The secret of once-a-year PT tests

Story and photo by Airman Larissa Greatwood
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PT Boot Camp attendee Loriann Tierney pedals on a stationary bicycle during a PT Boot Camp class Nov. 7 on Ramstein.
PT Boot Camp attendee Loriann Tierney pedals on a stationary bicycle during a PT Boot Camp class Nov. 7 on Ramstein.

The 786th Force Support Squadron offers an hour-long PT Boot Camp class at 11:30 a.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Ramstein Northside Fitness Center.

The class is designed for those who need a better score on their physical fitness test or to keep up their fitness levels. The class is open to both military members and civilians.

Though the name may sound intimidating, the class is at the individual’s pace and consists of many exercises completed in a rotation.

“Some people hear ‘PT Boot Camp’ and think they can’t do it, because it sounds hard,” said Loriann Tierney, PT Boot Camp attendee. “I encourage people to come and even just watch. Some people working out at the gym see it and realize they would be able to do it because it’s self-paced, but it’s also great because, if there’s an exercise someone can’t do because they have a bad knee, for example, they can modify it in a way that they can do it.”

Tierney, also a former PT Boot Camp instructor, encourages people to attend the class to observe or try it out.

“A lot of the people who give it one shot continue to show up to the class, so I say to anyone looking to better their fitness to give it a chance,” she said.

The PT Boot Camp instructors tailor the workouts to cover upper body, lower body, core and cardio.

“Different people struggle in different aspects of their fitness, and we try to cover every aspect while focusing a lot on form,” said Senior Airman Andrew Shodi, 786th FSS fitness specialist. “Not only is it a really good workout, but it helps people learn how to work out safely on their own, get results and do it the right way.”

The class is free and doesn’t require a sign-up prior.

For more information on this class, contact the Northside Fitness Center at 480-8085 or 06371-47-8085.