Fitness crucial in Air Force careers

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Antonio Cordes
  • 349th Maintenance Squadron
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Fitness has been, and always will be a cornerstone of your career as you develop in the Air Force.

Without fitness your ability to produce as an effective warfighter is hampered and you cannot move forward without it. Airmen are responsible for knowing when their fit test is due. Plan in advance to be at peak performance for this day.
Prior to the test, each member should know their minimum ratio for each exercise then exceed them. Remember, meeting the minimums will not get you a passing score. As Air Force members, exercise, nutrition and education are incorporated through mentorship.

Senior leadership will provide information that supports and motivates a healthy lifestyle. Don't just rely on them. Seek out new exercise routines, diet plans exchange ideas with your wingmen.

Along with the importance of fitness is your diet. I don't mean the fads of the month, but healthy-small-portioned meals with all the representatives of each food group. As I have experienced in my fitness program, exercise alone will not get you to the desired measurement and timely run.

High protein and low carbohydrate intake accompanied by fruits and vegetables is a great way to start off your program. Once you get into a routine with your exercising program, your body will tell you what it needs and as you see the progress, your enthusiasm to exercise gets revitalized. Air Force Instruction 36-2905 recommends 90 minutes of exercise 3 to 5 times a week of duty time for fitness, workload permitting, so take advantage of it.

For those with questions about fitness, squadron physical training leaders or unit fitness program managers can lead you in the right direction. The duck pond and the base gym are more popular exercise venues, but there are other base-approved establishments available through the Health And Wellness Center. Get a new lease on life by making fitness a priority. It will help Airmen to enjoy life with an enhanced energetic outlook and this, in turn, will help escalate your career endeavors in the Air Force.