HAWC helps to fly, fight and win Published June 15, 2012 By Airman 1st Class Kaleb Snay 35th Fighter Wing public affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Are you having trouble staying fit? Need professional advice to get the right results? The Health and Wellness Center is here for all servicemembers, Department of Defense civilians and their family members and provides useful information for the base community to lead a healthy lifestyle. The HAWC helps to prevent health problems and runs several programs to address fitness, weight loss, nutrition, tobacco management and disease management. The HAWC also can be used to get physical training, nutritional and dieting plans to help stay fit and prepare for PT tests, said Staff Sgt. Carlos Avalos, Aerospace Medicine Squadron noncommissioned officer in charge of nutritional medicine. Many servicemembers only go to the HAWC because they fail their PT test, said Avalos. After failing a PT test, attendance in certain HAWC classes becomes mandatory. "We are really here for preventing that," said Avalos. "We're on a high operations tempo base, We all have to be fit to fight." One common problem the HAWC sees is people exercising but not hitting their target heart rate, said Master Sgt. Jason Wickman, AMDS HAWC flight chief. The HAWC teaches how to properly hit that rate to get the best exercise and results. More than 55 percent of active duty members are overweight or obese which can affect medical needs, said Wickman. Health issues start to rise because of poor diet, lack of physical activity and not properly taking care of oneself. "You only have one body," said Wickman. "If you're not happy with your body, come see us." For more information about the HAWC or its programs, call 226-6650.