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Fitness available for all at Balad 24/7

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stacy Fowler
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq --  When deployed to an austere, extremely hot environment like Joint Base Balad, being physically prepared is a necessity. Wearing heavy protective gear while driving a tactical vehicle in 110-plus degree heat can wear down even the strongest person; but having muscle and cardio strength may make a difference between completing the mission or falling out.

"Staying fit is about so much more than a numerical score on a semi-annual test," said Capt. Edward Schlegel, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing commander's executive officer and volunteer Crossfit instructor at the Red Tail Fitness Center. "The true pass/fail score of fitness is not the difference between a 74.9 and 75...It's life or death. Sure, there are the intangible results of being able to endure the rigors of an extended duty day in the Iraqi summer, mental agility and other benefits. However, true fitness is about being perpetually prepared to react to the unknown and the unknowable, whether that's in combat, everyday life, or some unique and unexpected situation."

At Joint Base Balad, fitness opportunities abound to help develop, improve and maintain good levels of physical fitness, said Roberto Arbonies, Red Tail Fitness Center director.

"We provide fitness support to everyone here at Balad: military, civilian and contractor," said Mr. Arbonies, a native of Fort Worth, Texas. "And working out seems to be a large part of everyone's day - in just one day we get about 2,000 visits just in the Red Tail facility. Our main mission is to help people be fit to fight. If your goal is to lose 60 pounds or run a half-marathon - and we've had many people do just that and better - we can support your efforts."

The Red Tail and other fitness centers around Balad have a variety of fitness equipment to improve overall fitness, including treadmills and elliptical machines for improving cardio, as well as free weights and weight machines to help build up muscle strength. All these areas are key to ensuring overall good health, as well as making a difference when an emergency occurs.

"You shouldn't ask yourself if you're fit enough to get a passing score on your PT test," said Captain Schlegel, deployed from 638th Aeronautical Systems Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "You should ask yourself if you're fit enough to save your own life, the life of a loved one, or the life of your battle buddy if something goes awry and you're called upon to do so."

But if working out alone isn't something that has strong appeal, there are more than 90 fitness classes a week that can help improve fitness - including the popular P90X and Crossfit classes. Various fitness classes start as early as 3 a.m., and go throughout the day until 11 p.m.

You can make a complete transformation during your deployment, and many people who do take the lessons learned with them after they go home. The trick, said Mr. Arbonies, is not to be intimidated by the idea of fitness.

"Start slow, stay steady, and in six months you can have a complete turnaround," he said. "You can go from not being able to run the length of a basketball court to doing a 5k without stopping. You can go from having nothing but flab around the middle to having six-pack abs. Sometimes the only thing people need to get in the best shape of their lives is a little bit of motivation."

For more information on classes, equipment or general questions, visit Mr. Arbonies at the Red Tail Fitness Center. He will be ready to motivate you.