Squadron PT re-vamped to prep Airmen for testing Published April 15, 2009 By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- Transformation is happening all across the Air Force. It's happening in career fields, work centers, and deployed environments. It's also happening in the bodies of Airmen who are embracing a "warrior ethos" concept, making changes in their lifestyles, and training to be fit to fight. Answering the Air Force Audit Agency's December 2008 audit report which found that "unit-based fitness programs did not effectively influence Airmen to make fitness a year-round commitment," transformation is now being reflected in the unit physical training programs at Hickam AFB. The 15th Comptroller Squadron physical training leader, 1st Lt. Terrance Wilson, said he began revamping the PT program in January to focus on the basics elements of form and push Airmen to progress so that they see results and want to challenge themselves. "Our focus is a lifestyle change so that they can be better, healthier people," Lieutenant Wilson said. "We require three days of PT a week, but we encourage Airmen to do additional PT on their own, because at some point it becomes a career decision for each individual." Their squadron meets for PT on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. Thursdays are self-paced and Fridays are "fun" days, when they play teambuilding sports, but Tuesdays they focus on the elements of the PT test, said the 24-year-old squadron PTL. "Each week, we do 15 minutes of circuit training focusing on the effects of correct form," he said. "I would rather see the Airmen doing four or eight or ten pushups with perfect form and improving every week than pounding out 25 or 30 pushups that wouldn't count on the test." After their strength session, the group runs toward the Sea Breeze, a route headed toward the Hickam AFB beach which shows the mile markers. Everyone is expected to go at least 1.25 miles and then back, but "each week we push each member to progress within the same time frame," Lieutenant Wilson said. "I tell them, if you went 1.25 miles and back last week, try to go to the 1.5 mile marker this week, without adding much time." Many of the Airmen who have participated in Lieutenant Wilson's new PT program have, in fact, seen improvements in their fitness testing scores. Those who struggled are given stronger incentives and another opportunity to improve through Hickam AFB's Human Performance and Rehabilitation Center's Fitness Improvement Program. "On March 18, I failed the fitness test by four points," said Airman 1st Class Diana Kahookele, 15 CPTS accounting liaison. "I was shocked. I thought I had this in the bag." Having recently moved to Hickam AFB from Edwards AFB, Calif., Airman Kahookele described her former physical training routine as "blah," and said she had never even had her waist taped since basic training. Although squadron PT helped her improve a bit for her recent test, she said her form for the pushups wasn't enough and only four of hers counted. Now, she goes to the HPARC every day and has made leaps and bounds in her fitness in just a few weeks. She finds she actually enjoys it. "It's difficult, but it's motivating," Airman Kahookele said. "Everyone's in the same boat. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, and there are some things I do better than other people with but there are some things other people do better than me." After just 42 days, she thinks she can pass the PT test, but wants to stay in the FIP for the full 90 days. "I want it to be a whole body change," she said. "Fitness is part of my life now." She's also looking forward to going back to squadron PT, now that she's better at performing the exercises required. "I learned that if you put in your all, you get results," Airman Kahookele said. "I think everyone should do the HPARC class!"