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By Daniel Barney Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
Classes are in session! Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst held Comprehensive Fitness Day on October 17th. This event, led by the 87th Air Base Wing Integrated Prevention and Resilience office, was open to the joint base community providing class sessions with a myriad of topics and interests as a way to promote personal resilience, readiness of our Total Force, and continuously improve the quality of life to all individuals. Crista Brady-Szabo, 87th ABW Integrated Prevention and Resilience community support coordinator, detailed how Comprehensive Fitness helps to reduce self-defeating behaviors, feelings of hopelessness and despair, and yield a stronger, healthier, happier, and more resilient joint base community.
“This year, our team at the 87th ABW Integrated Prevention and Resilience office invited two guest speakers and provided over 75 class sessions around Joint Base MDL to individuals who were interested in attending Comprehensive Fitness Day,” stated Brady-Szabo. “I want people here on JB MDL to take some time out of work to communicate with each other, create new friendships and have fun.”
Over 1,000 attendees participated in Comprehensive Fitness Day activities. U.S. Air Force Airman First Class Aalim Austin, 305th Operations Support Squadron aviation resource manager, shared his CF Day experience, while participating in a session of basketball at the McGuire Fitness Gym center.
“It’s a great opportunity to meet new people and a good little break from work. I would not get breaks like this, unless I go on leave,” said Austin. “I see Comprehensive Fitness Day as a caring and thoughtful token of appreciation from JB MDL not only to us Airmen but to everyone base-wide. I recommend more people to get involved into an event like this, because it does not happen every day and one could be missing out on meeting people.”
Another participant, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Legend Little, 305th Aerial Port Squadron traffic management specialist, also shared his take about the event.
“Unfortunately, I was not able to participate in Comprehensive Fitness last year, due to the fact I was very busy with work at my squadron, but I finally made it this year which was a sigh of relief. This is a great morale boost for everyone here on the base,” said Little. “This event helps the whole community to relieve stress in order to maintain one’s mental health in normal working conditions.”
There was also a hatchet throwing competition held at the 87th Force Support Squadron firehouse. Participants had the chance to step inside a caged, narrow, and rectangular arena where they practiced and honed their axe-throwing skills at wooden targets.
U.S. Navy Damage Controlman Third Class Petty Officer Angel Alba, 87th Air Base Wing protocol specialist, expressed what the day out of the office meant to him.
“To me, it seems like a fun way to go outdoors, have some fun, and try something new for a chance. I see an activity like hatchet throwing as something I just do not see every day,” Alba said. “Hatchet throwing gave me such an adrenaline rush that sent chills down to my spine, and that alone was a unique and refreshing experience.”
Brady-Szabo and the 87th ABW Integrated Prevention and Resilience team vow to continue to promote and fight for the resilience and mental health of everyone in the JB MDL community.
“Increased camaraderie and mental health of all people are the objectives that I strive to achieve from Comprehensive Fitness Day, every year.”