Fitness station gives users 'leg up' on getting fit Published Oct. 18, 2006 By Staff Sgt. Stacey Haga 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs TYNDALL AFB, Fla. -- Recently, Airman Leadership School class 2006-06 left a legacy of fitness for Tyndall. The class brought one Airman's idea to life as a class legacy project, building a fitness station for runners on the track behind the NCO Academy. The idea was conceived by Staff Sgt. Philip Morris, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter. "My main motivation for this station came from a portion of the Air Force physical training leader class with Lt. Col. Daniel Kulund," said Sergeant Morris. "He asked all of us attending to try incorporating some kind of physical station into your run, whether it be stopping and doing 30 pushups or doing a few pull-ups." It was pointed out during the class there were not many places along Tyndall's tracks and trails to do this. "After the class, I got the idea of putting (together) a station, like that in the fire station, for everyone to use," said Sergeant Morris. Soon after, he went to ALS and ended up presenting the idea to the students and instructors as a possible legacy project for the class. "I was assigned to the legacy project team and they all liked the idea," he said. Users can perform pull-ups, back rows and hanging abdominal routines at the fitness station. Sergeant Morris also plans on adding a place to do dips to the station. "I would like to see it get put to good use," he said. "It doesn't really matter if one person or the entire base uses it, as long as the people using it gain something from it." The station, when used properly, can help Airmen increase their strength levels, while running to improve their cardiovascular health. Being fit to fight is essential to the Air Force and its people, including Sergeant Morris. "Fitness for me is very important. It not only helps me accomplish my job, but it also helps me manage different aspects of my personal life," he said. "In my job fitness is a necessity. We never know when we might have to run up a flight of stairs with 60 pounds of gear on or be faced with carrying someone from a building or an emergency area." "As a firefighter and hard-training athlete, Sergeant Morris knows pulling is every bit as important as pushing," said Colonel Kulund, 325th Medical Group chief of medical staff. "He built a multi-station machine with high and low climbing bars that rivals a fully-stocked gym and will be a training boom for all of Tyndall's Airmen." "Without fitness, I or any other military member, would not be able to perform our assigned duties or deployments that come with wearing the uniform," said Sergeant Morris.