NCTS Sicily Leading the Way For a Physically Fit Navy

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Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class Benjamin Larkin
Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily

Being part of the military requires that each and every Sailor, Soldier, Marine, and Airman keep themselves ready for deployment at a moment’s notice.  Maintaining our health is a key aspect of deployability via exercise, nutrition, weight control, tobacco cessation, prevention of alcohol abuse, and health and wellness education.  Navy standards outline requirements for those that do not meet standards and must be enrolled in a Fitness Enhancement Program (FEP), but commands have great latitude in handling the fitness program for those members that meet standards.
Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Sicily has taken those requirements and ratcheted them up to encourage sailors to strive to be above the minimum standards.  Led by Information Technology Specialist First Class Petty Officer Zachary James, NCTS Sicily maintains a high level of physical readiness through regular, mandatory fitness sessions held three times a week.  Petty Officer James as the Command Fitness Leader (CFL) along with his Assistant Command Fitness Leaders (ACFL) conduct Command Physical Training (PT) every Tuesday and Thursday, with Command FEP held on Wednesdays.  PT sessions involve Navy approved strength training and cardio workouts that last approximately one hour, ensuring a solid workout for every member.
These standards have helped raise NCTS Sicily above Navy wide averages, with FEP enrollment consistently below three percent.  IT1 James and the command structure of NCTS Sicily are sending sailors transferring NCTS Sicily back to the fleet in great shape and above the standard.  PT times are integrated into the workday, and watch standers are encouraged to go to the gym during their twelve hour watches, operations permitting.
With nearly half of NCTS Sicily scoring “Excellent” or higher during Cycle 2 of 2017, and the Navy’s new policy of Sailors being able to skip a PRT cycle with that level of performance, the command looks forward to the upcoming Cycle 2 of 2018 to see how far we’ve grown.  Some questions the command hopes to answer are: Has the Navy’s new policy of led to empowerment of the Sailor and increased PRT scores?  Has it allowed too much time between PRTs to blunt the fitness levels of the sailors? Has NCTS Sicily’s aggressive PT regimen ensured future success and deployability in support of future Fleet operations?  By the end of the current PRT season, we will know for certain.
NCTS Sicily reports to U.S. Fleet Cyber Command, the Navy component command to U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Cyber Command, to provide secure and reliable telecommunications in EUCOM, AFRICOM, and CENTCOM theaters of operation.  The command represents a long history of superior command and control to a vital region of the world.

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