RUfit? Mildenhall Airmen are 'fit to fight'

  • Published
  • By Gina Randall
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Senior Airman Corey Adams is the 100th Force Support Squadron Sports director of the Hardstand Fitness Center and is from New Lothrop, Michigan.

For staff working at the fitness facilities on Air Force bases, it's vital to be customer-minded. Airmen are often pushed to the limits at work and must still have the drive and determination to go the extra mile after a long day and get to the gym to work out. They must make time to keep "fit to fight."

Airmen working at the gyms on base offer encouragement and time saving ideas for workouts. For Adams, his role encompasses many different tasks.

"On a day-to-day basis, it's a lot of email answering, field preparation for various sports and organizing official contracts," Adams explained. "We have umpires, so I have to communicate with them, get them here on time, work with their contract holder as far as how many games they perform that month and the times that they did it."

His work consists of a great deal of organizing and keeping people motivated. He enjoys seeing customers get the most out of the facilities offered to them by the base.

"I like working with people," the Michigan native reflected. "I like doing things so people get to enjoy themselves. It's fun when you are involved in a season like the softball that just finished. It's exciting to see the end result. It took three months to actually see it done, then to have people thank you for all the hard work that you did. That's enjoyable."

After a hard day in the shop or office Airmen may not have time or energy to work out, so Adams thinks making it fun will encourage those who may lack motivation.

"Workouts don't have to be on the treadmill for hours at a time," Adams said.

The fitness centers offer many team sports such as outdoor soccer, flag football, volleyball, basketball and softball where service members can enjoy the social aspect of team events while improving their fitness levels.

"The people I work with are what really make the job more fun," the sports director laughed. "Even if you have a job that most people don't like, or even hate, but you have good people that you work with, it makes it!"

Adams feels he is fortunate that he chose his career field well and is happy to spend his career motivating others. His leaders are thankful to him for the work that he does.

"Adams is the perfect example of an American Airman!" exclaimed Tech. Sgt. Edward Tacub, 100th FSS Fitness Operations manager and Adams's supervisor. "He does whatever needs to be done without complaining. He works hard as soon as he steps into the building. Everyone in our work center and the dining facility (his prior duty) can all agree that Adams is the 'go to guy.' The Air Force needs more Airmen like him."