June introduces new Year of Leadership topic: Fitness Published June 3, 2009 By Col. Jay Raymond 21st Space Wing Commander PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- June is off to a great start, and with a new month comes a new Air Force Space Command Year of Leadership topic. "Fitness" is the June topic and is a key element to our Air Force lifestyle. Being fit is part of being a Warrior Airman and being deployment ready at all times. As with each of our Year of Leadership topics, fitness is not just for the month of June - being fit is something we must embrace every month as part of our military way of life. Living fit is not only being physically fit, but mentally and emotionally fit as well. It is just as important to exercise your mind to maintain your emotional well being as it is to preserve your physical condition. To encourage and promote good health and fitness, the 21st SW Health and Wellness Center and the base fitness center always have numerous events and activities that fit into our busy schedules. They also have many fitness and healthy living programs, classes and literature of how to become and maintain good health for life. Call the HAWC at 556-4292 or the fitness center at 556-4462 for more information. A couple of fitness events this month are the "Bike to Work Day" June 10, which begins at the base chapel, and the Sports and Field Day, which is later in the month. I highly encourage you to come out and participate in these great events. The Vosler Noncommissioned Officer Academy graduated its newest class of 120 SNCOs Thursday at The Club. The NCOA provides high-quality training and expertise to the students to prepare them for the challenge of leading and mentoring our young Airmen. Professional military education is vital to crafting tomorrow's leaders, and the Vosler NCOA does a tremendous job of assuring our Airmen are prepared as they enter the SNCO ranks. Congratulations to all of the graduates for all of your hard work and success, and the best of luck as you enter into this new stage of your Air Force career. Of special note, our very own Tech. Sgt. Joseph Anderson, 21st Security Forces Squadron, was one of the class distinguished graduates and won the coveted Commandant's Award. Outstanding job! Thanks also to The Club for their hard work and dedication in making the ceremony a continued success. On Friday we held the Team Pete induction and recognition ceremony at the museum. We hold this ceremony every month to recognize all the new enlisted promotees for the month. Congratulations to you all, and keep up the great work in making our Air Force the best air force in the world. What better backdrop to have this ceremony than the museum, where we can reflect on our heritage while we recognize our future. Also on Friday, we held our Heart Link Spouses Orientation program at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. A number of spouses and fiancées attended the day-long program, which focused on the importance of spouses and family, and promoted a greater understanding of our Air Force programs, agencies and missions. Topics ranged from Air Force customs and courtesies to how to read an LES to PCS move tips. The program is offered quarterly to help spouses gain a better understanding of the Air Force and their base through guest speakers, interactive segments, giveaways and briefings. Being in the Air Force is a team sport; there are hardships, long deployments and moves from one base to another. We have a whole support structure on base that is here to take care of our families. One of the tenets of our wing mission is to provide unsurpassed installation support, and this program helps enhance overall mission readiness by helping spouses learn about the military. It also helps put our Airmen at ease by knowing their family members are getting the information they need while the servicemember is deployed. This is a valuable program and my thanks go to the A&FRC for organizing and overseeing this important program. Finally, stay vigilant and constantly aware of your surroundings. If you see someone or something that looks suspicious, report it immediately to law enforcement or OSI. The Air Force Eagle Eyes Program is one avenue for reporting any such suspicious activity. Remember, you are on the front line of defense against terrorism or criminal activity.