JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Washington — Air Force mobility aircrew, a flight surgeon, and a Force Support Squadron (FSS) officer at the 318th Airlift Wing have developed a new physical training program called “Air Force Rucking” that is specially tuned to the rigors of the service’s missions.

“Ideally, setting aside two to four hours for this works best. It’s a big time commitment, but the benefits are too numerous to list,” said Dr. Mindy Mojira. “We want participants in Air Force rucking to avoid injury yet push themselves. They can do it wherever they’re stationed, and it’s outdoors, so it mitigates the severe vitamin D deficiency we are suffering as a service, too.”

Earlier this spring, enterprising aircrew members and force support squadron leadership at the 318th took advantage of open space on their installation by advertising through the base newspaper that rucking, or walking with weight strapped over the shoulders, improves fitness and can prepare airmen for expeditionary combat operations. The unit’s flight surgeon, a medical doctor specializing in aerospace medicine, realized after speaking with aircrew members that he could help develop a framework for a safe yet demanding regimen of rucking on Air Force bases.

“We established a course about four miles long, covered it with manicured grass, dotted it with trees, and presented some unique terrain challenges like water, sand, hills, and deeper grass. I think the other services will give us a hard time with the manicured grass, but it’s still good training,” said Capt. Eric Flat of the Force Support Squadron.