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NEWS | April 8, 2010

Airmen utilize CrossFit to get back in shape

By Chelsea Gitzen 316th Wing Public Affairs

Airmen are not immune to weight gain, and may at times fall off track when maintaining their fitness.

Luckily, the CrossFit classes available at the West Fitness Center provide an avenue for those who may need to get back on track with their fitness.

"The CrossFit classes are there for leadership members who choose to send their Airmen to corrective fitness," said Staff Sgt. Roger Dupuis, 316th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter and CrossFit instructor. "The program is here to help everyone."

The CrossFit instructors not only direct members in the class, they also help establish a healthy standard of living.

"Our mission is to help members change the way they workout, as well as their diet and increase their overall physical training test scores," said Staff Sgt. Jontae Wallace, 316 CES readiness and emergency management flight NCO in charge of expeditionary engineering and CrossFit instructor. "We teach fundamental movements - push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, squats and many more."

Though the class is called CrossFit, the statistics show that since its start, the attrition rate for PT tests has been reduced significantly.

"Since the fourth quarter of last year, we have seen a 50 percent decline in the number of people in our squadron who are at-risk [for failure of their PT test]," said 2nd Lt. James Bergren, 316 CES programming chief and CrossFit instructor. "The program has affected Airmen with the desired results; they are in better shape, and are better able to perform their missions."