AAFES fits feet for the long haul
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen are expected to run long distances and often as part of their regular workout routine. With this in mind, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service offers a wide selection of footwear to help military shoppers here ensure they have shoes that properly fit their feet.
"In order to withstand the physical toll running has on the human foot, athletes need to ensure they have the best footwear possible," said the BX's general manager Pat Tinker. "AAFES is educating military shoppers on how to choose the best footwear possible to ensure they spend less time with blisters and aches and more time on the track and treadmill."
The AAFES' "Fit Your Foot" program explains how to choose a running shoe based on correct size and type of foot. With the use of the Brannock Device, AAFES staff can determine shoe size by measuring foot length and width. There are also brochures available that explain how to take the 'wet test' to reveal what kind of foot type and shoe shape to look for.
Select shoes in the "Fit Your Foot" program are color-coded for easy recognition of the three main types of footwear: stability for normal feet, motion control for flat feet and cushioned for high arches.
Goodfellow's "Fit Your Foot" evolved from the "Fit the Foot" program which began in 1999 at Fort Jackson, S.C. The program was created in conjunction with the Army to help decrease the number of injuries amongst recruits.