Air Force athletics opens Outdoor Functional Fitness Area
9/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
Force athletics opened the Outdoor Functional Fitness Area Tuesday, Sept. 13, which is a second major addition of the Healthy Base Initiative program. The area is located outside the Cadet Fitness Center on the north end.
The OFFA is designed to assist all 4,000 cadets in training for the Air Force Physical Fitness Test, given each semester at the Academy. The area has room for cadets to train in the different areas of the PFT to include chin-ups, sit-ups, standing long jump, push-ups and even has a 40-yard sprint training area to help cadets build strength and endurance in running for the 600 yard run. The area gives cadets 24/7 access for training and also has additional equipment like kettle bells, weights, ropes and medicine balls. All the equipment is stored in a Beaver Fit storage unit.
The Outdoor Functional Fitness Area was made possible by funding from Air Force Services under the direction of Col. Anthony Lanuzo, the chief of the services operations division, Air Force Services, in the Pentagon. The Air Force Services division was also responsible for the funding of Falcon Fuel, the first major Healthy Base Initiative program which was started last year. Falcon Fuel provides all 4,000 cadets fueling stations outside of all weight rooms with healthy snacks and drinks to keep them fueled throughout the day.
The Healthy Base Initiative (HBI), the Department of Defense initiated demonstration project to encourage a healthy and fit alternative to the trend toward obesity. HBI covers four components: tobacco reduction, healthy eating, active living, and healthy communities. These two initiatives directly support the following HBIs: empower the military community to make better nutritional choices; increase physical activity. In addition, failure to meet weight standards is a leading cause of involuntary separation from the military with obesity in the civilian community limiting the Department of Defense's ability to recruit qualified personnel.
The addition of the Cadet Fitness Center has already paid dividends for the Academy, as cadet's PFT scores have increased by an average of nine percent from 318 to 350. In addition, athletic probation has been reduced by 53 percent and the cadet cumulative physical education average (PEA) which is a composite score of a cadets physical education class grades, physical fitness test scores and aerobic fitness test scores, shows the cadet overall fitness is at a 10-year high.
"Falcon Fuel and the Outdoor Functional Fitness Area are two initiatives that were complete team efforts across our base and in Washington. We hope will they will further expand the fitness levels and resiliency of our 4,000 cadets by increasing the opportunity and variety of fitness activities available," Air Force Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton said. "We're excited to take this next step in the Healthy Base Initiative and how it's going to help our cadets and staff at the Academy."
