Fitness is more than physical Published May 31, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Antonio Gonzalez 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- During a recent NCO all-call, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan Battaglia, spoke about an innovative approach to health and fitness called Comprehensive Airmen Fitness, or CAF. Take the many domains of the B-52H Stratofortress as an example. There are the pilots who fly the plane, the radar navigators who guide the plane and drop bombs on target, the electronic warfare officers who defend the plane, the air traffic controllers who are the eyes on the ground and the maintenance teams and weapons crew who prep the plane. All of these different domains must work together to maximize the performance of the aircraft, but when all these domains are combined, it's not just a plane; it's one of the most powerful aircraft in the air. "As service members, we are complex organisms," said Battaglia. "So, too, are the environments we live and work in and the challenges of our everyday lives. For members of the military and their families, who face deployment and extreme stressors, these challenges can be even greater. That's why it was deemed necessary to create an integrated approach to health and fitness." CAF breaks down into four domains: physical, mental, social and spiritual. "When someone mentions the word fitness to us, you tend to automatically think of physical fitness," said Battaglia. "One doesn't realize how unfit you may be if any of these domains lack a certain level of fitness to keep you resilient and Comprehensive Airmen Fitness is all about resiliency." Resiliency is the ability to overcome adversity. So when challenges arise in life, Airmen have built up resiliency in their lives that gives them the mental and physical toughness to overcome adversity. Battaglia said he believes in Comprehensive Airmen Fitness because he uses it. "For a long time I was denying that I had some issues and problems. I was in denial because I'm a Marine leader; if I had a problem I'd certainly know about it," he said. "It wasn't until my wife noticed my combat stress that I finally started seeing it. I went and got myself some mental health counseling. My fitness meter in the mental domain was low. I didn't realize how unfit I really was until I went in to see some of the experts." Capt. Sabera Sobhan, 2nd Medical Operations Squadron mental health clinic officer in charge, said resiliency isn't something people are born with; focusing on the four domains of CAF helps develop resiliency. Ways to practice CAF include eating well, exercising regularly, attending church and managing stress effectively. Also spending time talking with friends and family, and engaging in outdoor activities such as fishing or walking a dog, are enjoyable ways of achieving a balance in life. Techniques such as yoga and meditation are alternative methods used to practice CAF. "There is research to support the positive benefits of alternative methods such as meditation and yoga," said Captain Ginger Pezent, 2nd MDOS counseling psychologist. "I know many people including myself who have found these methods to be beneficial in helping to manage stress and improve mental focus." According to Battaglia, in past decades, not many would have considered a military member's spiritual or mental well-being as something in need of monitoring or nurturing. It's this broad, outside-the-box approach that makes CAF something special. For more information on Comprehensive Airmen Fitness, contact mental health at 456-6600.