ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga .– Last March, after nearly a year of delays due to COVID-19, the U.S. Air Force announced that physical fitness tests would resume on July 1, a fitness initiative that members can participate in.
The volunteer effort includes a schedule of various activities available during the week. Activities include walks and runs in the morning and in the afternoon, strength training at noon, gentle circuit training and sporting team activities.
The seed of the initiative began with a simple meeting among a handful of Reserve Citizen Airmen within the group. With all the ideas ricocheting, the plan was formulated with one goal in mind.
“My intention, along with the five other fitness enthusiasts, was to ensure that as many members as possible passed the flight test group or exceeded fitness standards,” said Captain Hope Bell, 413th FTG executive officer and organizer of the initiative’s committee. “We wanted to give people the opportunity to prepare and take the test as confidently as possible.”
After the 413th FTG leadership received approval, the original schedule of activities only included exercises suggested by the committee. However, over time, the team sought recommendations from attendees for maximum enthusiasm and participation.
“What we have right now is just a template,” said Bell. “It’s completely flexible, and we want to have more control over it so that we can get more involved. I think the more we allow people to work with their passions, the more we will join in and join in. “
Attending is something Master Sgt. Brandi Jackson, 413th FTG first sergeant, was initially concerned. Since some people may be shy about their fitness level, Jackson said it was their job to try to get them to overcome their hesitation.
Minutes before an activity, the first sergeant often walks from section to section around the building to gather as many people as possible and remind them of the schedule.
Jackson said she saw the benefit of having a fitness program and preparing for physical training tests as well as possible. As a first sergeant, she knows the latest test numbers and trends. Jackson said that since testing resumed there has been a trend that some people who previously had great results are now getting satisfactory results, and those who have had satisfactory results are now failing.
What Jackson believes could be causing the trend is the recent abolition of waist circumference as a determining factor in the overall fitness test rating. What could once have given a decent boost in scores is now giving testers a false sense of security instead of compensating for the urgency by doing better on the remaining testable components on a more balanced approach, she said.
“Since taking the waist component out, a lot of people have misunderstood that it could be easier,” said Jackson. “A lot of us try to do mental math and see what’s on the charts … so we prepare for failure when we pull a component off.”
One person who agrees with the First Sergeant that it is important to be well rounded when exercising is Senior Master Sgt. Aaron Ray, 413th FTG superintendent of flight crew training. Ray said he had difficult times testing in the past which ultimately led to him changing his lifestyle for the better.
“I had a weak relationship with Air Force Fitness,” he said. “I’m a bigger person… that has given me some problems throughout my career. But I enjoy my career more than having these problems. I do my best to fight my way. So when opportunities like our program arise, I try to get involved. “
Ray’s specialty is long-distance running. Every Tuesday he tries to make himself available for a three mile run that others can take part in. But for people who don’t like running or have other problem areas that need to be addressed, there are other ways to exercise within the program.
“There are different people of different strengths who have taken part in our fitness endeavors,” said Ray. “There are some people who are really good at certain types of circuit training or muscle strength. Some people can walk better. It was a good thing to have options that could appeal to anyone. So if burpees may not be your thing, there are other things you can do to get your body moving again. “
The fitness initiative with its group program is currently only available to active reserve soldiers and civilian employees during the regular working week. However, Jackson said they plan to implement weekend fitness options for traditional reservists to participate in during the upcoming October training session.
Bell also hopes to expand the program to include trackable statistics for various internal fitness competitions. She also wants the group to take part in more grassroots organized three-mile or six-mile runs.
“I want people to know that health and fitness are fun,” said Bell. “It’s not just about passing the fitness test. It’s about building camaraderie with your colleagues and with others in the grassroots and having this sense of community. “
