managing a condition, or taking prescription medications, speak with your provider before adding supplements.

Tier 2 — Optional Partner Pathway

Vitality Stacks — Optional Supplement Support

When you're ready to go deeper —
a plan to review and consider.

Once you've built the educational foundation from the Operator Manual, Vitality Stacks offers an optional personalized supplement consultation — a questionnaire-based protocol you can review with your healthcare provider. This is Tier 2. Not required. Not medical advice. A starting point for a conversation, not a prescription.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The Vitality Stacks consultation is a general wellness tool and does not constitute medical advice. Results vary. Review any supplement protocol with a qualified healthcare professional before starting.

Gut & Digestive Support

The manual's gas tank chapter covers how diet and lifestyle may affect gut function. Vitality Stacks may suggest supplements that support digestive wellness, based on your questionnaire inputs.

Supports Ch. 1 — The Gas Tank
Inflammation & Recovery Support

High physical demand, poor nutrition, and sleep disruption may affect how the body recovers. The consultation may suggest supplements that support general recovery and wellness.

Supports Ch. 5 — Recovery
Cognitive & Focus Wellness

The brain relies on specific nutrients to function under pressure. The consultation may suggest supplements that support general cognitive wellness, based on your inputs and diet patterns.

Supports Ch. 2 & 3
Sleep & Circadian Support

Shift work and irregular schedules affect sleep quality and consistency. The consultation may suggest supplements that support sleep hygiene and general wellness around your schedule.

Supports Ch. 6 — Sleep

Review any protocol with your healthcare provider before starting.

How It Works

A plan to review and consider.

No clinic or lab required to start learning. This does not replace medical care, lab testing, or professional advice. It is a wellness planning tool — a starting point, not an endpoint.

01
Answer the Questions

Diet patterns, sleep schedule, shift work, energy, lifestyle goals. Honest answers help generate the most relevant suggestions to review.

02
Get a Protocol to Review

Vitality Stacks generates a personalized supplement plan based on your inputs. This is a suggestion to consider — not a prescription or medical recommendation.

03
Review With Your Provider

Before starting, review the suggested protocol with a qualified healthcare professional — especially if you are on medications, active duty, or managing a health condition.

04
Make an Informed Decision

You receive a plan. You get to decide — with your provider — whether it makes sense for your situation. Education first. Action second.

Active duty reminder: Check every supplement against the OPSS scorecard and DoD prohibited ingredients list before use. This consultation does not screen for prohibited substances.

Education First. Supplements Optional.

START WITH THE MANUAL.

The Operator Manual is the foundation. Before you add anything to your routine, understand how your body works. Sponsor a manual, donate one to a fellow MFR, or support the mission.

Donate to the Mission

Partnership & Revenue Disclosure

98 Octane may receive mission-support funding, referral revenue, sponsorship support, or other contributions through its partnership with Vitality Stacks. Funds received by 98 Octane support nonprofit education, outreach, manual distribution, and wellness programming for military, veterans, first responders, and active-duty communities. The inclusion of Vitality Stacks as an optional Tier 2 resource on this page reflects a partnership arrangement, not an endorsement of any specific health claim or medical outcome. Use of Vitality Stacks is optional and separate from 98 Octane's charitable education program.


These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and protocols referenced on this page are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This page is for general health education purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your diet, supplement routine, or health regimen.


If you are active duty, subject to military drug testing, or under DoD guidelines, review all supplements against the OPSS prohibited ingredient list and consult your command-approved medical resources before use.

UNDERSTAND YOUR BODY.
MAKE BETTER
DECISIONS.

The manual teaches the why. Vitality Stacks can help with the what — when you're ready, and with your provider's input. Start with education.

Education first. Supplements optional. Not medical advice.

Donate to the Mission