3rd AS stops ‘Old Man Winter’ Tuesday

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kevin Wallace
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  A Team Dover flying squadron took on 'Old Man Winter' Tuesday and crushed him on the Fitness Center basketball court, on the treadmills and weight room.

While some hibernate, get lazy and put on weight during winter, the Airmen of the 3rd Airlift Squadron maintain physical training schedules to ensure compliance with service fitness standards.

"There's no excuse for not staying fit in winter," said Staff Sgt. Marc Hobson, 3rd AS unit fitness program monitor. "Some 3rd Airlift Squadron Airmen are hardcore and still run outside no matter how cold it gets. Others stay fit by running on treadmills or elliptical trainers. We just stay focused on being fit to fight regardless of the season or weather."

John Walters, Health and Wellness Center exercise physiologist, agrees.

"You have to adjust the training you are doing," said Mr. Walters. "You have to stay persistent, dedicate time to fitness and keep pressing on even when it gets hot or cold outside."

For the Airmen of the 3rd AS, Sergeant Hobson strives to keep them on a steady program, he said.

"I think we have an (effective) regimen," he said. "First, I ensure all the (physical training leaders) make the routines challenging but not harmful due to individual's different fit levels. Then, we get down to the grit and grind, which is a circuit trainer-type exercise for a full hour."

Also, one day a week, the 3rd AS sets aside a PT session for team-building events. Sergeant Hobson said he believes playing team sports together promotes fitness, relieves stress and promotes esprit de corps.

For the Airmen of the 3rd, Sergeant Hobson's plan has paid dividends when it comes to fitness assessment scores.

"We currently have 80 individuals assigned to the 3rd (Airlift Squadron)," he said. "Of the 80 assigned, we have 28 who score in the excellent category and zero failures, which is amazing!"

PT success really stems from the Airman's mindset, he said.

"We always stress PT is a lifestyle and don't make squadron PT the only time you exercise," Sergeant Hobson said. "(Fitness) is in the new (performance evaluations). Everyone must realize this is the way of the Air Force and either get on board or get out."

Remaining healthy is paramount to any military mission, whether bearing the unpleasant, chilly Dover weather or serving at ice-cold, sub-zero assignments in places such as Alaska, North Dakota and Greenland, said Mr. Walters.

Sergeant Hobson agrees. A deployment to a high-altitude place like Afghanistan, takes a toll and the human body takes time to adjust. The only way to counter the effect is to be extra fit before leaving, he said.

The Airmen here get mentally and physically prepared all the time, said Sergeant Hobson. If they're on top of their fitness game, everything else falls into place.

Fitness, like everything else, must start at the top and flow down, he said.

"Our Commander (Lt. Col. Keith Thibodeaux, 3rd AS commander) makes it a goal for us to be perfect," said Sergeant Hobson. "Even though perfection can't be achieved, we'll always have something to strive for."

Mr. Walters agrees that leadership must be active in fitness.

Airmen must also keep focused on their fitness assessment, he said. Personal motivation and performing the activity in the environment is a necessity for proper winter PT and a good fitness assessment.

"You must train for the actual assessment," said Mr. Walters. "What I mean is don't run on the treadmill for four weeks in January for an assessment on the base track in February. Airmen should get out and run in the cold conditions to prepare their body, lungs and minds for the assessment."

Mr. Walters believes that dedication and mentally pushing through the discomfort of running in the cold will also help.

"I truly feel you can run more efficiently in warm weather," said Mr. Walters. "But, when talking about 1.5 mile run for about 10-15 minutes, weather doesn't play a big part. It is mind over matter."

If the weather gets too bad and the track gets icy, Airmen must continue to stay fit, said Mr. Walters. Even if it's riding a bike indoors, jumping rope or other self-paced calisthenics, there is always something Airmen can do to prevent the winter weather from freezing their fitness regimens.