High intensity, interval training at BMT focus of latest "The Air Force Starts Here" podcast

  • Published
  • Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas – The implementation of high intensity, interval training as part of the Air Force basic military training fitness curriculum is the focus of the latest episode of "The Air Force Starts Here," released Aug. 25, 2020.

On this episode, Dan Hawkins from the Air Education and Training Command public affairs team sits down remotely with the team from the 323rd Training Squadron at JBSA-Lackland, known as the Mustangs, and talk about the evolution of the way Basic Military Training (BMT) executes physical training.  Lt. Col. Ray Vann, Tech. Sgt. Sarah Mitchell and Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Snow talk about how, in partnership with the 559th Medical Group’s Sports Medicine Team, they created, tested and are currently implementing BMT's first high intensity, interval training (HIIT) program.  This innovative program provides more diversity than the baseline BMT exercise program and presents an opportunity to increase physical fitness assessment scores while simultaneously mitigating the risk of injury to trainees. 

The team also talks about how the program is being administered in the unit and we also talk about the plans for cardio interval training to expand across the BMT enterprise as whole, as well as the idea or potential for expansion into the 2nd Air Force technical training arena.

The professional development podcasts are designed to help communicate and inform Total Force Airmen across the globe on relevant, timely topics related to the recruiting, training, education and development fields and can be listened to on the government network on the AETC website, or via mobile application as well as on Apple PodcastsSpotify and Google Play.

Future episodes are set to cover a wide range of topics, including force development programs and much more.