\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tAirmen from the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. (Courtesy of Maj. Casey Rains, commander of the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron)
\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Airmen from the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., are stepping up their training in preparation for the Air Force\u2019s updated physical fitness standards.<\/p>\n
In a first for the unit, more than 60 airmen will participate in Team Red, White & Blue\u2019s GWOT 100-mile challenge<\/a>, which starts Sunday and runs through February.<\/p>\n As the successor to the Taji 100, which Team RWB retired in February 2025, the challenge continues to honor the legacy of the Global War on Terrorism while promoting health and wellness among service members, veterans and their families.<\/p>\n During the monthlong event, participants are encouraged to complete 100 miles through running, walking, cycling, swimming or using equipment such as an elliptical.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really exciting,\u201d said Ret. Col. Mike Sullivan, executive director of Team RWB. \u201cWe have multiple active-duty units that are participating across the Department of War. It provides all active-duty units an opportunity to look beyond their traditional physical training programming, to mix it up a little bit, and get out there and push themselves a little further each day.\u201d<\/p>\n By participating, airmen are aiming to build a habit that makes fitness a regular part of their lives while also aligning with the Air Force\u2019s emphasis on high standards for fitness and long-term health.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to be mission-ready, not just test-ready,\u201d said Maj. Casey Rains, commander of the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron. \u201cWe see fitness not as a chore but as fundamental to our readiness and our resilience. It\u2019s about owning our health so we can own the mission, whatever it may be. We\u2019re not just aiming to meet the standard. We\u2019re aiming to set it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Air Force first released updates to its physical fitness assessment standards in September 2025<\/a>, and announced further revisions<\/a>\u00a0this month. Under the updated standards, all airmen are required to complete fitness assessments twice a year, including either a 2-mile run or the 20-meter high aerobic multi-shuttle run.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe the greatest advantage this challenge offers in meeting the new fitness standards is mental. When you\u2019ve conquered a challenge of this magnitude, the mental hurdles of a faster-paced run feel significantly more manageable,\u201d said Senior Master Sgt. Veronica Tannery, an airman from the unit who is also using this challenge to train for her first marathon.<\/p>\n On Monday, the unit will kick off the challenge with a 10K flight line run, which Rains says will \u201cset the tone\u201d for the challenge. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s something really powerful about running around the flight line, the heart of our mission, as a team. It\u2019s a visible, energetic way to say, \u2018OK, we\u2019re in this together. Let\u2019s go.\u2019 \u201d<\/p>\n Rains said that every Monday and Wednesday of the month participating airmen will gather and do 3-4 miles together, running or walking, and will complete the remaining miles on their own time. The group sessions provide a way for the airmen to encourage and motivate one another.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about more than just individual miles; it\u2019s about shared experiences and the collective drive to achieve a common goal,\u201d said Tannery. \u201cThis shared effort strengthens our bonds and translates to a more connected and effective team.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Airmen from the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. (Courtesy of Maj. 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