New exercise physiologist brings culture of change to Grissom

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jami K. Lancette
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  Change is an inevitable aspect in life and while some embrace it others resist it, Grissom’s new exercise physiologist plans to implement change into the wing’s culture of excellence.

Dustin Fulkerson, 434th Force Support Squadron exercise physiologist, recently began his new career with a goal of ensuring Grissom personnel remain fit-to-fight and mission-ready.

“I aim to maintain integrity in the program while also providing a comfortable testing environment for Grissom reservists,” said Fulkerson. “That’s a specific directive from Col. Larry Shaw, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander.

This can be an uncomfortable area for a lot of people coming in to test, so we want to make sure we maintain the standard here without creating undue pressure for the tester,” Fulkerson added.

As Grissom’s exercise physiologist, Fulkerson is tasked with managing the 434th ARW commander’s fitness program and educating the entire base populace on exercise and health.

“I want to focus on making sure the program is running according to Air Force Instruction, and if there needs to be any changes,” said Fulkerson. “Those changes need to be implemented so people don’t look at a manual that says physical training leaders are supposed to do this, but here at Grissom they do something different.

“And the way that’s going to happen is to stand up the positions as Air Force instruction states with the PTL’s and the unit fitness program managers,” Fulkerson added.

A former collegiate-level athlete and member of the U.S. Coast Guard, holding two bachelor’s degrees in physical education and aquatics from Ball State University, Ind., Fulkerson knows a thing or two about military physical readiness and the importance of staying fit-to-fight.

After his service, Fulkerson took an instructor of physical education at the U.S. Military Academy where he taught physical education classes, survival swimming courses and structured drills for all new cadets during their basic training.

“In the Army we defined readiness as the ability to do the tasks that we are set out to do,” said Fulkerson. “I value being able to help develop readiness for whatever fight it is that we have, so my goal is to assist people in both staying current and successful in their fitness testing,” added Fulkerson.

As reservists, many Airmen face different obstacles and challenges when it comes to fitness. Knowing this, Fulkerson plans to look at the numbers and implement programs to help Airmen integrate fitness in a sometimes hectic schedule.

“To do my job well here, it’s necessary to be realistic with what exists here up to this point,” said Fulkerson. “I oversee all testing and will be pulling out data that we get from testing to interpret. At that point intervention will be implemented from the data.

“I want to implement programs that hit the weak areas,” said Fulkerson. “We all do it in some sort of way when we observe something and then say ‘this is the course of action that needs to be taken based on this information.’”

Fulkerson has already observed the uniqueness and obstacles that many Airmen face here when it comes to staying fit and ready for their testing.

“This base to me is really unique,” said Fulkerson. “For one, it’s a different branch, it’s not active duty and it deploys a lot, so it’s very active on the reserve side of things by comparison to the other ones as I understand it.

“Then there is the traditional reservist dynamic versus the AF Reserve technician dynamic,” added Fulkerson. “There are so many nuances to the people here.”

Inspired by his natural instinct to serve the American people, Fulkerson gets his drive for fitness with his deep-rooted passion of service before self.

“What inspired me to take this position is that it’s a government job where I can still serve the military, and by extension serve the American people,” said Fulkerson. “I have always aligned with the mission of our fighting forces and the defense of our freedoms.

“I see there is no better way to be of service to a fighting force then by way of physical training; it’s the perfect way to do that,” added Fulkerson.

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. The Citizen Airmen from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.