Page 96 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2021

HEALTHY LIVING
story and photo by Luke Height
Military Muscle
When we think of America’s Finest, the image of Captain America may come to mind. A strapping, fit and stoic man that puts his values and his country above all else. Today, that image is made up of the many men and women that serve this country with honor and integrity. Heston Turner, air traffic controller and instructor in the U.S. Air Force, gives us a little insight into how the great men and women of our military stay in shape.
Heston Turner
Food is one of the main components for physical fitness and the Air Force has a strategy for optimizing their diet. Turner says, “The Air Force does not endorse
any specific diet, they suggest portion control. The military provides everyone the option to see a nutritionist. This nutritionist will take you grocery shopping,
teach cooking classes, and help create a custom diet for yourself.” Instead of giving a one size fits all answer to diet, the Air Force acknowledges that each person needs to find a diet that will fit their needs. By aiding and supporting their members, each is encouraged to explore what will be the best for their
own body.
Movement is key for any physical fitness endeavor. “The Air Force
makes sure to keep their members moving and improving.” Turner says, “We do physical training every Tuesday and
Thursday ranging from running to High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts.” This is key to their physical
fitness and prepares them for their regular Physical Training assessments.
Mental Health and physical health are not mutually exclusive. “As an instructor in one of the most mentally demanding jobs in the Air Force, my job is to attend
to and strengthen the mental fortitude of my team. A main concern is ensuring that any problems that could
prevent a student from performing satisfactorily are resolved. The military as a whole has realized mental
health is just as important as physical health.” Bringing together diet, physical training and support to enhance members mental health, the Air Force has
found a way to keep America’s Finest in tip top shape.
96 | July 2021
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