LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
By now, all Airmen should know the importance of physical fitness; maintaining a mission-ready, expeditionary posture requires a healthy lifestyle with proper diet and exercise. However, some Airmen need an extra boost to get back into shape. With hectic schedules and an abundance of high-calorie, low-cost food options, it's never been easier to lose your edge.
Fortunately, the 633d Force Support Squadron developed a rigorous PT "boot camp" to help struggling Airmen get "fit to fight."
The program is called "Back to Basics," and includes eight weeks of daily sunrise workouts, designed to reeducate participants in the fundamentals of proper physical training. The exercises increase in intensity over the two month period, and participants complete three regulation PT tests during the course.
The devotion to getting trainees into shape during basic military training served as influence for the program's moniker, said Senior Master Sgt. Bryan Shipman, 633 FSS fitness and sports section chief.
"If [the Air Force] can take people off the street and get them ready to PT test in eight weeks, why not properly motivated Airmen?" he added.
To enter the program, commanders recommend Airmen who recently failed or are at risk of failing the PT test. Once enrolled, the Airman is obligated to complete all eight weeks.
The program is multi-faceted, including cardio and strength training elements. Most importantly, Airmen perform in a structured environment that provides new workouts, keeping them motivated and goal-oriented, said Staff Sgt. Frank Belton, 633 FSS fitness specialist.
"Going to normal PT can be monotonous, and some people simply stop trying," he said. "Every day is another challenge in this class, and it gives them something to work for."
Over time, some Airmen stop exercising properly, which can lead to decreased performance and possibly injury, said Belton. To safely get participants ready, the first two weeks of the course are devoted to fundamentals and basic reconditioning. Afterward, trainers turn up the intensity and add more challenges to the hour-long sessions.
Though sessions are only an hour long, the education extends beyond the class. Trainers assign homework to participants, such as keeping food journals to track calories consumed and promote sensible dieting, and additional workouts that can be done at home.
While the program helps Airmen improve PT scores, the overall goal of the course is to push them to change their lifestyle.
"It's about more than a PT test," Belton said. "It's about changing their attitudes about fitness."
Senior Airman Keith Miller, 633 FSS fitness specialist, said he can see improvements in the participants' performance and mentalities, even at the halfway mark.
"We had Airmen that failed the test and came to us, and they're already passing," he said. "It's an awesome class. It's demanding and exhausting, but the students are into it and really give it all they've got."