Excellent fitness program receives UCI Excellence

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Physical fitness is an important aspect of every military member's life, whether it is to pass their mandatory fitness test or just to stay in shape to perform their duties, but the 48th Component Maintenance Squadron took fitness to the next level.

During the latest Unit Compliance Inspection, the 48th CMS received an "excellent" for their fitness program, which leadership attributes to the dedication of their people and the program management.

"I am extremely proud of everyone in my squadron," said Maj. Tony Lombardo, 48th CMS commander. "The biggest factor in receiving the excellent is the mindset we have fostered in the 48th CMS. We stress that fitness is not just about readiness, it's about long term health."

Major Lombardo said, members from the squadron volunteer to run PT five days a week to ensure there is always an option for squadron physical training.

"We have introduced quarterly 'unofficial PT testing' to track members continual progress," said Brenda King, 48th CMS unit fitness program manager. "If they fail, they attend a mandatory five-day healthy eating and fitness program at the Health and Wellness Center until they are able to pass. We have also reduced our testing window to March thru October each year due to a high percentage of failures during November thru February over previous years."

According to Miss King, the 48th CMS has also introduced its own fitness operating instruction for the squadron, and invested in new heart-rate monitors, stop watches and fit cards for members and physical training leaders to use.

"Before I entered the 48th CMS fitness program I was in very bad health; my weight got as high as 263 pounds and I was beginning to have severe ankle pain from the excess weight," said Staff Sgt. Robert Williams, 48th CMS. "Now, I am at 203 pounds, and I attribute my success to the support from my squadron, friends and family and the health and wellness center. The importance of fitness was never really drilled into me until I got to this squadron."

Sergeant Williams added that he was on the verge of being discharged from the Air Force for health reasons.

"Without section support I would have surely failed (my PT test)," said Sergeant Williams. "They worked with me to ensure I had the time to get healthy safely. That is the reason I have been able to keep the weight off."