CAF Day to focus on physical fitness

  • Published
  • By 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The third Comprehensive Airman Fitness Day of 2014 commences Sept. 26, and organizers of the event advise participants to be ready for a physical challenge.

Of the four pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness - mental, physical, social and spiritual - the goal of this CAF Day is to ensure the members of the 55th Wing are physically ready to accomplish the mission no matter what.

"Physical fitness is a key component to the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth's ability to maintain high operations tempo and accomplish demanding operational and support missions," said U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gregory Guillot, 55th Wing commander.  "Airmen need to be prepared to execute extended duration operations, and often physical fitness helps carry us through and meet those mission demands."

With that in mind, organizers have lined up a series of fitness events at the Offutt Field House and near the softball complex that should provide Airmen plenty of opportunities to push their limits.

"We really tried to come up with a plan where everyone would find something they not only liked to do athletically, but would also challenge them physically," said U.S. Air Force Capt. Danny Pfeiffer, CAF Day organizer and 338th Combat Training Squadron executive officer.

Pfeiffer teamed with U.S. Air Force 2d Lt. Casey Dockins of the 55th Strategic Communications Squadron to come up with a few new things for this CAF Day.

"We're really excited about the event and certainly couldn't have put it all together without the help of the fitness center staff and especially our unit contacts," said Dockins, 55th SCS Defense Red Switch Network officer-in-charge.

Participants will have the opportunity to demonstrate their fitness level during a two-mile warrior run, circuit workout or cross fit challenge.

"We'll also have some team events such as basketball, dodge ball and kick ball, but there's no doubt everyone is going to get a workout," Pfeiffer said. "We want to challenge them physically and build camaraderie."  

As is standard with all CAF Days, units will also facilitate discussion groups throughout the morning or afternoon covering the other four pillars of CAF.

"CAF Day is not just a day to raise wing morale, it is about embracing a culture and lifestyle we can rely on to make sound choices," said Jack Sweet, 55th Wing community support coordinator. "I hope all units take this opportunity seriously and really take advantage of the time given to them to connect with their wingmen."

Each unit was given access to a newly created CAF Day Resource SharePoint site offering them a variety of information on nutrition, fitness and resilience to help facilitate small group discussion. 

"I couldn't be more impressed with our plan for this CAF Day," said U.S. Air Force Col. Mark Williamson, 55th Wing vice commander. "This is an awesome opportunity for our units to put an emphasis on one of the key pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness."