Fit to fight: if you're not fit to fight, you should get back to the basics of running, sit-ups and push-ups - Brief Article

Airman, Jan, 2004

That's the word from Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John P. Jumper who says that today's Air Force is different from that of a decade ago. Today there are more deployments to all parts of the world with airmen living and working long hours in war zones and enduring extreme temperatures.

Enter the new fitness program that began this month, Gen. Jumper expects commanders and noncommissioned officers to lead the program through unit physical training, personal involvement and by example. An Air Force instruction will provide details of the program. Physical fitness tables can be viewed at www.af.mil/news/usaf_fitnesscharts.pdf to provide helpful guidance in judging your fitness.

"This is about our preparedness to deploy and fight. It's about warriors. It is about instilling an expectation that makes fitness a daily standard--an essential part of your service." Gen. Jumper emphasized.

In this year's almanac issue, we feature "Fit to Fight" as the theme because of its importance to our mission. You'll want to read the messages from out senior leadership. In addition, this issue offers information on commands and installations located around the world, pay charts, awards and decorations, badges, aircraft and missiles, among other areas of interest. Plus, duty badges are published for the first time.

But, remember, the bottom line to this issue is being fit to fight. Are you ready?