Swimming, jogging, cycling, cross-country skiing, walking, aerobic classes, rowing, stair climbers, rope skipping, martial arts – put in the time and effort, and you could be working your way through the levels of the Canadian Armed Forces Physical Fitness Awards of Aerobic Excellence.
404 (Long Range Patrol and Training Squadron) Chief Warrant Officer Jean Plamondon is one of the most recent recipients of a fitness award level.
“It was the first seal and the first certificate, which is 2,000 points. For cycling, each point is three kilometres ridden,” Plamondon says.
The fitness program is divided into seven levels of achievement (I to VII) and six sub-levels (red to gold seals). To obtain a seal certificate and move to the next seal, participants must complete 2,000 units of aerobic exercise. To obtain a level, members must complete 12,000 units of aerobic exercise (six seals). Completion of all seven levels signifies the accumulation of 84,000 aerobic units.
Plamondon has some work to do to advance to that level, but Fitness & Sports Centre manager Matt Gillis says he’s on the right track.
“Anyone can do this fitness program – it’s just being dedicated,” Gillis says. “Some people may push on their annual military FORCE fitness test, but this fitness awards program is really more about building healthy habits – you have to be accountable for almost two years.”
Get your logbook from Personnel Support Program staff at the Fitness & Sports Centre or download at cfmws.ca, and report in as you meet activity milestones.
