Health and Wellness Center helps Airmen get ‘fit to fight’

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tiffany Colburn
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  Some Incirlik Airmen may have lived a healthy lifestyle long before the Air Force implemented its current physical training requirements, but others may need a higher degree of support to attain their health goals.

These individuals need look no farther than the 39th Medical Group's Health and Wellness Center.

According to Tech. Sgt. Charles McLean, 39th MDG HAWC noncommissioned officer in charge, the HAWC offers numerous programs to enhance the health of Incirlik personnel. These programs include: Tobacco cessation assistance, prenatal health, diabetes prevention, cardiac rehabilitation, and a variety of exercise classes to include a course on proper stretching and running.

The HAWC also offers physical training leader courses.

"The PTL class is for military personnel who have passed their PT test and are cardio-pulmonary resuscitation certified," said Betul Onat, 39th MDG HAWC administrative assistant. "After [completing] the class, they are able to assist members with their PT test," she said.

Once a PT test has been administered, the PTL gives the member's score to their Unit Fitness Program Monitor who enters that score into the AF Portal for the unit commander to view.

PTL classes are usually scheduled to occur twice a month, said Ms. Onat.
The HAWC also facilitates mandatory programs for Airmen who do not pass their PT test, including the Body and Composition Improvement Programs I and II and the Healthy Living Program.

According to Sergeant McLean, the Healthy Living Program and the BCIP are mandatory for any Airman who receives a score of 75 or less on his/her PT test. Attending the BCIP is also mandatory for male Airmen whose waist measures more than 40 inches in circumference and female Airmen whose waist measures more then 35 inches in circumference.

Sergeant McLean is also a trained nutritionist.
Meeting with customers both one-on-one and in group classes, Sergeant McLean helps customers create a diet plan with a sensible calorie level they can follow on a daily basis.

"Nutrition and exercise go hand-in-hand with losing weight," he said.
To further promote wing health programs the HAWC advertises a monthly health awareness theme.

November's health awareness theme is tobacco cessation. Sergeant McLean said he encourages Incirlik personnel to visit the HAWC for information and literature concerning tobacco cessation.

December's health awareness theme is currently scheduled to be alcohol awareness and sensible drinking.

For more information, HAWC personnel may be contacted via telephone at 676-8256 or in person at Building 5963.