Core Values and wingman fitness

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. John Platte
  • 571st Global Mobility Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  Our Air Force core values can be applied to all facets of our lives, on and off duty. How can we apply them to fitness?

Integrity first: During your last practice physical training test, were your "buddies" pulling a little too hard on that measuring tape? They're not doing you any favors -- the Fitness Assessment Cell does things by the book. Better to fix that waistline problem now instead of pretending it doesn't exist. The same thing applies to pushups and crunches -- train like you fight. Improper form? Don't count it!

Service before self: Our nation is depending on us. We can't afford to lose 20 percent of our Airmen in combat, let alone due to PT test failures. We owe it to ourselves, and our nation, to push away from the dining table. To force ourselves to have the self- discipline needed to resist that second helping and work out more.

Excellence in all we do: Ever been to squadron PT and seen a group of young Airmen, young twenties, slowly jogging around the track, laughing and talking? They look like they're in great shape, that they could run like the wind -- if they tried. Why don't they? Aren't we supposed to push ourselves to new levels of fitness, not only as a matter of personal pride, but also because it might just make a difference in combat?

Now let's take a look at the Wingman concept from a fitness perspective.

Remember that pack of Airmen, "min rolling" their way around the track? What about that 220-pound Airman chugging along slowly behind them, sweating like Elvis in Hawaii, working as hard as he can, but thinking about giving up because no one is there to help him -- to push him -- to be a coach, a mentor, a leader, a Wingman. That Airman needs a Wingman -- maybe some of our fit Airmen can help. Those that "get it" when it comes to fitness know that most of it is a mental game. Willpower is a skill that takes time to develop. If we don't help that Airman, he may never discover what his true fitness potential is. Never leave an Airman behind.

I thought I had reached my fitness goal, reached a plateau, when I got my 1.5 mile time down to 12 minutes. Then on the day of my official PT test, my first sergeant showed up and offered to pace me. I dropped 45 seconds from my run time. That first sergeant knew how to be a Wingman -- worth his weight in gold. I'm proud of myself, but thankful for Airmen like him. With the right attitude, hard work, and a good Wingman, I'll bet many of our Airmen could shave a minute or more off their run times -- take the Wingman challenge and see for yourself!