Fitness center, HAWC help Airmen stay fit to fight

  • Published
  • By Nick DeCicco
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Fitness is an essential part of being a member of the armed forces.

Airmen are no doubt familiar with the phrase "Fit to Fight," an expression that represents a consciousness about one's health as well as a preparedness for the mission.

For Airmen at Travis, the fitness facility is the epicenter of that preparation.

The fitness center offers approximately 10 classes a day, including spinning, pilates, zumba, turbo kick, stepping, yoga and weight training. Also available are intramural sports, including volleyball, basketball, boxing, softball and more. This is in addition to weights and aerobic activities.

However, some Airmen face obstacles in meeting the fitness requirements. Some have injuries and need to rehabilitate while others simply need to modify their workouts in order to stay fit to fight.

For Airmen who are struggling, there are opportunities. Individuals working in the Health and Wellness Center have helped steer struggling Airmen toward improved physical training scores.

One such individual is Kathryn Buthker, HAWC health and fitness specialist. Buthker said the most rewarding part of her job is seeing people grow and improve through physical training.

One Airman came to her last year after failing a fitness test due to shin splints - a dull, aching pain in the front of the lower leg.

After being directed to the HAWC, Buthker crafted an exercise routine for him that focused on building strength and endurance away from the track. Buthker's workout called for the sergeant to push himself on a recumbent bike and in the swimming pool, strengthening his body so that he only had to run on test day.

"He can't do high-impact stuff," Buthker said. "We helped with his legs as well as his heart and lung capacity."

Another indivudual Buthker helped was a mother who, six months after her baby was born, achieved her highest PT score to date.

"People without enough information aren't working out hard enough," she said. "After they work out at a higher level, they come back to us and they say, 'that was hard.' "

Others forge their own path at the fitness center, such as Senior Airman Amir Utsey.
After arriving at Travis late last year, Utsey sprained his hamstring during a November PT test.

The injury put the 60th Force Support Squadron food service journeyman in a cast and crutches for several weeks. He said he was unable to bend his leg weeks after the injury.

"I could barely walk, let alone run," Utsey said.

Once he was able to get back to a regular training regimen, Utsey pushed himself, ramping up the intensity on a treadmill in a way he would be unable to do on an outdoor track since the surfaces and speeds are different.

Although he is continuing to improve and recover, Utsey retested last week and passed with an 88.4 score.

That keeps him fit to fight, still on pace for a scheduled deployment in April to Africa.

Utsey said he refused to have a defeatist attitude regarding his injury.

"My mentality was I either need to do it or not," he said. "I told myself, 'I'm going to make this work.' "

For more information about the HAWC, call 424-4292. For more information on the Travis Fitness Center, call 424-2008.