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MEL certification

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Staff Sgt. Lamar Woods, 434th Operations Support Squadron aircrew flight equipment apprentice, works on his running form while Tech. Sgt. John Drent, 49th Aerial Port Flight specialist, adds resistance to the exercise here Aug. 4. The three and one-half day course consisted of classroom lectures, teaching methods and applications of group leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Carl Berry)

Grissom Airmen train to keep others fit

Published Sept. 5, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Carl Berry
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Some Airmen at Grissom strive to reach fitness goals not only to help themselves, but others as well.

More than 20 members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing participated in a three-and-a-half day certification program here recently to become military exercise leaders, providing them with the tools to lead and inspire others in group exercise.

The Military Exercise Leader Course provided by the Cooper Institute was developed through a collaborative research study at Langley Air Force Base, Va., and was designed to addresses the unique physical demands and challenges of the military.

"We decided to offer this certification program because we wanted to provide a higher level of exercise training to the base population," said Julia Phelps, 434 Force Support Squadron exercise physiologist.

The MEL Course provides information designed to develop leadership and technical skills for those who lead group exercise programs, said Phelps. The instruction offers group leaders a range of freedom with their fitness programs by allowing exercise to be performed indoors or outdoors, with or without equipment, at home station or in deployed environments.

"They are learning how to lead an exercise class, how to organize an exercise class and teach it correctly," said Mike Harper, MEL Course instructor. "During the classroom portion, Airmen learn the basic anatomy of the body, the importance of eating healthy, designing workouts, leadership and safety."

The course consisted of a combination of classroom lecture and teaching methods, and applications of group leadership during hands-on sessions.

"We did some really good running drills and learned a lot of different stretches that I will use to help out other Airmen within my unit," said Tech. Sgt. Ashley Stant, 434 FSS chief of relocations.

"So long as the Airmen in the course practice what they have learned, and help other Airmen at Grissom to become more physically fit, then this program will be a success" said Phelps. "In the future we hope to provide Airmen with the opportunity to become personal trainers."

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer