CAF domains impact mission effectiveness Published March 1, 2016 By Airman 1st Class Christopher Maldonado 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Failure is not an option. Mission success relies on an Airman’s ability to bounce back from any challenge, regardless of the situation. The goal of the Air Force-wide Comprehensive Airman Fitness initiative is to build and sustain a thriving and resilient Air Force community that fosters mental, physical, social, and spiritual fitness. With guidance from the CAF initiative and CAF based resiliency trainings, Airmen can maintain a balance of the mind, body, and soul, ensuring the execution of the mission with minimal error. Mission success begins with physical fitness. It’s an important aspect of any Airman’s career and could either help or hinder the mission, both on the home front or in a deployed environment. “Physical fitness gives Airmen a sense of self-consciousness,” said Senior Airman Dominique Smith, 20th Force Support Squadron resource advisor. “Starting your day active, whether it is working out in the morning, or in the afternoon, you will end up building your physical resiliency.” If we had to go to war right now, you would want to be physically fit to go overseas and do what is needed to complete the mission, said Smith. Physical and spiritual fitness requires a daily exercise regimen. The effects of working out these two domains become noticeable not only to fellow wingmen, but are evident in an Airman’s physical training test and their work ethic. Airmen are accountable for ensuring that they remain spiritually fit, while maintaining their beliefs and sense of well-being. “Spiritual fitness is different for every person,” said Tech. Sgt. Jamyal Lett, 20th Fighter Wing non-commissioned officer in charge of chapel readiness. “It may be a set of beliefs or morals, it’s whatever that person holds valuable to them or whatever they hold themselves accountable for.” Whether it’s putting in full effort in their work centers or extracurricular activities, Airmen can build upon their spiritual fitness inside or outside a chapel. “As we go through life, we encounter struggles and things that challenge our resilience,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Curt Cizek, 20th FW chaplain. “I think that it is important to focus more on where we are headed than where we have been.” Mental fitness focuses around the inner Airman and what they can do to better understand the mission, contrasted by social fitness which is an outward approach to certain situations involving the assistance of wingmen to confirm completion. According to a study by the Franklin Institute, a center of science education and research, mental dexterity exercises help you see the world in a new way and strengthen your neural pathways. In essence, breaking out of your routine can help keep your brain young and healthy. Social fitness focuses on the concept of teamwork, giving all Airmen a place in the mission. Find somebody that will commit to helping you out; “Everyone has friends here and there, or a group that is willing to help if they are struggling,” said Smith. The four domains -- mental, physical, social, and spiritual, come together as one force to help Airmen who may be struggling throughout their Air Force career. A sound mind, body, and soul is paramount in accomplishing the Air Force’s mission and the four domains of CAF serves as a constant guide to an Airmen’s resiliency.