AF recruiting unit shows winners can indeed be losers

Published March 26, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. Dustin Beard
344th Recruiting Squadron marketer

ARLINGTON, Texas -- The biggest winners in the 344th Recruiting Squadron here proved to be the biggest losers -- at least when it came to getting fit and healthy.

A dozen members of the 100-person Air Force squadron spent 72 days recently competing in a weight-loss contest modeled after the popular television show "The Biggest Loser." After all was said and done, the 12 competitors combined to lose 96 pounds.

"We thought it would be a fun and motivating way to promote the Air Force's 'Fit to Fight' lifestyle and get us all back in tip-top shape," said Lt. Col. Sean McKenna, 344th RCS commander, who dropped 9.1 percent of his starting weight.

The contestants, who included both active-duty members and spouses, competed for not only bragging rights, but also gift certificates purchased by the squadron's booster club. The competition, which lasted from Jan. 12 to March 24, required members to weigh in every three weeks so that progress and standings could be tracked. While some members struggled to drop the pounds, others flourished throughout the contest.

First place ultimately went to Kellie Wise, a squadron spouse who lost 9.9 percent of her original body weight. Colonel McKenna garnered second and Tech. Sgt. Jim Reed, an enlisted accessions recruiter in North Richland Hills, earned third place with a 7.4 percent loss.

The 344th RCS is responsible for recruiting more than 90,000 square miles in north Texas, western Louisiana and southwestern Arkansas.