PITTSBURGH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIR RESERVE STATION, Pa. -- Whether you’re worried about an upcoming Fit to Fight test, struggling with a New Year’s goal that seemed plausible on January 1st, or just want to improve your health, the 911th Airlift Wing has a program for that.
Tech. Sgt. Bryson Manker, diet therapist with the 911th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, runs The Better Body. Better Life. program at the 911th AW. As a civilian, Manker is a surgical technician at the Shadyside location of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he gets an inside view of exactly what happens when someone’s health gets out of hand.
“I want to help curb these diseased states through the understanding of nutrition and proper weight management,” said Manker.
He learned about the Better Body. Better Life. program while on seasoned training orders at Langley Air Force Base and decided it was something he wanted to bring back to Pittsburgh.
The program is geared towards members failing their Fit to Fight tests, but Manker wants all members to have the opportunity to learn how to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
“My goal is for people to have a better understanding of overall nutrition,” said Manker. “Whatever diet model that they choose, understand it. Understand your nutrients, understand your macronutrients, understand your minerals and your vitamins. A lot of times that tends to be overlooked.”
The course accomplishes this in five segments – Better Nutrition, Better Carbohydrates, Better Choices, Better Planning, and finally the Better Traction segment where Manker will help those experiencing relapses from newfound healthy habits and how to overcome those. Each course is 45-minutes long and held during the base’s monthly unit training assemblies.
“Better nutrition and trying to get healthier is a challenge, so you’re going to run into challenges,” said Manker. “This program is not meant for you to fail, it’s meant for you to understand that you can do better and you can get back on track. One meal does not break the cycle.”
Manker wants members who are struggling, even though they may not have failed their Fit to Fight test, to know that there are opportunities here at the 911th AW to give them a better nutritional understanding. The Better Nutrition course was held during the January UTA, but it’s not too late to for base members, base civilians and other local military members to sign up for the other courses. To reserve a seat or to learn more contact him at bryson.manker@us.af.mil or 412.474.8086. Seating is limited to 20 members per class.