New additions on tap for AFMC Wellness and Safety Campaign Published May 31, 2006 By Kathleen A.K. Lopez Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- For Air Force Materiel Command’s Wellness and Safety Campaign, June 1 proved the old adage that things come in threes – confirming the campaign’s slogan, “Wellness is an Attitude,” is well on its way to incorporating itself into the command’s vernacular. First, the online AFMC Wellness Support Center, which debuted April 17 but was accessible only to command civilians, will be accessible to command active-duty members. Next, will be the rollout of the campaign’s voluntary incentive program, in which registered participants can earn points toward prizes as they reap the benefits of physical fitness. Finally, June 1 will mark the kickoff of the campaign’s voluntary 10,000 Steps-a-Day Get Out and Walk Program, where registered participants can receive a complimentary pedometer, and become more cognizant of their physical activity. Wellness support center The online support center, which first serviced the command’s civilian employees, now will be available to AFMC’s active-duty members. To access the site, AFMC Airmen can log onto http://www.afmcwellness.com, and click on either the “AFMC Active-Duty Wellness” link, or “AFMC Civilian Wellness” link, respectively. The site can be accessed from government and privately-owned computers. “Unlike civilians, military members who register on the site do not need to take the health risk appraisal,” said Judi Holl, occupational health nurse consultant, AFMC Command Surgeon. “Certainly it is an option. But, military members already are required to take an annual preventative health assessment.” The HRA is an anonymous, voluntary questionnaire geared toward assessing and enhancing an individual‘s overall quality of life, Ms. Holl said. The active-duty site supports behavioral change that includes tracking participation in wellness activities. The civilian link will focus on the HRA, tracking and logging activities and participation in incentive activities. Unlike the military, there is no baseline of information about the overall wellness of AFMC’s civilian work force. The HRA asks questions that reflect the four dimensions of the WASC, which are physical, social, emotional and spiritual. “Taking the HRA questionnaire not only gives an individual a baseline for beginning or maintaining his or her own four-dimensional wellness lifestyle, but it also gives insight into the overall well-being of the command as a whole,” said Lt. Col. John Leitnaker, Operational Prevention Branch chief, AFMC Command Surgeon. The online wellness center provides unlimited resources to wellness issues and provides a mechanism to track efforts and progress toward wellness, Colonel Leitnaker said. Incentive program to earn points What better way to get motivated to embrace wellness than a little competition – with yourself? Enter the WASC Individual Incentive Program, in which participants can earn points as they log in their completed wellness activities. In turn, as the points reach certain milestones, incentives are rewarded to individuals. For example, 2,500 points will earn a backpack; 5,000 points, a “Got Attitude?” T-shirt and 10,000 points a specially-designed wellness coin. Points are awarded on a daily, weekly or annual basis for actions competed, said Jan Dent, chief of marketing, AFMC Services. But, they must be logged within five days of completing an activity. Any number of activities can earn points, Ms. Dent said. They range from partaking in fitness activities to eating well to reading various types of literature. A comprehensive listing is given on the Web site. Ms. Dent said the list of activities will change over time as the program is continuously evolving. To compete, individuals must be registered on the Web site. Once they have reached a milestone, they must print out a numbered redemption certificate from the Web site and take it to their local Health and Wellness Center, she said. “The goal of the campaign is for people to get going,” Colonel Leitnaker said. “The goal of the incentive program is to encourage them to keep going. The incentives are something nice to strive for. But, really, participants are winning every day by improving their wellness physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.” Ultimately, WASC leadership plans to take the incentive program beyond individual competition, and have units compete within bases, and bases to compete within the command. Walk your way to 10,000 steps a day Even the most sedentary of people who want to join the voluntary wellness campaign can do so. The purpose of the 10,000 steps-a-day walking program is one way to help build a routine that calls awareness to individuals’ movement – or lack thereof. “Not everyone is ready to go lift weights at the gym, go out and run a few miles or even walk 10,000 steps in a day, but you’ve got to start somewhere,” Ms. Holl said. Assuming there is no medical advice to the contrary, beginning individuals are encouraged to work their way to a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. More conditioned participants can strive beyond 10,000 steps. Individuals who register on the wellness Web site are eligible to receive a free pedometer to count their steps, Ms. Dent said. To do so, individuals need to log onto the site and print a pedometer coupon, which, like the incentives certificates, can be redeemed at participants’ local HAWC. Only one pedometer will be issued to an individual. While AFMC headquarters has established an incentive program and introduced a walking program, Ms. Dent said that shouldn’t stop base-level directorates and units from creating their own incentive programs.