Fit to Fight, Airmen doing their part

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Latanya Reid
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AFB, Fla. --  It's the moment of truth, the finish line within sight down the dusty steady path, panting heavily with air filled lungs at the point of explosion while sweat drenched and aching joints stumble to the end. 

What was the time? 

Not enough; maybe better luck next time.
These are the words MacDill Airmen scoring less than standard in their physical training test dread. However, through intense aerobic and cardiovascular exercises each week at the fitness center. They can maximize their potential by pushing themselves to the fitness limit. 

The Airmen enroll in O.J.'s Body Sculpting Boot Camp class with the hopes of improving their Air Force physical training scores. But instead they gained much more by losing weight, toning up and reenergizing their mind, body and spirit. 

Lt. Col. Elizabeth Coddington, 6th Medical Operations Squadron flight commander at the Brandon community center location, joined the class last year to build endurance and improve her running. 

"I began stepping up my fitness level to meet the Air Force physical training standards," said Colonel Coddington. "I enrolled in the boot camp class offered at the MacDill Fitness Center and lost 25 pounds." 

Along with the boot camp workout, she began a diet of no alcohol or complex carbohydrates. The diet and the boot camp workout caused her to reshape and redefine her lifestyle. 

Through her personal testimony, that the program really works, she also referred her staff to try the classes. 

"Some of them were scoring less than marginal for their PT tests and they were sometimes stressed about this," she added. 

After attending the class she noticed the physical and mental changes. She felt it only right to help others in her flight with their struggles. 

Colonel Coddington credits the main motivator behind the workouts, the instructor and fitness coordinator Ofelia McCray, affectionately called O.J. with their success. 

"O.J. motivates each person and tries to push them to their maximum potential," she added. 

With body sculpting classes she helps Airmen on the verge of failing their Air Force annual PT test to improve their scores. Her workouts consist of cardiovascular step movements that are high energy and keep the members returning weekly. The other classes offered include Yoga Pilates, Dance Mix, Pilates, Salsa and Meringue. 

"I began the class last year and within weeks noticed my endurance level increased. My run-time was faster which resulted in me improving my PT score," said Colonel Coddington. 

Staff Sgt. Koko Miller, 6th Security Forces Squadron operations area supervisor joined the class to develop his endurance and increase his run-time. He reflects on how out of shape he had become until he began to kick up his exercise routine in the fitness boot camp. 

"Someone had come up to me and said she lost 50 pounds with the class. I tried it out and at the end of six months I had lost 37 pounds," he said. 

His drive to continue in the class was boosted after losing 10 pounds the first month.
Many participants in the class are referred by friends and co-workers. That's how Maj. Jill Tia, 6th MDOS physician, and Senior Airman Quentin Humphries, 6th SFS phoenix raven began attending. 

Airman Humphries gained weight after his wife became pregnant and they both began eating for two. Major Tia suffered from severe ankle strains preventing her from maintaining a good fitness level. 

They both dropped their weights and lifted their spirits after the intense workouts with the course. 

The classes are fast paced cardiovascular exercises which are required by the Air Force PT standards to help get servicemembers up to speed with healthy fitness levels. 

Servicemembers and their families can sign up for the high-tempo boot camp class anytime. The workouts are held at the MacDill Fitness Center every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday's at 11 a.m.