Bataan Sailors Achieving a Culture of Fitness

Nov 05, 2008 by Navy News

Jeremy L. Grisham

NORFOLK (NNS) -- The crew aboard the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD5) finished out the month of October by completing their fall 2008 Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA).

Nearly 1,000 Sailors from Bataan demonstrated their physical readiness at the Naval Station Norfolk parade field and gym.

In recent years, the addition of the elliptical machine and stationary bike have given Sailors additional options to complete the cardio portion of the PFA, as well as the standard run on a track or treadmill, or the swim.

Navy Physical Readiness Test (PRT)

"I use the elliptical machine for my cardio portion," said Boatswain's Mate Seaman Kimberly Usry. "It's the machine I use daily when I work out, so it just made me feel a little more comfortable using it."

With the Navy's emphasis on a culture of fitness and Sailors being provided a larger range of choices in completing their PFA, the failure rate has dropped and has caught the eye of Navy leadership.

"Navy PFA failures have decreased more than 50 percent over the past four years. We're really seeing a change in culture and change in lifestyle," said Rear Adm. Daniel P. Holloway, director, Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, N13. "Better fitness ultimately leads to better quality of life, better performance and better readiness."

More Navy Fitness News

Bataan's fail rate for the spring 2008 PFA was 1 percent, compared to the Navy's average of 2.3 percent. The numbers haven't been calculated, but the trend is expected to continue.

"Bataan Sailors have very high standards, not only in their physical fitness, but on a professional level," said Bataan's Command Master Chief Storekeeper (SW/AW) James N. Stuart II. "I wouldn't expect anything less from our Sailors."

Bataan is the fifth ship of the Navy's Wasp-class ships. She was commissioned Sept. 20, 1997, and is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. CVL-29 was an Independence-class light aircraft carrier that was commissioned in November 1943. After serving in both World War II and the Korean conflict, CVL-29 was decommissioned in 1954.

For more news from USS Bataan (LHD 5), visit www.navy.mil/local/lhd5/.


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