kwikloses

There is another female soldier in my section. A rarity it is to find females in this job… but two is the same unit? Somewhere, pigs must be actively sprouting wings… J *A* came to this company after I did, but she has been in for nearly 6 years now hit two. She arrived a bit on the heavy side. She is really good at our job and I have taken every ample opportunity to learn from her. Now we are deployed, and out of no where, she gets this motivation inside her to pass a physical fitness evaluation and pass weight/tape (the military has weight to height limits and she has not passed one in nearly 3 of those 6 years enlisted). So after 3 months of her challenge, she quit smoking, lost 20 pounds and passed both the fitness and weight portions.

This makes me feel two things. One, I feel incredibly excited for her. As my soldier, I aim to have all 4 of my soldiers meeting/exceeding the standards… she has also become my only female friend out here and we are truly there for each other. She has become like a sister and I am proud that she accomplished her goals thus far.

But, part of me is worried. I have grown accustomed to being considered the (more) fit female, despite my fitness digression (I tend to hide that really well). And I am beginning to worry that I may come second. Being that I have been placed in a position above her on the leadership level, I need to be the example for her, nothing less. That is the exact point the promotion board made to me this past week; “Set the example”.

 Now A has been losing inches and pounds like no tomorrow and it’s both inspiring and challenging. I know that if she can do it, I can too. I have always been so competitive (although I have to keep that under wraps, too!), and she has become yet another motivating force for me. She tells me daily about her work out she has done, and now, I have started taking what she has done and double it. I try to keep from announcing it, as I fear she may suspect what I am doing as something to spite her… and I really don’t want to give that perception.

Leadership: The ability to influence people, providing purpose, direction and motivation, while working to accomplish the mission and working to improve the organization.

-How can I be a leader if I am following?

~K

Looking the part; Why I am stepping up now.

If my story of success was to begin anywhere, I think it starts on 21Feb2008.

Background: I left for the military on 22Feb2006. I joined as a larger side of average 20 year old who had nothing more than motivation. I wasn’t exactly “athletic” in my teenage years, though always a decent runner (not track material but better than average in gym). I was 5’6 and I weighted 164pounds the day I left for my initial training. In the beginning, I was running 2 miles in 22:00 (college put a few pounds on me and lost any endurance I had remaining). With time in initial entry training, (about 7 months total) and lots of perseverance, I graduated running a 14:45 (spectacular for a female) having the foundation for the stomach I had always dreamed of, the legs of a classic runner and weighing in at a very healthy 143pounds. Upon arriving at my first permanent duty station, the change of atmosphere, rules and regulations and the difference in mission, moral and motivation took their toll. Soon, I was back up to 158 lbs, running 17:25, substituting that stomach and those legs for all the fast food burgers and liquor I could readily consume. 

Recent: So somehow (maybe the story for another day) I met this amazing man who is absolutely stunning to my eyes… J He makes me feel beautiful in everyway and yes, there are those times when I ask myself what he sees in me… he is so great… so… above me. But low and behold, this man proposed to me nine months ago. We are currently deployed to
Iraq together, and I consider myself to be luckier than 90% of the soldiers out here because I have my significant other in tow. Life is great, considering the conditions. So I have been edging towards some sort of plan for getting in shape for my wedding, but procrastination had long become my faithful nemesis, or at least my second nature.

The Tipping Point: So I was recommended to attend the promotion board this month as a secondary zone candidate at exactly 2 years (very early for a soldier to attend the promotion board to become a Non Commissioned Officer…). I have always done well at boards but the promotion board was a whole new experience for me. I got a very average score on my last physical fitness evaluation. And the senior members of the boards had a hay-day with that. During the board, they proceeded to have a blatant discussion with me, which started with this question…”granted we know your level of competence in the work place, what OTHER reason is there to recommend you with such “average” scores in your phys. fitness assessment and your weapons qualification scores?… How do you plan to conduct physical fitness training when you can’t hardly do 25 push-ups and run but a mile before you are spent?” That was it. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I ended up getting recommended for promotion (with a disgraceful score). I later requested another fitness assessment the first week of April. I have promised to myself to not miss a single day of training for that, but not just that upcoming test, but training for the future, training to prove those people who doubted me wrong. I want that what I used to have, a grip on my dream. I only hope using anger as my motivation doesn’t jinx me.

~K

I happened to find the motivation one night to pull out a camera and that is where it all began.

No, I didn’t attempt to take any type of risky photos of myself… instead, I wanted to see what I don’t like about me. So here I was, taking auto-pics in my athletic undergarments and I found the beging of what I called “The last day I will feel helpless”.

A little about me. I am a 22 year old soldier, currently deployed to Iraq. This is my first deployment. 

My profile will contain lots of pictures, all of which will be faceless. At this point in time, I don’t have it in me to be that open. There is hope, that one day, when I reach my goal, I will find the courage to include a not so faceless photo. Hope.

As time goes on I plan to blog a bit about the type of person I am, the challenges I face, the motivating factors and the progress I hope to be making. I hope you enjoy.

~Kwik