Base offers programs to get fit, stay fit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jeremy Bedner
  • 919th SOW Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  There is no excuse for "stumbling" through the Fit-to-Fight program; but since it began in 2004, Air Force Reserve Command's performance has declined.

According to Lt. Col. Tim Bennett, AFRC Public Health, 76 percent of unit reservists took the fitness test in 2003 and 98.9 percent passed. Two years later, 68 percent of reservists tested and 7 percent of them finished with a marginal score and 12 percent of them performed poorly. AFRC's failure rate was six times higher than the rate for active-duty Airmen.

Test results indicate that reservists are simply not keeping themselves in shape. The reasons for the fitness decline can be attributed to the excuses reservists, as well as others, make for not exercising.

One excuse could be that there are not enough facilities available. However, here at Duke Field, reservists have 24-hour access to the fitness center. They are also authorized to use the Health and Wellness Center on Eglin's main base.

A reservist need not be on orders to utilize the facility. All a member needs is a valid military ID, said Regina Groundwater, Health Promotion Manager there.

The HAWC, located in Building 843, is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. The first floor houses the Fitness Annex. It includes free weights, strength training machines, and cardio equipment such as treadmills, stairclimbers, and elliptical machines. There are also saunas and locker rooms with showers.

The second floor of the HAWC is the education center where a wide variety of classes are offered that help members get back on the fitness path, said Mrs. Groundwater.

It's a simple process to sign up for classes.

Members can log onto their Air Force Portal account, then search and follow the Air Armament Academy (A3) registration link and click on the College of Installation and Sustainment Management link, she said. The classes offered include Nutrition with Cooking Demonstration, Fitness for Busy People, Simple Strategies to Reduce and Manage Stress, and other classes that are based on nutrition and healthy living.

Mrs. Groundwater notes the alarming trend of increased visits to the hospital for back pain/injury.

"One of the top five reasons for seeking medical treatment in military clinics is back-related problems," she said.

The HAWC's Healthy Backs class instructs members on proper body mechanics, office/work site ergonomics, stress reduction and on proper stretching and core strengthening exercises, she said. Class participants are encouraged to utilize these techniques both at work and at home to reduce back pain and prevent future injury or disability.

"People do not have to come to a gym in order to maintain or improve their physical fitness," she said. "Studies show that even light weight and core training can dramatically improve strength conditioning."

Another thing that affects the health and wellness of reservists is the increased use of tobacco products. The HAWC offers an array of classes designed to help kick the habit, said Mrs. Groundwater.

The Tobacco Cessation Program incorporates a realistic approach to tobacco cessation that combines an education component with behavioral modification. The pharmacological aides of Nicotine Patches and Zyban are available to individuals eligible for care at Eglin's hospital. Reservists can view the current 2006 schedule at http://www.eglin.af.mil/HAWC/tobacco.shtml.

Too busy to get to Eglin for a class?

"If 10 or more people sign up for a class, whether they are on orders or civil service, I will come to Duke and teach the class myself," said Mrs. Groundwater.

Supervisors may authorize, duty permitting, members who score poor or marginal on their fitness test to attend classes at the HAWC while on orders, said Lt. Col. Edward W. Anderson, 919th Special Operations Wing Fitness Coordinator.

"Active-duty members that have a poor score are ordered to use the HAWC," he said. "Reservists cannot be placed on orders simply to use the HAWC, but supervisors need to encourage members to use these programs when they are here."

For those members who do not live in the local area, there are many online resources to educate them about a healthy lifestyle, said Mrs. Groundwater.

There are several links on the HAWC's Web page, http://www.eglin.af.mil/HAWC.

The Air Force Material Command Wellness link, www.afmcwellness.com, is a great resource, said Mrs. Groundwater. The site offers a detailed health assessment that can be completed and brought to the HAWC. The staff will then design an exercise and diet regimen based on the member's exact needs.

In addition to these resources, an upgrade to the Air Force Fitness Management System comes online Aug. 25. It includes a new Reserve module called Healthy Living Program for Reservists. Members will be able to access it via the Portal and on the individual's fitness results page. This online program is designed for personnel who don't have easy access to the HAWC, said Colonel Anderson.

"With the Eglin programs, facilities here at Duke, and help online, you can see that leadership does care about your personal fitness. I hope you will take the time to make fitness a priority," he said.