Air Force not unlike gridiron's lofty standards

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis it's Friday, Friday, Friday! I hope you're ready for the weekend. I'm looking forward to tomorrow so I can watch NCAA football games. The bowl championship standing has been the topic of discussion for the past few weeks involving Alabama (12-0), Oklahoma (11-1), Texas (11-1), Florida (11-1) and USC (10-1); which teams are truly deserving to play in the championship game? All five teams are great! The great ones have a few common denominators; they execute the basics (blocking and tackling, and follow their game plan) extremely well. If we are going to reinvigorate our reputation of precision and reliability we must return back to the basics of adhering to standards and hold fast to our core values; exemplifying them in everything we do. 

We're not an NCAA football team; however, we're in a full contact sport of executing the mission and taking care of Airmen. Like the aforementioned football teams, we must be physically fit to execute the mission and take care of our Airmen. Fitness is a force multiplier and it's at the core of operational readiness. Our fitness program has existed for several years now and still some are not convinced that it's here to stay. A recent Air Force audit of randomly selected installations proved we have some serious breaches of integrity in our fitness program. The program will never succeed without leaderships' buy-in and commitment to holding people accountable. Fitness isn't about fudging scores or being fit to test. On the contrary, fitness is an individual's responsibility that is based upon living a healthier lifestyle. Some people don't particularly like to exercise but they do it because it potentially results in longevity. 

I recently expressed my concerns regarding our fit programs with the Top 3 Council and challenged them to make sure we are administering the fit test accurately and fairly. It's imperative that we are because Airmen are being discharged across the Air Force after receiving four fit failures; are we holding everyone to the same standard? After my brief, Master Sgt. Frank Irvin of the 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who has been a physical training leader for more than four years, provided me his perspective regarding the fit program. "When the program was initially introduced, the mature Airmen met the program with disdain and complaints. Unfortunately, most of those individuals have not changed their position about the program; which is impacting the younger Airmen. Furthermore, Airmen must understand that PTL is the acronym for physical training leader and not personal trainer liaison. PTLs receive training on the proper means to administer the test but, the Health and Wellness Center is the agency trained and equipped to provide dietary and muscle strengthening programs." Spot on Sergeant Irvin! 

Team Travis, this is the most festive season of the year. As you partake in the festivities and fellowship with friends and family members please don't forget your physical fitness. Be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus!