AFMC Command News

Part-timers included in AFMC Civilian Fitness Program

  • Published
  • By Capt. Paul D. Baldwin
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFMCNS) --  Part-time employees in Air Force Materiel Command can now exercise during duty time just like their full-time counterparts thanks to a recent revision to the Civilian Fitness Program.

When Gen. Bruce Carlson took command of AFMC in August, one of his primary concerns was the health and wellness of the work force. "The health and fitness of everyone in this command is a top priority. We will continue our efforts to make fitness a part of our total force culture in AFMC," General Carlson wrote in a memo announcing the revision. The extension of fitness benefits to part-time appropriated-fund civilians went into effect Nov. 21 and is another step in that effort.

"Having the opportunity to use (fitness time) speaks to the focus management has on the total force," said Laina Livingston, an appropriated-fund part-time employee from AFMC Planning and Resources.

The fitness program debuted in March for AFMC's full-time appropriated-fund employees, allowing them three hours per week for structured physical fitness activity. Part-time employees receive a percentage of time based on the number of hours they work per pay period.

To calculate allowable fitness hours, part-time employees should divide the number of hours they work bi-weekly by 80.

For example, a part-time employee who works 64 hours per pay period would divide 64 by 80, which equals 80 percent. In this example, the part-time employee earns 80 percent of the three hours, or 2.4 hours-per-week for structured physical fitness. Three hours per week is the maximum allowable time.

Part-time employees must follow the same guidelines as the full-time employees, which were set forth in the original policy guidance.

That policy requires employees to fill out a Request for Approval of Excused Absence for Physical Fitness Activities, which can be obtained from their servicing employee relations specialist within their base civilian personnel offices.

Civilians need to have the form completed by their physician stating they are physically fit and able to participate in the program, said Jane Hostler, AFMC human resources specialist, in an interview earlier this year.

The policy states that, "Fitness activities suitable for excused absence should address cardiovascular/aerobic endurance, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility and body conditioning."

Per the guidance, time allotted for physical fitness includes travel time to and from the workout facility, showering and changing. On-base facilities are recommended unless an off-base facility is more convenient in certain circumstances.

The policy states that, "unused periods cannot be banked or carried over to the next week." However, program guidance says that physical fitness periods can be combined with breaks or lunch periods.

Employees who participate in the voluntary program must "maintain a diary of all activities, goals and progress," per the guidance. They must also provide their time keeper or supervisor with the necessary information to correctly code time sheets.