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September 30 , 2005
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By Vince Little
Stars and Stripes Pacific edition
The Air Force is launching a new fitness initiative that promotes and rewards physical activity and healthy eating habits for 9- to 18-year-olds.
Created by the Services Division, FitFactor will be introduced at every installation in a worldwide kickoff Saturday, officials announced.
“It's based on improving the health and fitness of our youth,” said Bennie Luck, the family outreach coordinator and acting youth programs director for the 374th Services Division at Yokota Air Base, Japan. “Several studies have shown youth obesity is a growing problem in America. We want to help combat that and get kids healthy and fit. … Get 'em out and get 'em active.”
The Web-based program touts the motto “Get Up, Get Out, Get Fit!” and targets youths of all ability levels and interests “from star athlete to couch potato,” a 374th Services Division news release stated.
Participants may engage in a variety of activities and collect incentives for making healthy choices every day.
Objectives can be met through almost any physical endeavor, from organized team sports and kickball to climbing trees and walking the dog, Luck said.
Military and services officials in the Pacific plan to begin the latest drive to get kids in shape with parties at base youth centers.
At Misawa Air Base in northern Japan, Col. Arnold Holcomb, 35th Mission Support Group commander, and Lunney Youth Center staff members will kick off FitFactor there by taking part in a fun ride, bike and run around the base at 8 a.m. Saturday.
“We'll be doing a cadence to yell out, ‘Get Up, Get Out and Get Fit!' to encourage people to come out to the blowout party Saturday night,” said Kim Alston, the youth center supervisory recreation assistant.
“We're also going to be calling other bases to challenge them to do certain activities.”
FitFactor offers five levels of exercise regimens for youth to tackle, officials said: energy, strength, agility, adventure and endurance.
Luck said Yokota participants would receive a lapel pin for registering and have a chance to win items such as water bottles, T-shirts, bags, wristbands and Frisbees when they complete each stage. Printed certificates can be brought to youth centers for verification.
According to the news release, Services Division officials want students to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day, make healthy eating and lifestyle decisions, include friends and family in fun physical activities and games, limit time in front of the television and computer and adopt beneficial exercise routines incorporating both physical and leisure-time pursuits.
Luck said FitFactor, which can be found on the Web at www.afgetfit.com , is “surprisingly easy” to use and likely to become a permanent fixture within the Air Force community.
“Once they get a log-on from us, it's easy to navigate,” he said. “They can go in, log in their points, keep track of how they do and see what they get.
“To make this program a big success, it's going to take everybody … to encourage kids to get out and do things that are active. It'll take partnering with different organizations to make it a real success, so we can get as many kids as possible enrolled.”
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