SF Airman rises to physical training challenge

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Megan P. Lyon
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (AFNS) --  (This feature is part of the "Through Airmen's Eyes" series on AF.mil. These stories and commentaries focus on a single Airman, highlighting their Air Force story.)

Fitness is important to Senior Airman Steven Evans; not just because he is his unit's fitness program manager, but because he's seen firsthand how being fit affects your life.
Growing up, Evans and his twin brother were actively involved in sports.

"I think the only sport I never participated in was wrestling, but only because it conflicted with basketball season," he laughed.

Fitness was such an integral part of the brothers' lives that they both pursued careers that required physical strength and endurance.

His brother opted for a life as a personal trainer, while Evans decided to join the Air Force. After basic military training and technical school, he was assigned to the 48th Security Forces Squadron.

During basic military training, Evan's instructor, a tactical air control party Airman, told him something that has stayed with him through the years.

"My instructor told me good physical training can save your life," Evans said.

As the Colorado Springs, Colo., native made the transition from the training environment and into active duty, he saw how true those words were.

"As a security forces member, we're always geared up," Evans said. "You need that physical endurance, that stamina, to carry your gear. You need to have that strength in case anything goes down."

After a grueling eight-month deployment, Evans returned home and found out his squadron was looking for a new physical training leader. While this was normally an NCO position, Evans' leaders decided to give the athletically-minded Airman a chance.

He immediately got to work revamping the squadron's physical training program. He tracked every member's fitness history and began pressing ahead with high-intensity workout sessions for the squadron.

Additionally, Evans began working with the base health and wellness center to strengthen the program.

"I would attend classes at the HAWC and incorporate what I had learned into my training sessions," he said. "I think the majority of the people like how the program has transitioned from just your normal everyday physical training session into something that will help your body, your mood, your overall health and well being."

Soon, Airmen were coming to him during his off-duty hours asking him to help them improve their fitness levels. For Evans, it was a golden opportunity to help his squadron succeed, especially in today's Air Force where short-notice deployments can happen at any moment.

"It could be that extra push of stamina or endurance that gets you or your buddy behind that barrier and out of the kill zone," he said. "You have to be ready for it. Your body has to be ready for it. Our squadron needs to be ready."

Since becoming the new unit fitness program manager in June 2011, the squadron has had an overall drop in fitness test failures and a 20 percent increase in "Excellent" fitness test scores.

"It's not just a choice, it's a lifestyle," Evans said. "As a military member, we need to be prepared to head out the door at a moment's notice."