Surviving the holidays with commanders

U.S. Air Force Col. Greg Williams, 355th Mission Support Group commander, performs a diamond pushup during the physical training portion of the Commander's 101/Surviving the Holidays course hosted by the Health and Wellness Center on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Nov. 14, 2012. The course involved a PT class and a cooking demonstration led by members of the HAWC's staff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

Surviving the holidays with commanders

David Friederich, Health and Wellness Center fitness specialist, explains to U.S. Air Force Maj. Joel Jorgensen, 42nd Electronic Combat Squadron assistant director of operations, the proper way to perform an exercise on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Nov. 14, 2012. Maj. Jorgensen and other base leadership participated in the HAWC's Commander's 101/Surviving the Holidays health course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

Surviving the holidays with commanders

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Rye, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron commander, takes notes as Cindy Davis, Health and Wellness Center dietician, demonstrates a way to bake vegetables during the cooking demonstration of the Commander's 101/Surviving the Holidays course on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., Nov. 14, 2012. Colonel Rye and other members of the base community took the course to learn ways to help themselves and their Airmen improve their overall health and lifestyles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Timothy Moore/Released)

Surviving the holidays with Commanders

Published Nov. 21, 2012
By Senior Airman Timothy Moore
355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. -- As physical training failures have been on the rise Air Force wide, several commanders on D-M took the opportunity to become better informed about the services provided to help their Airmen not only pass their PT tests but also improve their overall health.

The Health and Wellness Center conducted a Commander's 101/Surviving the Holidays health course. The program involved participants taking part in a PT course and a cooking demonstration offered by the HAWC. The course offered commanders, other base leadership, and anyone wanting to be informed a chance to learn and experience a new approach to staying fit to fight.

"I was really hoping to help my squadron get better at finding a battle rhythm to help them workout throughout the week and eat right throughout their lives," said Lt. Col. John Rye, 41st Electronic Combat Squadron commander.

The physical training class they participated in is one that is conducted by David Friederich, a fitness specialist with the HAWC. The course is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 11 a.m. The workouts last for about an hour and vary from session to session, keeping participants interested and out of a rut.

After working out, participants went to a cooking demonstration put on by Cindy Davis, a dietician with the HAWC. The class received a demonstration on baking vegetables. Ms. Davis conducts various cooking classes throughout the year with the HAWC. She even allows others to conduct cooking classes after she has gone over the meal and its contents.

The Health and Wellness Center focuses on improving all aspects of an individual's health, whether a person has come to the HAWC on their own or been ordered by their commander.
"We try to plant that seed to encourage them," said Lana Fred, HAWC health educator. "We try to make it more personal as to why a person would want to change."

The goal of the HAWC is to change people's attitudes and thinking from preparing for a PT test or better body to preparing for a healthier lifestyle.

"We as an Air Force, as Airmen, need to feel better about our lifestyles," Rye said. "It's not about our appearances but about living a healthier lifestyle."