Iron Airmen: Fitness from the front

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Curt Beach
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  

From four-star generals to commanders and chiefs, it’s commonplace to find all levels of leadership at the SrA Bryan Bell Fitness Center early in the mornings.

 

These leaders set the expectation for their Airmen by taking the mantra “fit to fight” to heart and living by it every day. Some have pushed their bodies to the max and reached new fitness heights by squaring off with the Iron Airman challenge, one of several health challenges offered on base.

 

The challenge, which originated at Barksdale in 2012, calls for Airmen to complete a combination of push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and a two-mile run all within a 30-minute time span.

 

So far, only 57 Airmen can proudly say they’ve joined the ranks of the Iron Airmen, and of that select group, only eight have attained perfect score.

 

A perfect score of 400 points requires a male under 30 years old to complete 21 pull-ups, 91 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, and a two-mile run under 12:16. A perfect score for a female under 30 years old requires eight pull-ups, 71 push-ups, 100 sit-ups and a two-mile run in 13:50.

 

Recently, Col. Kristin Goodwin, 2nd Bomb Wing commander, put her fitness to the test by tackling the challenge. Goodwin is the fifth female challenger to conquer the test and did so by scoring 387 out of a possible 400 points, the highest score thus far among female participants.

 

Goodwin maintains that fitness is a part of her daily lifestyle, and she encourages all Airmen to challenge themselves and elevate their fitness goals – the Iron Airman Challenge is one way to do that.

 

“It’s a privilege to serve alongside our warrior Airmen who demonstrate these high standards of discipline and are uncompromising in their pursuit of excellence,” said Goodwin. “Upholding a high level of fitness enables Airmen to accomplish the wing's mission and ultimately play a vital role in supporting and defending the freedoms that generations of Americans have fought to secure.”

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Anderson, 2nd Maintenance Squadron commander, is another Iron Airman who charges his Airmen with high standards.

 

"I want to encourage my Airmen to make fitness a priority in their lives,” said Anderson. “As a squadron commander leading several hundred Airmen, it’s important to set a standard and show Airmen that meeting Air Force standards is important, but it’s also important to do the best you can in every aspect of life and that includes fitness.”

 

Anderson encourages Airmen of all ranks to give the Iron Airman challenge a shot.

 

“It can be done. Don’t be afraid to fail. There’s nothing wrong with trying,” he said.

 

For anyone looking to take on the Iron Airman challenge, contact Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagán Jr. at joseph.pagan.2@us.af.mil.