COMMENTARY: 'Fit to Fight:' It's more than PT

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Ramon Martell
  • 727th Air Mobility Squadron
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  To some, "Fit to Fight" may mean passing the Air Force Fitness Assessment every six months to a year, but I believe it's much more than that.

Physical training is a part of the term "Fit to Fight," and as someone who loves to work out, it's a big part for me. I work out at least five times a week, training not only for my physical test but also for myself. I say that both in a literal and non-literal sense. On the surface, I work out so I feel great physically and because I feel better when I'm in a better shape.

Speaking in a deeper sense, I work out because it allows me to reflect on the many circumstances that are occurring within my life. This self-reflection adds to another component of being "Fit to Fight" - resiliency.

For me personally, the "Fit to Fight" notion encompasses all situations arising within an individual's life - physically, mentally and spiritually alike. This is an ideology we need to pass along to all Airmen because things happen every day, and each of should be able to handle them to the best of our ability.

For example, you may have had an argument with your spouse one evening, which may weigh down on you the following day at work; or perhaps you have a task at work that's very important and is putting a gratuitous amount of stress on your mind.

Whether these events influence you in a large or small way, they affect you regardless and alter your "Fit to Fight" capabilities. Therefore, it is important to know how to minimize the effect of negative events so we can remain as strong (physically, mentally and spiritually) as possible every day.

As leaders, we need to ensure we are living up to our standards in keeping our Airmen truly "Fit to Fight." This could mean taking them to the gym and assisting them physically to pass an assessment, or simply communicating with them to see what is on their mind, in their hearts or occurring in their everyday life. By doing this, we're able to guide them in the right direction so they're focusing more on the mission ahead. Additionally, this assists us in remembering to take time for ourselves, allowing us to take care of things that may cast a weight in our own life, holding us down.

Being "Fit to Fight" is not simply working out our bodies to be physically ready to take on challenges that are thrown our way. This slogan also means ensuring that we are working out our minds and our hearts so we are ultimately ready and truly "Fit to Fight."