Airmen from the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron at Pope Army Airfield, N.C. (Courtesy of Maj. Casey Rains, commander of the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron)
Airmen from the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron at Pope Army Airfield, N.C., are stepping up their training in preparation for the Air Force’s updated physical fitness standards.
In a first for the unit, more than 60 airmen will participate in Team Red, White & Blue’s GWOT 100-mile challenge, which starts Sunday and runs through February.
As the successor to the Taji 100, which Team RWB retired in February 2025, the challenge continues to honor the legacy of the Global War on Terrorism while promoting health and wellness among service members, veterans and their families.
During the monthlong event, participants are encouraged to complete 100 miles through running, walking, cycling, swimming or using equipment such as an elliptical.
“It’s really exciting,” said Ret. Col. Mike Sullivan, executive director of Team RWB. “We have multiple active-duty units that are participating across the Department of War. It provides all active-duty units an opportunity to look beyond their traditional physical training programming, to mix it up a little bit, and get out there and push themselves a little further each day.”
By participating, airmen are aiming to build a habit that makes fitness a regular part of their lives while also aligning with the Air Force’s emphasis on high standards for fitness and long-term health.
“The goal is to be mission-ready, not just test-ready,” said Maj. Casey Rains, commander of the 43rd Air Mobility Squadron. “We see fitness not as a chore but as fundamental to our readiness and our resilience. It’s about owning our health so we can own the mission, whatever it may be. We’re not just aiming to meet the standard. We’re aiming to set it.”
The Air Force first released updates to its physical fitness assessment standards in September 2025, and announced further revisions this month. Under the updated standards, all airmen are required to complete fitness assessments twice a year, including either a 2-mile run or the 20-meter high aerobic multi-shuttle run.
“I believe the greatest advantage this challenge offers in meeting the new fitness standards is mental. When you’ve conquered a challenge of this magnitude, the mental hurdles of a faster-paced run feel significantly more manageable,” said Senior Master Sgt. Veronica Tannery, an airman from the unit who is also using this challenge to train for her first marathon.
On Monday, the unit will kick off the challenge with a 10K flight line run, which Rains says will “set the tone” for the challenge.
“There’s something really powerful about running around the flight line, the heart of our mission, as a team. It’s a visible, energetic way to say, ‘OK, we’re in this together. Let’s go.’ ”
Rains said that every Monday and Wednesday of the month participating airmen will gather and do 3-4 miles together, running or walking, and will complete the remaining miles on their own time. The group sessions provide a way for the airmen to encourage and motivate one another.
“It’s about more than just individual miles; it’s about shared experiences and the collective drive to achieve a common goal,” said Tannery. “This shared effort strengthens our bonds and translates to a more connected and effective team.”
