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Comprehensive Airman Fitness: Don't just survive. Thrive.

  • Published
  • By Capt. Ann Blodzinski
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Editor's note:  This is the first of an on-going series about Comprehensive Airmen Fitness.

The goal of Comprehensive Airman Fitness is to help our Airmen, Air Force civilians and family members become more resilient and better-equipped to deal with the rigors of military life.

Comprehensive Airman Fitness, or CAF, is not a program. CAF promotes positive behaviors and holistic health in order to build resilience to the stress associated with the demands of military life.

The four pillars CAF stands on are mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness.

· Mental-Approaching life's challenges in a positive way by demonstrating self-control, stamina and good character with choices and actions; seeking help and offering help.

· Physical-Performing and excelling in physical activities that require aerobic fitness, endurance, strength, flexibility and body composition derived through exercise, nutrition and training.

· Social-Developing and maintaining trusted, valued friendships that are personally fulfilling and foster good communication, including exchange of ideas, views and experiences.

· Spiritual-Strengthening a set of beliefs, principles or values that sustain an individual's sense of well-being and purpose. Spiritual fitness is about having a sense of purpose and meaning in your life. It's essential to an individual's resiliency as esprit de corps is vital to a unit's mission accomplishment. It includes but is not limited to worldviews, religious faith, and sense of purpose, sense of connectedness, values, ethics and morals.

You are not alone building a strong foundation based on the CAF fitness pillars. Multiple base agencies stand ready to assist such as the Airman and Family Readiness Center, Mental Health Clinic, Family Advocacy Program, Health and Wellness Center, Chapel, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, and Equal Opportunity.

The four pillars stand on the foundation of the five C's: Caring, Commitment, Connectedness, Communication and Celebration.  These bahaviors promote a sense of belonging for all Airmen.

"First and foremost, we must continue to care for our Airmen and their families. At Air Combat Command, we've taken a proactive approach to increase Airmen resiliency through a culture of Comprehensive Airman Fitness," Gen. Mike Hostage, Air Combat Command commander.

For more information go to the website http://www.acc.af.mil/library/comprehensiveairmanfitness/index.asp.