Physical fitness: Key to readiness

  • Published
  • By Maj. Shannon Smith
  • 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Starting in July, our Air Force opens the next chapter in its efforts to produce more physically fit, combat capable Airmen. After all, preeminent combat capability across the spectrum of conflict is critical to our nation's defense. With that said, the need for physically fit Airmen transcends both combat and daily mission activities.

First, our healthcare is paid for by American taxpayers. We must make a concerted effort to eat right and remain physically fit while serving in uniform. Good stewardship of tax dollars is critical to our future as active duty Airmen. After all, rising healthcare costs are the greatest threat to future quality of life benefits. Unless every Airman in uniform today makes a commitment to live a healthier lifestyle, future benefits like pay raises, adequate military family housing and veteran's benefits will suffer so American taxpayers can finance exorbitant healthcare costs caused by a generation of obese Airmen.

Secondly, we should develop physical fitness habits that endure throughout retirement. Our military retirement plan is great, but can't be fully cashed in if we die soon after retiring. The way I see it, I'm earning two-for-one dollars every day. If I serve twenty years on active-duty, I'll earn 50 percent of my base pay in retirement. Thanks to the fitness habits I've developed on active duty, I hope to live another 40 years as a retiree. If that happens, I'll collect as much money in retirement as I did on active duty, minus allowances. Essentially, I am protecting my most valuable financial investment, my military retirement, by remaining physically fit.

Lastly, it is our duty to present and maintain a professional military image. Nothing bugs me more than seeing an obese Airman in a public place in uniform. We individually represent the Air Force every day in the public eye, and I dare say obesity doesn't inspire confidence in our combat capability. Some Airmen counter we only need to be fit enough to do tasks related to our current Air Force specialty. Does this mean we can look however we want as long as we can run fiber cables through buildings, load weapons onto aircraft, process paperwork at the MPF or stand guard at a base gate? I think the American public demands more from its Airmen, and well they should. Being an Airman is a 24/7, 365-day a year responsibility. It's not an AFSC -- it's a condition of the heart.

Unfortunately, I hear comments far too often from Airmen who think of the Air Force as a job and nothing more. Being fit should be a way of life for all Airmen, regardless of their specialty. What happens when the fiber cable communications Airman is asked to augment convoy security in Iraq, a task which hundreds of communications Airman have done since 2003? What if the Air Force needs a weapons loader to assume duties as a Military Training Instructor down at Lackland -- where professionalism and the sharpest military image are essential? Again, we are Airmen first, and we should be prepared to do anything our Air Force asks to achieve mission success.

So the next time a fellow Airman gets on your case about working out, listen to them. Your increased fitness might just save your life in combat one day. Your improved appearance might just inspire the American public's confidence in its Airmen. The long-term health gains might just help protect your family's future financial independence. Most of all, it will help you realize being an Airman and a warrior is a condition of the heart and that, more than anything else, is what our Air Force needs in the challenging times ahead.