Challenge accepted

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Sean Hopkins, right, works under the wing of a C-130J with Col. Jeffrey Brown, 317th Airlift Group commander, Sept. 6, 2013, at the Global Reach for America hangar on Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Hopkins is a repair and reclamation journeyman on the C-130’s at the 317th Maintenance Squadron. He spent two hours working alongside Brown, showing him how to rig main landing gear track shoes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Hall/Released)

Challenge accepted

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Brown, 317th Airlift Group commander, sits under a wing on a C-130J Sept. 6, 2013, at the Global Reach for America hangar on Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Brown advised his group that if anyone could beat him in a run, he would do their job for two hours. Senior Airman Sean Hopkins, 317th Maintenance Squadron, took him up on that challenge and ran his mile-and-a-half in an 8:17, while the Brown finished with an 8:51. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Hall/Released)

Challenge accepted

(From left to right) U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Scott Thompson, Col. Jeffrey Brown, Senior Airman Sean Hopkins and Staff Sgt. Joshua Obena pose for a group photo Sept. 6, 2013, at the Global Reach for America hangar on Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. Col. Brown, 317th Airlift Group commander, spent time working with Hopkins after losing a physical training challenge he offered up to his entire group. Brown stated that any Airman who beat him in a run, he would do their job for two hours. Hopkins ran his mile-and-a-half in 8:17, while Brown finished with an 8:51. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Shannon Hall/Released)

Challenge accepted

Published Sept. 13, 2013
By Senior Airman Shannon Hall
7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The 317th Airlift Group commander challenged his group to a dual, "Beat my time in the official Air Force Fitness Test mile-and-a-half run, and I will do your job for two hours under your guidance." One Airman accepted and exceeded this challenge.

Col. Jeffrey Brown offered this challenge to his entire group at his first commander's call. Senior Airman Sean Hopkins, 317th Maintenance Squadron, not only accepted the friendly bet, but bested the colonel by a good 30 seconds.

"Colonel Brown challenged the entire group to beat him," Hopkins said. "So I figured I would take him up on that."

Hopkins did just that, running an 8:17 while Brown finished with a swift 8:51 of his own, making this run a little competitive.

"Competition breeds excellence, so I challenged my group at my first commander's call," Brown said. "It's a standing challenge, so there are several other people working out to add their names to the list."

Events and challenges like these can help improve fitness scores, boost Airmen's morale throughout the base and also show them that their commanders are appreciative of their work and more than willing to work beside them, not always above them.

"I enjoyed my time 'under the hood' so to speak," Brown said. "He did a good job instructing me, and I took pride in his work. It makes me proud to lead such dedicated professionals."

As a C-130 repair and reclamation journeyman, Hopkins spent his time showing his commander how to set tolerances on a C-130's landing gear shoes that move along tracks inside the plane.

"It was pretty awesome showing the colonel the ropes a little bit," Hopkins said. "I was impressed with his work ethic and I got the feeling that he really cares about his personnel. He's alright in my book."

Although Hopkins was the first to succeed at this challenge, one he's bound to never forget, many more are stepping up to the plate.

"The game is still on," Brown said. "I'll come and work two hours for anyone in the group who can beat me. 8:50 or better for men, 10:01 or better for women.