News>Kunsan Airmen push their limits in combat fitness test
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Staff Sgt. Brandon Coleman, right, 8th Maintenance Squadron, encourages teammate Maj. Ryan McPherson, 8th Operations Support Squadron, during a combat fitness test May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Used by the Marines, the CFT is a realistic way to assess how prepared someone is to handle the physical rigors of deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing begin the 800-meter sprint portion of the combat fitness test held May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The Airmen also completed 30-pound ammo can lifts, low and high crawls, buddy carries and a grenade throw. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
After sprinting 10 yards, an airman first class from the 8th Fighter Wing completes a low crawl before popping up into a high crawl during a combat fitness assessment May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. These maneuver-under-fire events simulate the actions service members might face while in combat. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Senior Airman Charles Miller, right, 8th Logistics Readiness Squadron, completes a grenade throw upon the order from Staff Sgt. Steven Acevedo, 8th Maintenance Squadron, during a combat fitness assessment May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. In addition to this, Airmen also sprinted 800 meters, completed two minutes of 30-pound ammo can lifts, did low and high crawls . and carried their teammate 75 yards. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Instructors demonstrate a fireman’s carry before leading participants through a combat fitness test May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Each instructor must score 270 out of 300 points on the test before being qualified to lead the test. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Staff Sgt. Frederick Delacruz, right, 8th Maintenance Group, drags Senior Airman Joshua Jarrett, 8th Maintenance Squadron, during a combat fitness test May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Delazcruz than completed a fireman’s carry the rest of distance before lugging two 30-pound ammo cans 150 yards and throwing a simulated grenade. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Senior Airman Emerald Twiggs, 8th Operations Squadron, throws a simulated grenade as cadre Tech. Sgt. Kellie Ford, 8th Fighter Wing Legal Office, instructs her during a combat fitness test May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Twiggs and other members from her squadron participated in the CFT to challenge themselves. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Staff Sgt. Steven Bohler, 8th Maintenance Squadron, pumps out his last pushup before completing the final 75-yard leg of the combat fitness test while carrying two 30-pound ammo cans during a combat fitness test May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The CFT is a realistic way to assess how prepared someone is to handle the physical rigors of deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Maj. Ryan McPherson, left, 8th Operations Support Squadron, carries Staff Sgt. Brandon Coleman, 8th Maintenance Squadron, during the last leg of the combat fitness test held May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. The fireman’s carry represented moving an unconscious Wingman or casualty out of further harm’s way while under fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing lift 30-pound ammo cans above their heads as many times as they can in two minutes during a combat fitness test held May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. Although men and women complete the same tasks, their scores are scaled differently. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Rasheen Douglas)
A staff sergeant from the 8th Fighter Wing transitions from a low crawl into a high crawl during a combat fitness test May 2, 2012, at Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea. These movements simulate the actions that may be needed while maneuvering under fire. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley)
by Senior Airman Brigitte N. Brantley
8th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
5/3/2012 - KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- The physical rigors of combat sometimes require Airmen to carry an unconscious wingman, move large weights over long distances, and crawl or sprint across fields.
The combat fitness test held at Kunsan Air Base May 2 gave about 40 Airmen from the 8th Fighter Wing a chance to test how they would hold up in such physically-demanding situations.
"We wanted people to be aware of how hard they might have to push themselves in combat situations," said Senior Airman Justin Gordon, 8th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist. "With the imminent threat of North Korea, it's especially important here, and the participants did a great job of putting themselves into the tasks."
The CFT is scored on a 300-point system. Women and men perform the same events but are scored on different scales. To become an instructor, an Airman must score at least 270 points on that scale.
The first event is an 800-meter sprint followed by two minutes of lifting a 30-pound ammo as many times above their head as possible.
The maneuver-under-fire portion has them crossing a 75-yard field four times. During the first pass, they sprint, low crawl and high crawl across it, then drag and fireman's carry their wingman back to the beginning. They then lug two 30-pound ammo cans across the field, pause to throw a simulated grenade and do three push-ups, then carry those cans back.
Many of the Airmen participating had never done an event like this before.
"This test helped me get in the mindset that we really need to take physical fitness seriously and be 'ready to fight tonight,'" said Senior Airman Emerald Twiggs, 8th OSS intelligence analyst. "I pushed until I couldn't anymore and by the end, I was tired and out of breath. It's definitely an effective way to test how prepared we are."
The reasons Airmen gave for participating in the CFT varied from wanting to test their own limits to taking on a new challenge.
"My co-worker Tech. Sgt. William Vargas challenged me to come out here and see if I could handle it," said Master Sgt. Jesus Reyes, 8th OSS air traffic control watch supervisor. "He thought he would beat me because he's younger, and he didn't think I'd be in such good shape."
Both Twiggs and Reyes said the maneuver-under-fire portion was the most difficult, and both plan on doing it again in hopes of beating their score.
Gordon invited all Airmen to come out and test themselves at the next one scheduled for July.
