8/26/16—MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Military members within the 42nd Air Base Wing gathered today to compete against each other during the first monthly commander’s challenge at August’s wing run.
Since becoming the new 42nd ABW commander, Col. Eric Shafa created the commander’s challenge as an opportunity to work together and build comradery.
“I wanted to get beyond just the standard runs and mix it up and make it a little bit more interesting,” Shafa said. “I put it on your shoulders to come up with some challenges that are catering to your strengths. From this point forward it’s really up to you on how creative you want to be. It doesn’t always have to be a run, it can be other things.”
The 42nd Medical Group received the trophy for finishing first at the time of 12:17, while participating in the two-mile challenge.
Shafa plans to have monthly challenges for each wing run, so each unit has a chance to win the trophy.
“This trophy is going to be a traveling trophy every month, so my challenge to you is to remind yourselves that we are supposed to be fit to fight here, and this is just a little motivation and it’s some bragging rights for the month.” Shafa said. “These folks that represented your units did a bang up job. These are the Airmen that are fit to fight.”
Concluding the wing run, Shafa also recognized the individuals who have recently come back from a deployment.
“I just wanted to take the time to shake your hands and tell you thank you for what you did down range,” he said.