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Show HILLTOP TIMES Fitness program to test Airmen physically, mentally BY STAFF SGT. IAN HOACHLANDER Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas — Airmen at 18 installations will see a new era of physical fitness as the Air Force Personnel Center Directorate of Services introduces the Air Force Team Cohesion Challenge. The pilot program, built around special operations training, is designed to teach leadership, promote unit cohesion and Wish From 1 The children also hopped into the cockpit of an F-16, worked the jet's instruments via an F-16 flight simulator, watched military police dogs do their work and received an Explosive Ordnance Disposal demonstration. "It's nice to see him be able to act like a kid again," Crystal Thomas said of her son Ryan. "It's been a tough road, countless nights in the hospital, countless sleepless nights where you just worry. But things like this are a great distraction where we can have fun and think about something else." She said Ryan nearly died last Mother's Day after going into shock. "But ever since then, he's been doing great. Shortly after that, he was declared N.E.D. (no evidence of disease), and he's been in remission ever since. We pray he stays that way." London's mother, Danielle Bowman, said the Make-AWish Foundation has been a crucial partner in helping her family battle lissencephaly. "They gave us a family trip to Disney World," she said. "It was great because we really don't know how much time we have with London. We got to have this unbelievable trip that we wouldn't have been able to afford otherwise." Jenny Hortin, volunteer manager with Make-AWish Utah, said many of the children at Hill have already had their wishes fulfilled, but the Pilot For A Day program provides an ancillary activity that seems to thrill the children who participate in it. "A lot of these kids see the jets flying over their homes, but they've never seen one up close before," she said. "It such a unique experience for them to come out here and see how the Air Force operates. They love it." Lt. Col. Tom Wolfe, commander of the 388th Operations Support Squadron, said one of the main tenets of the Air Force is to protect those who can't protect themselves. He said the Make-A-Wish kids served as a true reminder of that philosophy. "These kids have overcome inspire teams to perform their best. "This program was developed to provide Airmen the opportunity to participate in a team-based event which incorporates the five Cs of comprehensive Airmen fitness - caring, committing, connecting, cornmunicating and celebrating," said Benjamin Evers, Air Force Personnel Center outdoor recreation specialist. "It will not only challenge Airmen physically but also demand they work as a unit to tackle both physical and mental obstacles." The challenge involves two elements: a base-wide 5K run and the rucksack challenge. The 5K run is open to everyone on base and is mandatory for all participants who registered for the main event. Airmen can sign up for the rucksack challenge individually or with their friends and coworkers. Once registered, the force support squadron places members on a 30-person team, known as their GORUCK family. "The 5K run creates awareness for the new program and is also an icebreaker for the GORUCK family," Evers said. "We highly encourage participants in the 5K run as a unit so as to mimic the GORUCK Light. For example, teams could hold a rope during the entire run or run in some sort of formation." The day following the 5K, members who registered for the rucksack challenge will participate in a 4-to-5-hour team event during which a special forces veteran, called a Cadre, Hilltop TIME S June 19, 2014 will lead the team in militaryinspired challenges and missions, including basic training calisthenics, swimming, lifting and marching. Throughout the event participants will wear a backpack filled with 30 to 40 pounds of equipment. "This program is physically demanding which promotes a `hard work in, positive results out,' attitude and we have specifically selected this event for the military relevance and focus on group and team dynamics," explained Evers. so much, and a lot of them are still overcoming some incredible challenges," he said. "They really are an inspiration to us. These kids are the reason we do what we do." Hill covers the cost of the event for all of the Wish kids and their families. J r or 41, that we siuM any I oe to assn r. I he ALEX LLOYD/U.S. Air Force TOP LEFT: Saul Vergaray, an honorary Make-A-Wish Pilot for a Day, takes the controls of an F-16C Fighting Falcon and imagines what it would truly be like to fly in the wild blue yonder. TOP RIGHT: 388th Operations Support Squadron Flight Commander Capt Bryan Brandon (left), leans into the cockpit of an F-16C Fighting Falcon to give Make-A-Wish Pilot for a Day Jared Call a few pointers on how to control the aircraft, as Jared's father Jeff, and brother, Tyler, listen nearby. ABOVE: A family affair, as MakeA-Wish Pilots for a Day pose with their families and 388th Fighter Wing members for a photograph in front of an F-16C Fighting Falcon. LEFT: Make-A-Wish Pilot for a Day, Caleb Peterson, enjoys the moment of receiving his flight suit by having his mother record the moment with a photograph. |