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Building confident, eager Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Brian Butkus
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Members of the 375th Mission Support Group gathered for a day filled with combat related physical fitness events and camaraderie during the MSG Warfighter Day Feb. 7.

Throughout the day, participants took part in various relays including a rucksack march, high crawl relay, ammo can relay and a humvee push. The day also included morale building general fitness events like volleyball, wallyball, basketball, and tug of war.

"I am a big fan of (physical training) in general," said Senior Airman Steven Hogan, 375th Security Forces Squadron. "Having the opportunity to go out and compete in events against my fellow MSG Airmen while testing some of my own limits is really a great time."

MSG Warfighter Day is one of many programs Col. Brad Spacy, 375th MSG commander, has introduced during his time as commander.

"I started warfighter day to give those in the 375th MSG the opportunity to compete and have a good time, but also incorporate some events using their warfighter skills," said Colonel Spacy. Warfighter Day supports another initiative called Fight the Base.

Fight the Base is a plan that assigns sectors of responsibility for all MSG squadrons to man in times of terrorist response or natural disaster. Warfighter Day gives Airmen the opportunity to use the skills required to defend or recover a base during contingencies, at home station or deployed. Also part of the colonel's big picture is "Sergeants Time" training where NCOs from each MSG squadron set aside time to train their Airmen on weapons, tactical team movement, the use of night vision devices and other combat skills pertinent to the mission.

This whole plan is based on an aggressive PT program consisting of Squadron, Group and Combat PT. Combat PT is voluntary extreme PT designed to push Airmen to their physical limits during a variety of workouts.

Combat PT is every Friday morning from 5 to 7:30 a.m. with no breaks, and Colonel Spacy leads it himself.

"Combat PT isn't for everyone--it's tough and we don't mess around--but you don't have to be in perfect shape, just willing to suffer." Colonel Spacy said.

These programs all work together and are designed to make sure our Airmen are fit, confident, and ready to fight in the war on terror," said Colonel Spacy. ""It's all a part of building our warfighter culture where Airmen learn, practice and use their combat skills to win the war."