News

On your mark, Get set, Go! New Air Force fitness program helps Reservists stay fit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nicole Celestine
  • 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. --  As the old Proverb goes, "Change is the only constant." Come July 1, 446th Airlift Wing members here will feel the effects of the changes to the new Air Force fitness program firsthand. But don't panic: It's all good.

"The new fitness scoring system is designed to award members' incremental improvement," said Capt. Vanessa Balint, the 446th AW's fitness program manager. "It's intended to give you more points for any slight improvement in your fitness routine," the captain added.

According to the official Air Force Personnel Center website, changes to the current fitness program will manifest itself in two ways: first, tests will be held twice a year and second, tests will be conducted through centralized locations called Fitness Assessment Cells or FACs.

Captain Balint, who joined the 446th AW as an air reserve technician in October 2009, said the new fitness program will be a win-win for all Reservists. The military personnel flight commander said she foresees the program mostly benefiting members who fall within the 'moderate' range of physical fitness -70 to 80 percent- because, "For that person stuck in the middle, we hope they'll see the point increases as incentives to further improve, and they'll know their hard work is actually paying off."

Tech. Sgt. Shane Morgan, a relocations adviser with the 446th Mission Support Group, is one of the wing's current fitness monitors. The Washington State accountant said the best part of the new system is that testing will be centralized, ensuring consistency throughout the wing. Sergeant Morgan said 446th AW fitness monitors will augment the FAC supervisors, whose role is to ensure fitness monitoring is done consistently.

"I am hoping the Air Force's increased emphasis on fitness will be the impetus Reservists need to realize the benefits year-round physical fitness can have on their lives and their health," said Sergeant Morgan, who maintains a fitness regimen that includes running and weight lifting, year-round.

The reasoning behind the new fitness program echoes the Air Force's directive that members be responsible for maintaining their personal year-round fitness. For the 446th AW, the first round of fitness tests are scheduled for the July UTA and notifications have been sent to members who are due.

And for those who need that extra 'push,' Captain Balint said she and other fitness program managers recently received official word that people who achieve a score of 90 percent or above in the Excellent category will only have to test once a year. The captain said she hopes this little nugget will further encourage Reservists to pump up their fitness programs.  She said an official guidance memo confirming this award will follow in the near future.

The captain said the 446th AW is on the lookout for more fitness monitors to help augment the FACs. Training will start soon, and anyone who would like to become a fitness monitor, contact Captain Balint at 982-9072.  For more information on the Air Force Fitness Program, log on to: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/affitnessprogram/index.asp