Morgan O'Brien's WiGO 1.05.09

On AFLink today, the Air Force got it right. Kudos to Tech. Sgt. Michale Voss, who knocked it out of the park in reporting what I consider to be the perfect internal communications piece.

What follows is a truly awesome story from the junior enlisted personnel that went above and beyond in an attempt to become a better Airman, family man and human being. The story couldn't have better timing (we're in the middle of resolution season); couldn't be more inspiring (you'll see); shows that our subordinates can often provide some of the greatest examples of leadership; and best of all, there are some great pictures to highlight the accomplishment (see below).

Rather than ruin the story through my muddled retelling, I'll hand it over to Sgt. Voss:

Deployed servicemember returns home half the Airman he used to be

By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
376th Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

1/2/2009 - MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyz Republic (AFPN) -- "I knew I was unhealthy and had to make some changes, especially when I thought about my five-year-old looking up at me," said Senior Airman Jarvis Johnson. "Without changes, I wouldn't be around to see him and my daughters grow up."

When you ask someone what they can accomplish in six months -- just 24 short weeks -- they may say something like, "I plan to finish a couple college courses," or maybe, "I'm going to read a couple books," or "Tour a little."...

(Instead, Johnson) has lost 125 pounds, is down to 165 pounds and has taking 14 inches off his waist.(link)

Kudos to Airman Johnson--here's the big reveal:


Before


After

I have to admit, this story blindsided me. In all honesty, I intended to highlight this "no-duh" story by my man Michael Hoffman today (which I still take great pleasure in posting):

PT program needs fixing, audit finds
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 2, 2009 18:12:05 EST
An Air Force-wide audit found the service’s fitness program is failing to keep airmen fit year-round.

The fitness program “did not effectively promote a healthy lifestyle,” and unit commanders did not give airmen enough time to work out while not cracking down on airmen who failed PT tests, according to a December report released by the Air Force Audit Agency. (link)

Rather than expecting a PT program to be a magic cure all (which I suspect the powers that be intended), the Air Force might look at the program more as a catalyst. If you want to be healthy, great--go for it, here are the tools. In fact, look at guys like Airman Johnson as examples.

If you don't care about how you look, how you feel or how you perform in the field have fun at the back of the pack where you belong. Just know that you made the conscious choice to position yourself there.