Dod Civilian Fitness Wellness Program
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio - A change to an existing health initiative now enables Air Force full- and part-time civilian employees within Air Force Materiel Command voluntary participation in both physical fitness and wellness programs.AFMC, along with the American Federation of Government Employees Council 214, initially mandated terms and conditions on physical fitness in a February 2005 memorandum of agreement. It allowed AFMC’s appropriated-fund, full-time civilian employees’ voluntary participation in physical fitness activities for up to three hours per week during official duty hours. The MOA was modified in October to include pro-rated involvement for part-time AFMC civilian employees.The newly revised MOA enables the authorized three hours to be used for either fitness or wellness activities, or a combination of both.“Fitness and wellness go hand-in-hand,” said Scott Blanch, president, American Federation of Government Employees Council 214.
“We’ve (AFMC and AFGE Council 214 leadership) worked hard this past year to incorporate that concept into practical application.“Some people have fitness regimes that can’t necessarily be incorporated during their duty day,” Mr. “At the same time, there are so many wellness resources available on AFMC bases that to deny folks access to them because they are not ‘fitness-related’ seemed a contradiction to the end-goal, which is total-body fitness and wellness.”Changing the command’s policy on Civilian Physical Fitness and Wellness Activities MOA to include both full- and part-time appropriated-fund Air Force civilians seemed a logical step, as well.“Total-body fitness and wellness is a team goal for AFMC,” said John Day, chief, AFMC Force Sustainment. “Part-time employees are just as important to the AFMC mission as our full-time employees.”Defined, fitness activities include cardiovascular and aerobic activities, as well as muscular strengthening, along with flexibility and body conditioning.
Wellness program activities include AFMC Civilian Health Promotion Services. All AFMC bases have CHPS offices. Some of their services include annual physical health assessments, health education classes for nutrition, exercise, stress and weight management, as well as tobacco cessation classes.To participate in physical fitness programs, employees first need to contact their servicing employee relations specialists at their base civilian personnel offices, said Jane Hostler, a human resources specialist at AFMC headquarters.“They need to obtain a form entitled, ‘Request for Approval of Excused Absence for Physical Fitness Activities,’” she said. “Employees need to have the form signed by their physician, which certifies the employee is fit and able to partake in a physical fitness program.” The employee then submits the request form to his or her first-level supervisor.Civilian Airmen who choose to exercise during duty hours must follow a few guidelines. Only one block of time per day is authorized. That time is to encompass all aspects of working out – from traveling to and from the exercise location, changing clothes, showering and returning to work. However, physical fitness blocks may be combined with authorized breaks or regularly-scheduled lunch times.
Dod Civilian Fitness Wellness Program Requirements
People may not bank unused weekly hours for future use.While up to three hours may be used weekly for physical fitness activities, per AFMC Civilian Fitness Program Guidance, established by AFMC leadership and AFGE Council 214, both parties recommend no more than 90 minutes maximum be used per session.To participate in wellness programs, civilian Airmen are not required to submit a request form.Some program participants in the fitness and wellness program may be required to maintain a diary which tracks activities, goals and progress toward those goals. Excused absences for participants are noted on their bi-weekly timesheets.Program guidance requires that on-base facilities be used for fitness and wellness activities during duty time unless the employee’s normal duty station is not on the base proper. In such cases, supervisors may make alternate arrangements.
Supervisors are responsible for ensuring the program is neither compromised nor abused.