PME incorporates Fit-to-Fight program Published July 22, 2004 By Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- Professional Military Education students will exercise under a more formal structure beginning in August as part of the Fit-to-Fight initiative. Students will perform physical conditioning three days a week to reinforce the school’s new focus, said Chief Master Sgt. Sharon R. Turk, vice commandant of the College for Enlisted Professional Military Education.Even though many schools have moved toward this, it is not officially a part of the curriculum until August for the noncommissioned officer academies, and November for airman leadership schools, she said.Course attendees will notice a focus on combat leadership throughout enlisted PME with lessons such as national security strategy, joint-force components, expeditionary Airman, terrorism and force protection, force packaging and joint perspectives. “The major difference in our curriculum today compared to before is that we are focusing on the combat environment verses a business environment,” Chief Turk said.These changes will be implemented at all levels of PME starting with Airman leadership schools, with added intensity as the level increases. “Fit-to-Fight is an area where we need everyone’s support because of the way it is performed while attending PME,” she said. Students will perform physical conditioning before, during or after the duty day, which last from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. However:-- Schools have the flexibility to schedule exercise time.-- Constraints such as shower facilities, physical training access areas, and graduation schedules will affect each school differently.-- Each school will design its own physical-conditioning program ensuring programs consist of proper warm up, push-ups, sit-ups, running and cool down. Every program will comply with guidance provided in Air Force Instruction 10-248.All students, no matter what fitness category, are allowed to attend PME. Instructors will perform an unofficial fitness assessment to determine students’ fitness level. Based on their fitness level, they will be paired up with students in a like category. If someone is not physically fit, the instructors will support their fitness prescription to ensure safe workout activities. If no fitness prescription is received and the assessment indicates that the Airman is not physically fit, officials will work with and monitor his or her involvement in the program. “The bottom line is that students must participate to the fullest extent possible in our fitness program,” Chief Turk said.