Opening the door to a fit Air Force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Colin Cates
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  The Air Force has made a clear statement that today's Airmen need to make fitness an important part of their career. The Domenici Fitness and Sports Center supported that cause by offering an open house Jan. 27 for residents of Holloman.

The open house featured Body Combat, Body Pump, Cx works and TRX ®. The focus of these programs is to assist Airmen in preparing for their physical training assessment.

"The fitness assessment is hands down the focus of my job and the commander is counting on me to get the job done," said U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Jesse Murillo, 49th Force Support Squadron fitness director. "We are the first base in the Air Force to offer these programs. Airmen who are having trouble with any area of the PT test can look at our schedule and plug themselves in and get a great workout to be ready for the test. The fitness center is here for everybody and our sole job is to help."

Body Combat is an hour-long, high-intensity workout that burns on average 900 calories.

"This class is designed to focus on losing weight," Murillo said. "I brought Body Combat here to help the Airman who is struggling with the run portion of the PT test. Simply put, the less weight you have the faster you will run."

"Body combat is a good because you burn a lot of calories, said US Air Force Airman 1st Class Candice Gallegos, 49th Communication squadron. I do not like typical cardio exercises like running; this class is a great way for me to do cardio".

Body Pump is a muscular development class that offers a full hour of muscle toning and muscle building.

"This class is designed for the Airman who needs help with the push up," Murillo said. "Airmen who were going two to three times a week, for a couple weeks on a regular basis were crushing the push up portion of the PT test. Body Pump offers anyone the chance to increase muscle."

Body pump is great but you are so sore the next day. The instructors are great and they guide you along the way Gallegos said.

Cx works is a 30 minute workout that focuses on the abdominal area.

"The class is geared to help with sit ups and the waist measurement," Murillo said. "A stronger core will help our Airmen be more effective in all aspects of their jobs."

"Honestly if you do body combat and body pump three times a week you will be in really good shape", said Gallegos.

As Airmen our job is to be not only mentally but also physically ready to deploy at a moment's notice, Murillo said.

"Our responsibility is to be deployable when called upon to complete the mission," he said. "Every Airman should be aware that we are deployable, and not only that, we have to be effective while deployed."

To help do their part, the fitness center here is readily available to help Airmen become "fitness ready," Murillo said.

"When General Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, came here to see our facility he said this is by far the best gym he has seen in the Air Force," he said. "My staff and I are very proud of this facility and all we have to offer our Airmen. This facility has everything a person needs to get mentally and physically healthy."