Commander’s Trophy builds team spirit with PT Challenge

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Dobrydney
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  The 48th Medical Group won the Commander's Trophy PT Challenge on August 6, with five team members completing a PT Test consisting of push-ups, sit-ups and a 1.5 mile run in 57 minutes and 26 seconds.

For winning the latest event in the 2010 Commander's Trophy competition, the 48th MDG received 25 points towards their total score, taking the lead from the 48th Logistics Readiness Squadron, who has won the Commander's Trophy two years running, said John Enterman, 48th Force Support Squadron Fitness Center director.

Besides the Commander's Trophy, Airman 1st Class Aaron Medina of the 48th MDG said there was a sense of satisfaction in completing a challenge not everyone would take on.

"It's an honor to represent [the Medical Group]. We help keep others fit, and we must keep ourselves fit too," Airman Medina said.

Running for more than 20 years, the Commander's Trophy is a year-long competition among units to see who is best at sports of all kinds.

"Last year we had [more than] 1,200 total competitors and this year we expect more," said Mr. Enterman.

The goal of the Commander's Trophy program is to develop espirit de corps and sportsmanship between units. Seven intramural team sports such as basketball, volleyball and softball are included in the competition, with teams earning 25 points for first place, 15 points for second, 10 for third and 5 for participating.

In addition, five special one-day events are selected by the Sports Advisory Council, which meets every quarter. Five participation points are given for attending the meetings, and units have those points subtracted from their score if they don't.

The selection of the PT challenge by the SAC was prompted in part by the new PT testing standards that took effect July 1.

"They knew it was coming and thought it would be a good one-day event to find out who has the fittest people on base," said Mr. Enterman.

The final events for the 2010 Commander's Trophy will be the intramural flag football season and the indoor soccer competition, which are scheduled to begin in September and October, respectively.