HAWC trains PTLs on standards

by Airman 1st Class Hailey Staker
18th Wing Public Affairs

2/25/2014 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen in the Air Force physical training uniform filtered into a room filled with indoor cycling machines for a Spin class during PT Feb. 20 here. These Airmen are physical training leaders, attending a course designed to train them on Air Force PT standards.

Per Air Force Instruction 36-2905, "Fitness Program," PTLs must attend an initial PTL training course and each year must attend a refresher course in order to maintain their certification.

"The PTL course is a condensed version of a personal training course," said Christie Cornell, Kadena Health and Wellness Center exercise physiologist. "We cover proper running form, and then we do drills (the PTLs) can do with their Airmen during PT to help reinforce proper running techniques. We also go over fitness design or program design where they design their own programs and then teach it to each other."

Cornell said that during the course, Airmen also learn different segments of an exercise session, how to put a session together and finally how to instruct a program and provide a well-rounded PT session to their units.

Tech. Sgt. Mark Obeng Duro, 18th Force Support Squadron Fitness Assessment Cell NCO in charge, said PTLs are the backbone of the program and aid in training and putting together PT programs for their units.

"(The course) is important because PTLs are the front line to making sure that people are doing proper pushups, proper sit-ups and have good running form because they are actually out there with the Airmen doing PT," Cornell said.

Additionally, PTLs are brought into the fitness assessment cell to administer tests and ensure all Airmen are performing with proper form during each exercise of their test.

"The overall goal of the PT program is to motivate Airmen to participate in year-round exercise or physical conditioning in order to stay in shape and be healthy," Obeng Duro said. "The Air Force standard tests Airmen based on four components: abdominal circumference; muscular component; and the aerobic component. Each test is different based on age and gender."

Cornell and Obeng Duro explained how year-round exercise and maintenance is essential to remaining fit to fight, and that waiting until the last minute to test could result in injury.

"You have to exercise and maintain a good diet throughout the year in order for you to maintain (the Air Force PT) standards," Obeng Duro said. "If you wait around until the last minute, it makes it a lot more difficult to try and get back in shape before your test."

Cornell said that year-round fitness and continued participation in unit PT programs are important, as is being specific in a training regimen.

"I also recommend that everyone, especially those that are having some difficulty, practice the PT test as they would take it, at least once a week," Cornell added. "It gets your body into the rhythm of doing the PT test, so if you chose to do sit ups first, then do sit ups and wait your three minutes, do your pushups and then go out to the track and do your run."

There are many resources available to Airmen in order to aid in maintaining good physical fitness such as cardio and strength classes, offered by the HAWC every other week. Airmen can speak with Cornell regarding their fitness needs during a one-on-one session.

For more information or to schedule for a class, call the HAWC at 634-2499.