CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The current Commander's Fitness Challenge, which started here Jan. 20, is a base-wide competition to see which squadron can complete 100,000 push-ups and sit-ups first throughout the course of 100 days.
Twenty-nine teams will have until 4 p.m. April 29 to reach 100,000 points, where 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams will be announced and awarded a prize at the closing ceremonies during a wing-wide sports day.
The basic idea of this competition was designed by the wing commander who then contacted the fitness center on base. Tech. Sgt. Shawn McKeen, NCO in charge of the 437th Force Support Squadron Fitness and Sports Center, and 2nd Lt. Jordan Hayes, officer in charge of the 437 FSS Fitness and Sports Center, contributed ideas to design the details of the competition.
"The goal is to get as many people base-wide in a fitness competition," said Sergeant McKeen. "The more push-ups and sit-ups you do, the more you are going to be able to do."
The daily minimum requirement for the Commander's Fitness Challenge is 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups per person, with no maximum limit.
"It's not so much about the scores as it is about improving physical fitness," said Lieutenant Hayes.
Each squadron may have any number of teams consisting of 10 intra-squadron competitors with at least one of the team members being female.
"Our focus isn't solely on winning the challenge," said Staff Sgt. Joseph Sparlin, 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron C-17 crew chief instructor. "It is a morale booster for the squadron to help improve physical fitness. We have two teams which are having an intra-squadron competition."
Teams may hold sessions daily or individuals may hold private sessions where the results will be sent to a designated unit physical training leader for compilation. Scoring of the sessions will be done by the team itself.
Every Monday by noon, teams are required to send their scores to Sergeant McKeen on a spreadsheet which is provided by the fitness center staff.
Score reporting is based on the honor system and the integrity of every member on the team. The repetitions of each exercise do not need to be completed consecutively, but the objective throughout the competition is to perform as many repetitions as possible.
If a teammate gets injured, becomes sick or can no longer compete in the Commander's Fitness Challenge, they may be replaced with another Airman from the squadron permanently with approval from Lieutenant Hayes or Sergeant McKeen.
"Hopefully it will help motivate them year-round," said Sergeant McKeen. "If they do not continue working out they will be right back where they started. This will help maintain and improve their fitness level. We want this [competition] to help them get more excited toward physical fitness and friendly competition. It will bring squadrons together to accomplish a goal."