AFTAC takes on warrior ethos through physical fitness

  • Published
  • By Susan A. Romano
  • AFTAC Public Affairs
PATRICK SPACE FORCE BASE, Fla. --  As the sun slowly rose above the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, several hundred members of the Air Force Technical Applications Center gathered at the base track Aug. 28 to compete in a center-wide 5K run.
 
The purpose of the event was to reinforce the Department of Defense’s goal of forging warriors, rebuilding strength, and restoring deterrence through physical fitness campaigns.
 
Senior leaders at the nuclear treaty monitoring center wanted to ensure their workforce was meeting those objectives and standards, so they scheduled an early morning competitive run.  Units were challenged to work as a team, with the winner receiving a traveling trophy complete with bragging rights.
 
“Activities like this give us the opportunity to test our endurance, adhere to wellness priorities, and demonstrate teamwork,” said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Mitchell, AFTAC’s command chief.  “When we normalize fitness routines and work them into our daily schedules, it helps solidify our combat readiness goals.”
 
AFTAC’s 5K run saw not only uniformed members participating in the event, but also civil servants, family members, AFTAC alumni, and even a few industry partners.
 
“It was fantastic to see such a well-rounded turn out of people,” said Col. John Beatty, AFTAC’s deputy commander.  “Large events like this are not easy things to coordinate, so I want to thank all the volunteers who were on site to ensure everyone’s safety and well-being.”
 
The Air Force has not formally updated its fitness instruction yet, but officials say they will release the updated guidance once it’s finalized.
 
“Anything we can do to focus on our core physical fitness competencies will only enhance our resilience and wellness,” Mitchell said.  “The Air Force is considering the introduction of an annual 2-mile run (versus the current 1.5 mile requirement) in an effort to prepare our Airmen for the operational demands we face as a fighting force.  AFTAC leadership wants to get ahead of the possibility by focusing on the importance of staying in shape.”