Laughlin exercise physiologist helps maintain healthy Air Force

  • Published
  • By by Senior Airman Olufemi A. Owolabi
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Physical fitness training is a vital part of how Airmen prepare for the rigorous physical challenges they meet while at their home-duty stations and deployed locations.

The Air Force Fitness Program requires all-active duty members to maintain an acceptable fitness level, which is achieved by working out a minimum of three times a week and being assessed at least annually to determine compliance.

The base exercise physiologist has the critical role of ensuring members comply with the Air Force fitness instructions and ultimately, helping to keep Airmen fit to fight.

Bill Goins, 47th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron, is in the business of helping to keep Airmen in top shape.

"We continuously try to improve on the AFFP and 'beef up' the program a bit," Mr. Goins said. "We don't want people to focus only on their fitness test. We want individuals to pick other goals and events to participate in."

His unit, normally referred to as the base Health and Wellness Center, offers additional services focusing on nutritional and personalized fitness programs, in addition to triathlon marathon training, along with several other training regiments.

"We are here to ensure that every member is fit to fight," he said. "In addition to that, the goal of the program is to ensure that every Airman's quality of life, from a health perspective, is outstanding and to instill a mindset that will last a lifetime."

He said most of the programs target Airmen and members who are not in shape, but there are other programs and resources developed to benefit every one of all fitness levels here at Laughlin.

"I have developed a personalized fitness program training binder for the Fitness Center staff based on all fitness levels which allows them to safely take individuals through professional fitness routines with 120-week plans," he added. "We have also developed local 5K races and the ever-popular Laughlin Adventure Race."

According to Mr. Goins, tens of thousands of base members have benefited from the programs.

A member of the 47th Comptroller Squadron, Staff Sgt. Veronique Anthony shared how effective one of the programs was for her.

"The program helped me realize that I overcomplicate fitness and nutrition," she said. "It is a life style change over a period of time. The classes, cool food and fitness logs helped me identify where I was clinging to certain foods for comfort instead of dealing with the issue. In all actuality, if I made time for myself by doing the little things such as spending 30 minute a day on an elliptical, I could reflect better on what made me think a quadruple triple stacker would help me deal with life."

Mr. Goins credited the success of the programs to teamwork and hard work.

"The success can be attributed to all of the hard work that the folks at the HAWC put into the program, all of the time the unit fitness program managers and physical training leaders spend within the squadrons to ensure that their folks are fit to fight," Mr. Goins explained. "Without all of the people and their efforts, the program would not be effective."

Furthermore, he shared the secret to successfully accomplish a good PT test score for those members struggling with their scores. The secret lies in their approach and preparation for the test, he said. Fitness and proper nutrition are not a part of their daily lives.

"For example, you don't start to brush and floss your teeth simply because you have a dentist appointment next week," Mr. Goins said. "You brush and floss everyday because if you do not take care of your teeth, they rot and fall out of your head! You should not start running because you have a fitness test coming up. Fitness and nutrition must be a part of your daily life. If they are not and you don't take care of your body, it will rot, become diseased, and die!"

In addition, he said the ultimate responsibility of every Airman is to stay as fit and healthy as they possibly can. Not to simply pass a test.

"There are no exemptions from being fit due to an injury. Every day, at all times, all Airmen must be vigilant with their fitness and nutritional lifestyles," Mr. Goins said. "This is because every Airman truly is only a deployment away from their lack of fitness costing them their life, or the lives of other service men and women that are depending on them."