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Move those feet

By Senior Airman Whitney Stanfield, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published October 31, 2011

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SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- "This is your last lap. Push yourself, you got this! I forgot to mention that I am a liar, you owe me one more."

The 4th Force Support Squadron (FSS) fitness center provides different types of fitness improvement classes on base. For those that did not want to participate in any classes and did not uphold U.S. Air Force fitness standard are now required to join the fitness improvement training (FIT) program.

"There isn't any way to sugar coat it but nowadays military members are becoming civilians faster for not being physically fit," said Master Sgt. Chuck Downs, 4 FSS fitness center section chief.

Seymour Johnson's current physical testers passing rate is 91.25 percent. Out of the passing rate 51.8 percent are in the excellent category but 8.8 percent are failures. Airmen enrolled in the FIT program have failed a physical test recently. Even if you pass your next physical test it is up to your commander for your dismissal from this program. FSS provides the class at 6 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Roll call begins 10 minutes prior to start time. The session starts off with a warm-up that is not included in the 45 minutes workout so you have to be on time to be accounted for. The warm-up is to prevent injury to bones and get Airmen ready for a new routine each session.

The FIT program is a high impact training that lasts for 45 minutes. During this program, Airmen will be pushed to their maximum fitness level and work as a unit. Working together as a unit motivates each other to do their best because no one wants to be the last person. If one person fails to meet run time or drops to their knees before a minute is over while performing planks or push-ups, everyone starts over. After warm-up Airmen will perform varies abdominal and push-up techniques as well as long distance and short runs.

"Most people have the ability to handle high impact physical training but have never been pushed," said Lt. Col. Ronald Booker, 4 FSS commander. "And that's what we [FSS] are here for."

The program's objectives are to enforce cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, endurance and flexibility to improve overall fitness. Cardiovascular endurance is the physical ability to maintain aerobic exercise for prolonged periods of time. Muscular strength is the amount of force muscle can exert within short duration contractions. Muscular endurance deals with sustaining muscle contractions, which is the bridge between muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Flexibility is the range of motion possible for each joint or groups of joints at one time.

Participants are divided into two groups. One group works on upper body strength while the next group works on sprints and long distance running. A personal trainer is assigned to those on profiles to improve the components they are physically able to do without causing pain to their injury. Therefore the pain is equally spread out to everyone.

"At the end of the day, it works," said Michael Unden, 4 FSS military fitness specialist.

For more information about this program contact your unit physical training leader or call the 4 FSS fitness center at 919-722-0408.
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