Additionally, in a recent Air Force Times article, you may have read about the extra emphasis that Air Force Mobility Command is now placing on fitness. The new officer and enlisted evaluation reports are forcing commanders to place more importance on the fitness program.

The Air Force focus on fitness is not the only reason – certainly there are others – for Airmen to join the fitness craze. Of course, it could be the main reason; poor fitness scores lead to disciplinary actions and possibly discharge from the service. Other reasons could be the various health benefits touted, the camaraderie or just trying to beat your previous best scores.

As a commander, I've noticed a slight increase in disciplinary actions taken because of failures in the fitness program. The actions I see are across the Air Staff and the defense agencies, as well. We are now in the process of setting up a medical review board for an individual who recently failed twice. No one wants to be in that position; however, members need to realize they must make the effort to pass the fitness test. You may be the best person at your job, but if you can't pass the fitness requirements, it matters little.

As harsh as it seems, fitness failures now are specifically referenced on evaluation reports, leading to referral reports. So, the best reason to get fit may be to keep your job!

Keep in mind, while the Air Force wants you fit to deploy, the Air Force approach to helping you get on the right track (pun intended) can be a life-altering measure. The healthy living workshops, required for those who are placed on the fitness program for failures, attempt to get members thinking about their eating habits and making lifestyle changes.

My parents just departed after visiting my family for about a week, and they recounted several times how in my younger days (junior and senior high school), I ran cross country. I wasn't very good at it, but my school did need me to make a team (had to have five). However, running and getting all that exercise helped my lungs. As a child I was sick frequently, with pneumonia and bronchitis five times before second grade. I was hardly ever sick once I began running.

Additionally, newspaper articles and TV shows often advertise how exercising 20 minutes a day, three to four times a week, increases your longevity. Whatever the latest figure is, what's clear is that maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise is in your best interest today and for your future.

Another benefit I mentioned was the camaraderie aspect. When I'm exercising with my squadron or with friends, I enjoy the added time with them to talk and just enjoy the exercise time as a team. Sometimes, there just isn't time during the workday to talk, but you might grab the opportunity while you're out on the running track or the running path by the Potomac to talk about a problem or issue.

When I first came into the Air Force, we were testing on the 1.5 mile run (as we've now returned to), and I would go out and practice it with my husband. He got “hooked“ on running, and he typically runs much farther than me on a weekly basis. Over the last two years, we've done several 10-mile races, and I've gotten to enjoy running enough that I like to see my running times improve. In my most recent 10-mile race, the George Washington Parkway Classic two weeks ago, I recorded my best time ever.

Fitness: It is really about you. Make the choice now to improve your fitness, not only so you can check the “Meets Standards“ block on your evaluation report, but for your healthy future. Whatever your motivation might be, go to yoga, go to cross-fit, run a race, play intramural base sports! “Just Do It,“ as Nike has shouted for years, and you'll be glad you did.