New program important to success

  • Published
  • By Maj Mike Wilson
  • 71st Comptroller Flight
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The last time I had an opportunity to write an Article for the Airscoop, I discussed the importance of embracing change.
This time I'm writing about the new Air Force Fitness Program, a change I believe will be a key factor in the future successes of the Air Force.
However, this change not only needs to be embraced ... it needs to become part of our lifestyle.
This past January, the Air Force kicked off significant changes in our physical fitness program. No longer do we take the cycle ergometry test (except in certain cases) or stand on the scales to see if we meet weight standards. For those of us who have been around for a while, it will seem like déjà vu. Yes, it's back; the 1.5-mile run is part of our fitness assessment again. Now that we have discarded all the scales, we can let our bellies hang out, right? Wrong! Even though we aren't being weighed, the circumference of our abdomen (which tends to get larger the more we weigh) is being measured and scored. Additionally, the strength of our upper body and abdomen are being tested and scored respectively by push-up and crunch assessments.
Why change our physical fitness program? I believe Gen John Jumper clearly stated the need for this change in his July 30 Chief's Sight Picture, Fit To Fight, "The amount of energy we devote to our fitness programs is not consistent with the growing demands of our warrior culture." The success of the Air Force mission depends on each of us being fit and ready for duty. The demands of our jobs are increasing as evident by the recent news that Air and Space Expeditionary Force taskings will soon be 120 days versus 90 days. We must all be "Fit To Fight" to accomplish our missions.
Besides the obvious changes in our fitness standards, the Air Force also changed the way the fitness program was managed. The responsibility to manage fitness programs was moved from the medical community to unit commanders. This approach will ensure that the Air Force fitness program receives the appropriate level of attention (commanders and supervisors) it needs to be successful.
Personally, this new program has encouraged me to take seriously my physical fitness (or it could be that I have reached a mid-life crisis and can't afford a red sports car to make me look younger). Unfortunately, neither of the previous programs provided much incentive to get fit. When the program was merely the 1.5-mile run, I never felt the need to prepare. I would just go out and run. To prepare for the cycle ergometry test, I didn't know if I should start drinking coffee and smoking (these habits seemed to help some pass the test) or run. With this new fitness program, I have been encouraged by the fact that I can see improvements in my physical fitness even before I take the test.
As with all physical training programs, the most important element to success is the individual. What is the individual's role in the Air Force fitness program? Air Force Instruction 10-248, Fitness Program, lists our responsibilities as:
n maintaining a healthy lifestyle by participating in unit physical fitness program,
n meeting Air Force fitness standards, and
n attending all required fitness program appointments.
As a commander, I am constantly looking for ways to encourage my people to make physical fitness part of their lifestyle, much the same way I want the Air Force core values to be part of their life. I want them to have the integrity to accomplish their physical conditioning, to consider service before self setting aside some of their own personal desires to work out, and demonstrating excellence in all we do by achieving the best test score possible and helping others of Team Vance to succeed.
General Jumper said it best: "The message is simple: if you are out of shape, fix it. If you have people in your squadron who need help, help them."