WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Military and civilian personnel from the National Air and Space Intelligence Center recently stepped away from their desks and onto the pavement for a Center-wide, two-mile run.
Reviving a previous Center tradition, leaders organized the run to build esprit de corps and foster friendly rivalry. The event bypassed formal ceremonies in favor of grassroots unit pride and directly answered the Department of the Air Force's call to foster a 'Culture of Fitness' through regular unit physical conditioning.
Addressing the crowd just before the run, Chief Master Sgt. Tabatha Sanders, NASIC command chief, said, “We need to do things that are hard and challenging. We need to do things together as a team. We need to motivate each other. We need to push each other. We need to be good wingmen and show that we can do these hard things."
Later, as runners crossed the finish line, catching their breath and grabbing water, the event transitioned to a second physical challenge: a unit-versus-unit competition. The groups and directorates huddled to select representatives to carry their unit's banner into the "plank-off."
A large, loud crowd formed a ring around the chosen champions as they dropped to their elbows. The rules were simple—maintain perfect plank form for as long as possible.
As the clock ticked past the three-minute mark, the shift from an aerobic run to a maximum effort core hold started to take its toll. One by one, representatives dropped to the ground, each met with loud applause and sympathetic cheers from the surrounding crowd.
"Watching our folks step up to a max-time plank immediately after pushing themselves on a two-mile run shows the grit and determination of this Center," said Col. Tyson Wetzel, NASIC commander. "The friendly rivalry and incredible unit pride we saw out there today is part of what makes this team so strong and keeps our force agile and operationally ready.”
The final showdown pushed past the seven-and-a-half-minute mark before ending in a tie, with two champions claiming victory for their respective units.
Following the success of the physical training challenge, Center leadership emphasized that events like this are crucial to reinforcing a warrior culture. In lockstep with the DAF’s initiative, prioritizing fitness, mental toughness, and camaraderie ensures NASIC continues to cultivate a ready, resilient workforce capable of tackling the mission ahead.