82 TRW standardizes tech training PT

  • Published
  • By Dan Hawkins
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 82nd Training Wing here has revamped the way individual technical training squadrons conduct physical training with the initiation of a standardized fitness program.

The six-week program, designed by the base Health and Wellness Center, focuses on balance and coordination, dynamic flexibility, mobility, stability and strength.

"Your body needs to be set up to be to handle the forces and stresses of fitness," said John Martin, HAWC exercise physiologist and designer of the new program. "If you don't have the necessary components in your overall program, a lot of times things are going to break down."

One of the major reasons for the change to a standardized program was due to injuries resulting from an over-emphasis on cardio-respiratory exercise, or running, in the previously unregulated PT.

"I saw a high number of injuries at the student health center coming from too much of an emphasis on running," Martin said. "While running is good for you, making sure you have the core strength to prevent injury is just as important."

Through collaboration with the wing's Training Office, the new program was laid out last fall and implemented in January of this year.

"I had designed a PT program for the NCO Academy and used that as a template to start with," Martin said. "After a few tweaks and collaboration with the training office, we got a program together."

With three workouts per week aimed at different parts of the body, the workouts involve dynamic flexibility exercises to start the session and moving to cardio and strength in the main part of the workout. Static stretching is used only during the cool-down phase.

Although no data on injury prevention due to the new fitness program has been measured due to the program since being in its infancy, the goals of the program are clear cut.

"I'm looking for safety and injury prevention first, second is performance enhancement in unit PT sessions and their fitness tests because that is the end goal, and third just health optimization, just being healthy each and every day."

Doing physical training together as a group is not only part of the job, it helps build teamwork within the units.

"I like to work out," said Airman 1st Class Laney Maze, 364th Training Squadron Electrical and Environmental Airman-in-Training from Gorville, Ill. "PT in the Air Force is needed, plus it builds up camaraderie in the unit and keeps people motivated."

When all is said and done, perhaps the best part of PT is being able to let loose and have some good ole-fashioned fun.

"You're in class all day, you have to be quiet and listen to instructors," said A1C Karanvir Singh, a 364th Training Squadron Electrical and Environmental Airman-in-Training from Jackson, Miss. "When you come out here, you can be as loud as you want to be...when everyone gets going, it just pumps everyone up."