Flight fitness

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Nine members of the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron ran in the Army 10-miler road race here Oct. 10, 2009, in an effort to prepare for new Air Force fitness requirements. Front row (from left): Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Diola, Staff Sgt. Airman Josh Kruse and Senior Airman Nate Simonson Back row: Lt. Col. Steve Gregg, Master Sgt. Louis Distelzweig, Capt. Luke Bates, 1st Lt. Erin Hannon, Senior Airman Guy Coggins and Capt. Anibal Aguirre

64th RQS members stay fit to fight

Published Oct. 21, 2009
By Lt. Col Steve Gregg
64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron commander

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- Nine members of the 64th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron completed the Army 10-miler road race here Oct. 10, 2009. The first Airman and fourth overall finisher, with a time of 1:03:40, was Senior Airman Nate Simonson, a pararescueman deployed from the 56th Rescue Squadron at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom.

Preparing for the new Air Force fitness test, the 64th ERQS is targeting aerobic ability during their deployment here. Despite working 12-plus hours a day and being on 24/7 alert, the crew boasted some competitive times.

Lt. Col. Steve Gregg, 64th ERQS commander, finished seventh overall at 1:05:22. Senior Airman Josh Kruse finished in 1:10:10; Capt. Luke Bates finished in 1:15:40; Staff Sgt. Jeremy Diola finished in 1:16:37; Capt. Anibal Aguirre finished in 1:17:45; 1st Lt. Erin Hannon finished in 1:18:25; Master Sgt. Louis Distelzweig finished in 1:23:15; and Senior Airman Guy Coggins finished his first 10-miler at 1:25:24.

The 64th ERQS, which conducts personnel recovery operations throughout Iraq, is composed of Airmen from the 56th RQS and the 41st RQS at Moody Air Force Base, Ga.