Fitness and a Healthy Lifestyle Published May 4, 2010 By Lt. Col. Todd Garrett 9th Airlift Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- I often wonder how many of our Airmen are thinking about fitness daily or is it something we just think about two times a year because the Air Force has mandated that? Two weeks prior to your fitness test is not the time to start working on your push ups, sit ups or run time and we all know that working on that dreaded waist measurement two weeks prior will do you no good! I can tell you in the 9th Airlift Squadron, it has become part of our daily routine. General Schwartz has stated it's every Airman's responsibility to maintain proper fitness standards because being physically fit allows us to properly support the Air Force mission. So why should we think about fitness daily? What do you stand to gain from a good daily exercise routine? For starters, a healthy lifestyle! Besides that, every airman stands to gain energy, alertness, opportunity, team building and morale, just to name a few things. Let's face it, the new fitness assessment has taken its fair toll on our airmen. I don't think anyone is surprised at the increase in enrollment at Fit Camp, however, the fitness test itself has not changed all that much. We, as commanders and supervisors, have to use every opportunity available to us to foster an environment in which our airmen can achieve a healthier lifestyle. A healthy and fit lifestyle should be the ultimate goal and passing your fitness test will then come naturally! Taken right from the physical fitness AFI, commander-driven physical fitness training is the backbone of the AF physical fitness program and an integral part of mission requirements. Taking the opportunity to exercise as a squadron fosters an environment conducive to team building, morale and individual active lifestyle. I make every effort to workout with my squadron at our three mandatory PT sessions every week and I've seen an improvement in our squadron fitness and morale already. In the 9th AS, we've even taken it a step farther ... every Tuesday, at the recommendation of my senior enlisted leadership, we instituted a quick 30-minute GI party prior to PT. The squadron gets together as a team, cleans up our work environment and then heads off to a great PT session working on the vital elements required to not only pass, but to exceed the standards for our fitness assessment. Capitalize on the opportunities the Air Force and our leadership gives you to lead an active and healthy lifestyle and make it part of your daily routine ... not because you have to, but because you want to!