633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs –
Service members seeking help with physical fitness can find it with Joint Base Langley-Eustis' programs. Soldiers and Airmen may attend the Functional Fitness class, a U.S. Army certified program, or the Back to Basics course, an official U.S. Air Force program.
Functional Fitness uses general and inclusive fitness techniques that individuals use every day such as squatting, running, jumping, and lifting, to prepare trainees for physical contingencies and is offered to active-duty, retirees, civilians and dependents.
Back to Basics is designed to help Airmen and Soldiers who arehaving trouble meeting fitness standards by assisting them with a physical training plan and focuses on performing daily fitness routines.
U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. Juan Ospina, Joint Task Force Civil Support operations noncommissioned officer in charge, is the lead trainer for the Functional Fitness program.
"Life's physical demands are unpredictable, so we need to train that way," said Ospina. "This course gets away from the traditional gym routine. Athletes get the benefit of strength, body weight and cardiovascular training in different ways."
Other techniques members use include: tire flips, rope climbing, calisthenics, running, rowing machines, medicine balls and slam balls.
For Airmen and Soldiers looking for a baseline, Back to Basics corrects and improves individual form and teaches breathing and stretching techniques. The class focuses on three major components of the physical training test; sit-ups, push-ups, and the 1.5-mile run.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Caplinger, 633rd Force Support Squadron fitness specialist, leads the Back to Basics program.
"Many attendees have a lot riding on their success in the class, and I've been able to help them improve and achieve their [fitness] potential," said Caplinger. "Every class people thank me for teaching and training them."
Caplinger often reminds attendees that while the free, eight-week program will test them physically, it will also provide them an improved fitness level and knowledge necessary to make smarter everyday choices.
Whether it is an improved understanding of physical fitness, or leaning towards a stronger, more conditioned physique, Soldiers and Airmen can rest assured they'll receive what they've been looking for from fitness professionals at Fort Eustis or Langley AFB.
For those interested in attending, Back to Basics is held five sessions a week, Monday through Friday at 7:00 a.m.at Langley Air Force Base.
The Functional Fitness is offered at Fort Eustis three times a day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 6 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5:30 p.m. and Saturday at 9 a.m.
For more information on Functional Fitness, contact the Anderson Field House at 878-2328 and for Back to Basics, contact the Shellbank Fitness Center at 225-8166.