Airmen and "guardian" from "Ravens 3" at the Senior NCO Academy perform the pull-up exercise after a three-mile run during fitness training as fellow students and instructors cheer them on. (U.S. Air Force photo/Bud Hancock)

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Senior NCO Academy students and instructors run one of their frequent three-mile runs at the Gunter track. The academy's physical fitness program is constantly improving, according to acting commandant Chief Master Sgt. Shelia Knox. The great outdoors provides a cost-free environment for physical fitness training (U.S. Air Force photo/Bud Hancock)

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SNCOA equips leaders with model Physical Training program

Published June 19, 2009
By Jessica Casserly
Air University Public Affairs

MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- The Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy's recently updated Physical Training program provides students and instructors with the skills and knowledge they need to promote Air Force level fitness in their units.

The value and impact of this program is spreading Air Force wide, as senior enlisted leaders from across the country and around the world come to Gunter's SNCOA to gain leadership skills.

"The bottom line is we lean forward," Chief Master Sgt. Shelia Knox, acting SNCOA commandant, said, "The SNOCA is a big part of implementing Air Force physical training standards."

According to Chief Knox, the SNCOA's PT program has undergone several revisions since the official lesson plan developed in November 2007. "Our fitness program remains relevant. It is always undergoing change," Chief Knox said.

Though the program is constantly transforming to align with the latest fitness objectives, Chief Knox said each element of the program undergoes extensive testing before its implementation. "We use the change model we teach our students every time a new element is introduced into the program," Chief Knox said.

Senior Master Sgt. Monica Adams, a SNCOA instructor and one of the academy's newest Unit Fitness Program Managers, said the program uses several elements to educate students about fitness and nutrition. "Nineteen curriculum hours are allotted for [the program]," Sergeant Adams said.

Included in those hours are informal lectures, guided discussions, demonstrations, as well as approximately 14 hours of PT activity. While the students' performance in the PT component of the curriculum does not affect their graduation eligibility, Sergeant Adams said students show definite improvement in running time and crunches from pre to post assessment. "The program sets the students up for success," Sergeant Adams said.

According to Senior Master Sgt. Steve Ray, a SNCOA instructor and UFPM, part of the program's success is due to the implementation of ideas from sister services. The newest addition to the SNCOA PT program, rifle training, was borrowed from a similar sister service program Sergeant Ray said. Described as another form of strength training, Sergeant Ray said the program's rifle training is conducted in accordance with Army Field manuals and is usually led by SNCOA Army students.

Whatever methods are used to achieve the fitness goal, it's the simplicity of this program that really makes it work. "It is basic, simple. It just takes someone to step up and lead it," Sergeant Ray said.

When it comes to leadership, the SNCOA ensures there are always instructors trained to lead the program. "All of our instructors are certified PTLs," Sergeant Adams said. The SNCOA's leadership in this area provides a model for the Air Force according to Sergeant Adams.

Sergeant Ray said the SNCOA's program also exemplifies leadership through their conscious effort to keep program costs at a minimum. "With the program we have here you just need the great outdoors," Sergeant Ray said.

Senior Master Sgt. Howard Free, one of the SNCOA's newest instructors and UFPMs, recently went through the academy as a student. Sergeant Free said he was educated enough at the student level to take the program back to his unit. "[Senior enlisted leaders] are able to get more buy-in from their units with [our] program," Sergeant Free said.

"The greatest reward of the SNCOA program is the excitement it generates in our SNCOs," said Sergeant Ray, "It's a wonderful feeling to have a student approach you graduation night and excitedly tell you how much of an improvement, physically, they made while they challenged themselves at the academy."

This excitement has a way of spreading. "You know [the students] are going to take that excitement back to their unit," Sergeant Adams said, "And when they get there, that excitement will spread throughout the unit."

Ultimately that's the goal of the SNCOA PT program. "It's not just about passing that annual fitness test. It's about becoming fit for life," said Sergeant Adams, "In no way do we want this to be just a SNCOA program. We want this to spread Air Force wide."