Are you "Fit to Fight?"

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. JG Mangum
  • 60th Mission Support Group superintendant
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  There are two more months until my annual fitness test. I just completed another hard exercise routine consisting of cardio, weight-training and core exercises. In the morning, I'll start it all over again. As I look out the window of the fitness center, I'm proud to see all the squadron-focused physical training programs going on. Every room in the gym is full of different squadrons working out together. The Air Force has come a long way from my early days of "grunting out the run" once a year.

As another bead of sweat trickles down my forehead, I wonder, "Why do we spend so much time exercising," after all we have a mission to do. Then I am reminded of the Air Force mission to fly, fight and win. Healthy and physically fit warriors are essential to our expeditionary mission success. Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, 18th Air Force commander, highlighted this point in his expeditionary fitness letter last summer. He also highlighted that, "Good fitness remains one of the most important factors to ensure our Airmen are ready to meet those demands and acclimate to an Area of Responsibility environment as rapidly as possible." The job we train for is not here, it's wherever our nation needs us to be in direct support of national objectives. Physical fitness is part of our "Warrior Ethos."

Maintaining physical fitness, dress and appearance standards are all part of our individual responsibilities. These standards are now documented in our annual performance reports. With this in mind, here are a few things you should do to ensure success:

-- Know your test date. Also, know what Air Expeditionary Force pair you are assigned to. If your annual test date comes due during your scheduled deployment date, you should be prepared to test before you depart the base.

-- Establish a year round exercise program. The days of "run and being done" are long over. I find it easier to set goals, for instance, train for a half-marathon or keep conditioned for intramural sporting events. Complete body training consisting of diet, weight training, stretching, and cardio are paramount.

-- Attend your units three day-a-week program and plan at least two to three individual training days. Exercising just three times a week will keep you at the level you currently are. To drop weight, you should plan on exercising five to seven days a week.

A commonly asked question I often hear is, "If we are performing our PT test and Reveille (or Retreat) sounds what do I do?"

The answer is really quite simple; the whole base comes to a complete stop twice a day -- so why would you schedule your Fitness Test during a scheduled time to pay respect to the flag? If you are ever caught in this circumstance, be sure and stop what you are doing and pay the proper respects.

Being "Fit to Fight" ensures you are a productive member of the Air Force team. I encourage you to set personal fitness goals and then set yourself up for success to meet and exceed those goals. Remember, you come from a proud tradition and inherit a bright future -- you are a, "Wingman, Leader, Warrior; American Airman!" Knowing the standards and enforcing the standards are part of our duty - How do you measure up?