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Keeping warriors fit to fight

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Jeff Loftin
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The New Year starts with a new rotation hoping to honor their resolutions in a new environment, and base fitness centers are here to help. 

The base has two fitness centers open 24/7 with classes and programs to keep warfighters fit to fight. 

"It gets you mission ready," said John Carey, fitness assistant manager at the Coalition Compound center. "Your health is better. You don't tire as easily. You stay alert longer. You are able to perform your job better if you are in shape." 

Staying fit is a good New Year's resolution for those in the military according to the fitness staff. 

"Fitness helps the warfighter by giving them discipline and increasing their strength," said Ashadee King-Hackney, a fitness technician at the Blatchford-Preston Complex center. "I know a few people who came out here and decided to start working out. They changed their whole body. Their eating habits changed. Some people stopped smoking. Two people I know have now competed in fitness and body building contests." 

The centers offer a wide variety of classes and contests to keep fitness in focus. 

"We usually average 75 to 100 classes between the two fitness centers (monthly)," said Mr. Carey, a KBR employee who hails from Valley, Ala. "The classes are at all different times so there is no excuse. We can accommodate day shift, mid shift and split shift personnel. We are open 24 hours a day. I come in at 4 a.m. to work out before I go to work. There are usually lots of machines open then." 

Some of the classes include abs, spin, yoga, step aerobics, kickboxing, Capoeira, circuit training, judo and jiu-jitsu. The BPC center also offers dance classes and swim lessons.
"We have a little bit of everything," said Ms. King-Hackney, a native of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. "A lot of people turn out for the dance classes, especially the salsa one."
Both fitness centers said their most popular classes were the abs class. 

"The most popular class we have is the abs class at 7 p.m.," said Paul James, a fitness technician at the CC center. "It's always packed. We have between 25 to 50 people come to the abs class." 

The class is so popular people must sign up for a spot in it 30 minutes before it begins.
"The abs class is first-come, first-served," said Mr. Carey. "If you don't come early you won't get a spot. For all classes sign up is put out 30 minutes before the class starts. It got so intense (in the past) with the abs class we had to wait until the exact second to put it out because there would be a line of people in the fitness center already waiting to sign up." 

Another popular item is intramural sports including soccer, basketball and volleyball.
"Soccer is very popular with the Coalition Forces," said Mr. Carey. "They get a little friendly rivalry going between the different forces. It can be a lot of fun." 

The fitness centers also offer a variety of contests like the strongman competition, quarterback challenge, racquetball tournaments, free throw contest and various runs. Winners of each contest or competition are awarded prizes. 

The BPC center is now preparing for a bodybuilding contest. Participants should sign up by Jan. 20 to prepare for the competition April 25. The fitness center staff will help those competing prepare for the event with advice, diet plans and posing practices. 

Another upcoming contest is the Biggest Loser, which begins in February. 

"We weigh them in and show them different ways of losing weight," said Mr. James, a Tampa, Fla., native. "It's a pretty popular program. It's base wide. A lot of people come and go and don't show up to weigh out. Also, a lot of people don't lose enough weight and so they don't even try. It's pretty popular though." 

The centers offer some diet and exercise assistance for those trying to get started on their New Year's resolutions. 

"We do offer some nutritional counseling," said Ms. King-Hackney. "We have things we print out and display out front. If someone needs personal training we will go one-on-one with them if we are not busy. We will work with them for two weeks. We will work out with them and show them different exercises they can do on their own. Most people want nutrition programs so we e-mail it to them and have them follow it." 

According to the fitness center staff, the key is to be persistent. 

"The classes definitely get you in shape," said Ms. King-Hackney. "Anything helps as long as you stick with it. When we do personal training and we always tell them to be consistent. A lot of people give up. We tell them you're not going to see a change in a day or two or even a week. When people are in personal training we tell them not to weigh themselves every day. They tend to do that and get discouraged. With the classes I tell them to try a little bit of everything. It's an aerobic activity. People come out sweating even in the abs classes. If you stick with it, it will really help you." 

"It will keep you mission ready," added Mr. James.