Good wingmen essential for fitness success

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Trina Pharr
  • 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Establishing goals and working toward them are great ways to maintain measured focus. A good wingman can also help provide the motivation and direction needed to reach those goals.

I found this to be most true as I prepared to take my Air Force fitness test.

As a reservist with the 514th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, and as many of us have experienced, I was preparing and working very hard. With just a few weeks before the big day, I wasn't performing at a level to "comfortably" pass the test.

Since the fitness test can be career-impacting, my confidence and career options hung in the balance. Needless to say, I generated enough anxiety, doubt and trepidation weeks leading into the event.

Through my civilian position as a systems analyst and trainer with the 87th Medical Group, I met Capt. Andrew Gawlikowski, a lead pharmacist at the 87th MDG, at a training event. During a break at the training event, we talked about the fitness test, and I explained the areas in which I needed improvement. Gawlikowski invited me to join his staff and run in the weeks leading up to the test.

I jumped at the opportunity.

He routinely exercises with his team members, enhancing morale while preparing them to pass their fitness tests.

On one of our runs, he said, "Don't focus on how tired you are, smell the honeysuckle."
Gawlikowski has a reputation for pushing those he works with to reach beyond their personal limits. Why? He wants everyone to do more than pass - he wants them to do their very best.

In the days leading up to my test, he gave me important tips on nutrition, hydration, and rest as well as how to focus myself during the run. To my great surprise, he offered to pace me on test day, which was on a Saturday, his day off.
As we waited at the start, my nerves at their peak, he looked and said calmly, "Relax, you can do this."

In hindsight, my run was not without a great deal of effort, and I was tempted to stop a few times. Gawlikowski focused on my quarter lap times, gave me encouragement and pushed me to a strong finish.
Because of his dedicated efforts and my own preparation, I am proud to report that I passed!

Not only that, my run time decreased by two minutes from my previous best time, and with my other efforts, my overall test score improved by 12 percent in just three months.

His actions serve as a great example of what the Air Force core values represent - not just the words. In 22 years of military service, I have met few people who embodied the concept of being a good wingman as much as Captain Gawlikowski.

What I appreciate most is he didn't have to help me. He sacrificed valuable personal and family time after long duty days. I am very grateful. The selfless action of an active-duty

Airman helping a Reserve Airman is also a great example of the impact of building positive relationships within the joint base community, in which active-duty, National Guard and Reserve servicemembers from all the military branches can help one another.

So what lessons can you learn from my personal experience? Set realistic, measurable goals, practice, practice, practice and never be afraid to ask for help.

As the old Ethiopian proverb says, "When spider webs unite, they can tie up a lion."