RUFit?:TDY'd Airmen "Train Insane"

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nigel Sandridge
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LOSSIEMOUTH, Scotland --  RAF Lakenheath Airmen participating in Joint Warrior 2016, take these words to heart. They treat fitness as more than just one of the four pillars; it's a way of life.

Joint Warrior is a multinational annual training exercise that provides rescue units with air-to-air combat mission training, enabling them to prepare for potential real-world scenarios they could encounter in deployed environments.

"You don't take a day off just because you're down range," said Airman 1st Class Brendan Porter, 56th Rescue Squadron operations intelligence journeyman. "Your goal should be to stay fit and maintain that warrior's mentality that we're all pushing for every day."

Lt. Col. Bernard Smith, 56th RQS commander worked hand-in-hand with Lossiemouth leadership to ensure that Lakenheath Airmen had access to base facilities to maintain their fitness throughout the exercise.

"The RAF Lossiemouth personnel have been very accommodating to the Airmen by allowing access to both base gyms, so even with a tight schedule and long hours, if somebody wants to jump in there for 30 minutes, they have the opportunity," Smith said.

Airmen are also encouraged to maintain a healthy diet and to get the sufficient amount of rest needed for physical recovery. Between the intense combat training exercises, the 56th RQS, 57th RQS and 748th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron hit the gym to focus on increasing strength, endurance and stamina.

"I try to keep up with my fitness 365 [days a year],"said Tech. Sgt. Sergio Medrano, 748th AMXS materiel support NCO in charge. "Since we're here primarily for the mission, I try to get my workouts in whenever I can, along with hydrating and trying not to get caught up in junk food that comes with being so busy."

It's recommended by leadership that the Airmen hit the gym at least three to five times a week, but some Airmen strive to push the limits and workout every day.

"We have a strong mission requirement to stay physically in shape because the Air Force demands a lot out of its Airmen," said Smith. "One of the aspects that we always want is to remain forward, ready, now as much as possible, so if people are in distress, we have healthy Airmen that can respond as quickly as possible."

Being physically prepared is more than personal gain for these units. This dedication to health assures that no matter where the mission takes them, home station or Joint Warrior 2016, there will always be Liberty Airmen "fit to fight."