NAS Pensacola MWR Fitness Team Builds Sailor Physical Readiness
PENSACOLA, Fla - Across the Navy, day-to-day duties often require physical readiness. From Boatswain’s Mates heaving lines aboard ships to Hospital Corpsmen carrying and transporting patients onboard hospitals, Sailors rely on physical readiness to meet the demands of their duties and to accomplish their missions.
The Navy’s approach to building and maintaining physical readiness throughout the fleet is supported by fitness specialists from Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR), who support Sailors and service members by providing training in strength, endurance and conditioning and offering guidance on designing and implementing effective physical training programs.
William Higbe, a MWR Pensacola fitness instructor at Naval Air Station Pensacola’s Corry Station, specializes in training and developing physical readiness.
“I am the morning fitness specialist at the Wenzel Fitness Center,” said Higbe. “I have been with MWR for 11 years and I’ve been a NOFFS instructor for four years.”
In line with MWR fitness standards he incorporates training routines from the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling Systems (NOFFS) into his programs using evidence-based training to optimize performance for military members.
“All of the workouts and fitness programs we teach are based off NOFFS,” said Higbe.
“One of our missions as MWR instructors is to train [command fitness leaders or CFLs] so that they can run their fitness programs to the best of their abilities,” said Higbe. “We typically host a CFL training course every quarter at Corry Station.”
During the CFL course, MWR fitness instructors alongside other fitness leaders teach aspiring CFLs how to properly conduct a PRT, providing them all the information they need from administrative to physical action.
“We teach them administrative actions such as how to file paperwork, how to read medical waivers and how to look out for false or improper medical information,” said Higbe. “Additionally, we teach them the basics of the human body such as energy system development, the aerobic system, anaerobic system and more.”
Instructors also teach CFLs different types of workouts, warm-ups, cooldowns and exercises they can incorporate within their programs that focus on improving general strength, intensity, endurance and recovery, ensuring they have the tools for success in leading Sailors during fitness programs while bolstering physical readiness.
Beyond training CFLs, MWR fitness instructors serve as trainers and provide fitness classes for military members on base.
Higbe runs a group fitness class Corry Station Monday through Friday at 6 a.m. focused on developing functional strength, endurance, sustainability and technique.
“During class we integrate various exercises and workouts such as cardio training, flipping tires, pulling and pushing sleds or even utilizing a medicine ball in plyometric training,” said Higbe. “We focus on proper form and technique to create habits that promote sustained physical readiness.”
Cryptologic Technician Collection 1st Class Harper Justice, assigned to Navy Information Operations Command, is an active participant of Higbe’s classes. He started attending classes to improve his physical health, and said that going to the morning workouts has improved his quality of life.
“Attending the workouts in the morning has vastly improved my physical health and helped reduce the daily aches and pains significantly,” said Justice. “I hope to keep improving physically. I have gotten stronger; my endurance has increased.”
Justice is one of the many Sailors that Higbe has helped get in better shape. Experiences like these motivate him to continue teaching.
“I had a Sailor that came to me after an ACL surgery saying, ‘I want to be able to pass the PRT’,” said Higbe. “Over the course of six to seven months, we trained together and she passed her PRT with flying colors.” That Sailor eventually became a CFL for her command.
Higbe has great admiration for the military, but due to a knee injury in high school he was unable to join. He feels that being an MWR Fitness instructor has allowed him to give back to the military by contributing to the improvement of service members physical readiness fueling their success in their careers and personal lives.
“Helping military members reach their physical goals such as passing their PRT has allowed them to continue their careers,” said Higbe. “If they didn’t pass, they would have potentially gotten discharged.”
“It makes us happy when members come back to us with hugs and smiles after losing a certain amount of weight,” said Higbe. “For our retirees, some of them are able to play with their grandchildren for their first time in years because they now have the energy and strength do it.”
“If you are wanting to get in better shape and don’t know where, MWR Fitness is a great place to start.” said Justice.
“We are here to help give military members a better quality of life,” said Higbe. “So that they can do their job and so they go can home and live their lives after the military, that is the biggest honor that any of us in MWR Fitness can have.”
For those in the local area that are interested in reaching out to a fitness instructor and learning more about MWR fitness services, check out navymwrpensacola.com. For additional info visit navyfitness.org and navymwr.org.
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