Page 8 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 7-10-15

Desert Wings July 10, 2015
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member to run
144.4 miles
in memory of
fallen Airman
F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed 20
by Rebecca Amber miles northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, Courtesy photograph
Staff writer while engaged in support of coali-
tion ground combat operations. On Maj. Jenny Poisson visited Maj. Troy Gilbert’s gravesite in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia after a 22
One Edwards team member and the day of the accident, he was fly- mile run in July 2015. Gilbert was killed Nov. 27, 2006, when his F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed 20 miles
her husband will run 144.4 miles ing with the 524th Expeditionary northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, while engaged in support of coalition ground combat operations.
Oct. 7-8 in memory of Maj. Troy Fighter Squadron.
Gilbert who died in 2006. mobilization augmentee to Air ter organization to run for. While Even on her shorter runs, Pois-
“I wanted to do the Tahoe Dou- Force Senior Scientist for Infor- whatever I raise doesn’t go to the son trains as if it’s race day. She
Maj. Jenny Poisson and Lt. Col. ble Dare. I decided to attach the mation Assurance, serves as a Gilbert family, it’s sort of a thank carries her CamelBak and food
Matt Poisson will run in the Lake run to a cause and I didn’t really full-time reservist in Air Force you to the Folds of Honor for help- pouches and wears a headlamp for
Tahoe Double Dare as both a trib- have to think for more than two Operational and Test and Evalu- ing the Gilbert family and a pay it areas of the race with no light.
ute to Gilbert and a fundraiser for seconds, immediately Troy came ation Detachment 5 at Edwards. forward to help out another mili-
non-profit scholarship foundation to mind,” said Major Poisson. Her husband, GPS Warfighter tary family.” “You have to practice eating
Folds of Honor. The run is part of “He’s with us every single day Integration Branch chief at the while you’re running because one
the 2015 Lake Tahoe Marathon that I serve and is really a motiva- Space and Missile Systems Center One lap around Lake Tahoe lap around Lake Tahoe will burn
events taking place this fall. tor for me in my continued service. Los Angeles, is a former director is 72.2 miles with an elevation four days’ worth of food,” said
Because of his actions, 22 men on of operations for the 416th Flight change of 3,974 feet and takes Poisson. “It’s sort of the same
The Poissons served with Gil- the ground were able to go home Test Squadron at Edwards. Now, roughly 16-17 hours to run. In mindset of General Patton; the
bert in the late 2000s as members to their families.” the 416th FLTS is rallying together the Double Dare, participants will more you sweat in training the less
of the 62nd Fighter Squadron at to offer the couple support when run one lap Oct. 7 and then run it you bleed at war.”
Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Gilbert Major Poisson, an individual they take on the Double Dare. The again the very next day. While her
was killed Nov. 27, 2006, when his support team will be on hand to husband has no background in run- Folds of Honor was created by
supply the runner’s food, water ning, Major Poisson went to col- Maj. Dan Rooney, an F-16 fighter
Courtesy photograph and dry socks. lege on a full athletic scholarship pilot in the Oklahoma Air National
for distance running. Guard, to provide educational op-
Maj. Jenny and Lt. Col. Matt Poisson will run in the Lake Tahoe Double In response to Gilbert’s death, portunities to the families of those
Dare Oct. 7-8 as both a tribute to Maj. Troy Gilbert, who was killed in Iraq in Folds of Honor awarded scholar- To train for the race, Major killed or permanently disabled in
2006 and a fundraiser for non-profit scholarship foundation Folds of Honor. ships to the five children that he Poisson runs four days a week service to America.
left behind. The Poissons have al- and does strength training for two
ready started collecting donations days. Each week she completes For more information about the
to sponsor them in the 144.4 mile a six-mile run, an eight-mile run Poisson’s Lake Tahoe Double Dare
run. They hope to raise $50,000 and two long runs that increase a run visit: https://www.crowdrise.
each for the organization. few miles each week. The training com/poissonfoldsofhonor.
is “grueling,” culminating in two
“I really couldn’t think of a bet- back-to-back 36 mile runs. You can also follow Major Pois-
son’s training schedule on her twit-
ter account @jmpoisson79.

Keeping Airmen healthy, informed about supplements
For peak performance, Airmen should eat body building supplements and one in six sheets, FAQs and briefings to help Airmen before putting it on market,” Oh said. “But
healthy and exercise regularly. But in the report weight loss supplements in the past make informed, responsible decisions on most supplements are marketed first, and
quest to gain an “edge,” many Airmen resort year,” said Col. (Dr.) John Oh, the chief of supplement use, as well as an “Ask the Ex- the burden is on the FDA to prove they are
to dietary supplements. health promotion for the Air Force Medical pert” feature in which Airmen can directly unsafe.”
Support Agency. “Body building and weight pose a question to a supplement expert.
Enter Operation Supplement Safety, or loss supplements, as well as sexual enhance- Since supplements can be adulterated with
OPSS. This Defense Department educa- ment and diabetes supplements, are high-risk “The OPSS website is a must-read source prescription and illegal drugs, Airmen may
tional campaign, accessible at www.hprc- categories that should raise red flags.” for Airmen, commanders, first shirts, super- put their careers at risk with a positive drug
online.org/opss, educates the warfighter and intendents and their healthcare providers,” screen. Service members who chose to use
healthcare provider on responsible dietary Ephedra is a cautionary tale of a problem- Oh said. “People think if a dietary supple- supplements are encouraged to stick with
supplement use. atic dietary supplement. Heavily marketed ment is sold on base, it must be safe, but brands that have undergone third party cer-
as a supplement to help improve athletic per- that’s not necessarily true.” tification by independent companies such as
While some supplements, such as multivi- formance and promote weight loss, serious USP, Informed Choice, NSF International
tamins, are generally safe, other supplements health events, including deaths first reported Unlike prescription meds, the FDA does and www.ConsumerLab.com. Third party
can pose a hazard to health and jeopardize in the military, led the Food and Drug Ad- not approve dietary supplements for safety certification does not guarantee that the
careers from adulterants that cause a positive ministration to ban ephedra in 2004. and effectiveness prior to marketing.
urine drug screen. See SUPPLEMENTS, Page 10
The OPSS website contains videos, fact “For prescription drugs, the manufacturer
“One third of Airmen report using legal must show that the drug works and is safe