Medical Airman gains through weight loss

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Derrick Gildner
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Publicl Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  One might say that Tech. Sgt. Christopher Archuleta is the 302nd Airlift Wing's biggest loser. Archuleta, an Aeromedical Service Journeyman with the 302nd Aerospace Medicine flight here, lost 86 pounds in response to a commander's challenge.

Archuleta, who is in charge of the clinic's Emergency Management Training Program and ensures medics are EMT qualified as required by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, wasn't going to be eligible for re-enlistment in April because of repeated physical fitness testing failures.

"I was grossly overweight and did not have the proper appearance of a non-commissioned officer," he said. "I was instead given a six-month extension to get in shape, or my 20-year career would be over."

According to Archuleta, he knew he needed to take action in order to get in compliance with the Air Force's newest modifications to the physical fitness regulations outlined in AFI 36-2905. And by action, he meant a complete health and fitness overhaul to meet the needs of the job, deployment requirements and standards expected for noncommissioned leaders.
First, the sergeant identified a goal and set a series of objectives to move toward his achievement.

"I enrolled in an off-base program that teaches people how to eat properly, healthy and how to increase the body's natural metabolism. My wife enrolled in the program before I did, and when I saw her success I joined," Archuleta said. "It helps immensely that we are shopping, cooking, preparing and eating right together. It was after losing several pounds; I was able to start an exercise regimen. All the while losing weight I would email my chief, my shirt, and my supervisor to give them updates on weight and inches lost each weigh in. That was huge."

"I was delighted at the level of participation of our Airmen in the Commander's fitness challenge, and Tech. Sgt. Archuleta was a true success story," said Col. Kathleen Flarity, commander, 302nd Aeromedical Staging Squadron. "I wanted Tech. Sgt. Archuleta to succeed and so did our leadership at the 302nd ASTS. His supervisors checked in with him on his progress during the month, and he reported his progress to me monthly."

To lose the weight and prepare for the fitness test, Archuleta said he would run 1.5 miles at work in the morning and then do as many push-ups and crunches as he could at night.
Once Archuleta lost 86 pounds, and was down several sizes, he said it was easy to cheat on his diet a little.

"I had the opportunity to go to the NCO Academy in Alaska and while there I put 30 pounds back on," he said. "I wasn't eating properly, I didn't practice portion control, and had a little too much pizza and ice cream. I have, however, lost 20 of those pounds since I've been home."
"You want Airmen to succeed and meet or exceed Air Force standards, but you cannot give them intrinsic motivation that has to come from within. We can grow it but the member has to do the hard work," Flarity said.

When asked about advising others in the same situation Archuleta said it's never too late to start.

"I am turning 40 this fall, and I have that as an excuse," Archuleta said. "It's about smart choices, and little steps. Eat right, and start moving, even if it's walking at night after dinner."
Archuleta said his health goals for 2013 are to keep the weight off and the fitness up.

"On my last test I scored an 81. When I test again in January, I want to break 90," he said. "I know that I am no longer an obstacle to my career, and I plan to see how far I can go."

"One of our most important goals should be our health, but not everyone is motivated in the same way. A leader's job is to figure out how to best motivate their Airmen," Flarity said. "I am passionate about lifelong fitness, and serve as a role model for my Airmen. Our generation has a huge advantage over any other in history. We have the ability to control one of the absolute most important aspects of our life... our health."