Healthy habits highlighted at HAWC

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony Jennings
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The Health and Wellness Center recently won the Large Base Health Promotion Award for increasing the physical fitness standards here. The center's focus is to increase the Air Force physical fitness standards by abiding by the aggressive Air Force physical training regiment.

Created in 1995, the HAWC's most pronounced goal is increasing awareness of the importance of health and fitness for not only Airmen and other Department of Defense servicemembers, but the entire community.

"We want people to get involved and take advantage of the classes we offer and to find out the benefits of having a fit body," said Allison DeCaro, the HAWC health promotion director who has been involved with the HAWC since 1996.

The HAWC also makes appointments for active duty servicemembers to attend the Healthy Living Program, a mandatory two-hour class for those who score less than 75 points on their annual Air Force Fitness Assessment. The HLP emphasizes behavioral changes and includes a fitness and nutritional education segment. Classes can only be cancelled by the servicemember's squadron Unit Fitness Program Manager.

"Many people have a negative perspective of the HAWC because we have to enforce a mandatory physical training regiment if they fail a physical training evaluation," said Ms. DeCaro, "They have to understand that we are just following guidelines of the Air Force. That is why we stress they find out the benefits of our classes."

One of the ways the HAWC accomplishes the task of educating the public is through healthcare conventions such as the Health and Fitness Expo held Feb. 27 at the Officer's Club. The expo featured a number of organizations and booths dedicated to educating the public on the benefits of maintaining a healthy body and mind. Themes ranged from cosmetics and massage therapy, to hiking and dental health. Each booth had vendors selling products, giving free samples, or just educating people on the importance of safety, health and fitness.

"We took surveys from the people who attended asking if they felt the expo was educational, and the majority said they strongly agreed," said Katherine Halliday-Fields, a nurse educator for the Tobacco Cessation Program. "If only one person left the expo with something new they learned about the importance of safety, health or fitness, that could be one life saved and that is what really matters."

For more information on the HAWC or the programs and classes it offers, you can visit the Health and Wellness Center link on the Eglin homepage at www.eglin.af.mil or you visit their office located in Bldg. 843.