CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Tipping the scale at 365 pounds, a 5-foot-10-inch male joined the Air Force in 2003 ... as a civilian.
Five years and 120 pounds later, he now checks in at 245 pounds thanks to the Air Force for helping make his weight loss successful.
Dominick Ward, who is a civilian pickup and delivery forklift operator assigned to the 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron, made a New Year's resolution at the beginning of 2007 to lose 80 pounds. With a few wingmen by his side and an Air Force Instruction in his favor, he surpassed his goal by losing a total of 120 pounds by March 2008 and hopes to lose at least another 30 pounds to take him down to a final weight of 215 pounds.
"The Air Force has definitely helped with me losing weight because I got more chances to go to the gym and work out," said Mr. Ward. "It's easier to move around now and it's easier to climb on the back of trailers at work to load and unload what we're delivering around the base."
In accordance with AFI 36-815, Chapter 8, Excused Absences, 8.1.1, "installation commanders or heads of serviced organizations may excuse civilian employees for physical fitness activities up to three hours per week based on mission and workload requirements. Participation is strictly voluntary."
Mr. Ward works out at the base's fitness center five days a week and said he makes sure to use his three hours a week of excused absence to work out so he can keep up his routine.
Before his resolution to lose weight, Mr. Ward was not a regular exerciser, but now his routine includes about two miles of running and a half-hour of weightlifting five days a week. He also had a few wingmen helping him along the way to include Staff Sgt. Tavarus Williams, who is a fitness specialist with the 437th Force Support Squadron, who taught him the ropes of ways to work out and use equipment at the gym.
"I give orientations at the fitness center to people who are new and want to know how to use the equipment so it encourages everyone to stay fit to fight," said Sergeant Williams. "Fitness is very important for Airmen and civilians and I'm very proud of Mr. Ward for this decision and for how far he's come and that he stuck with it. When I went on a deployment, I thought he would slow down with what he accomplished, but I was surprised and happy to see that he had lost even more weight by the time I returned."
"Sergeant Williams practically taught me everything I know now about working out," said Mr. Ward. "I work out with him almost every time I go to the gym and I also work out with other military people there. My co-workers also helped keep me on track with my weight loss. If they saw me eating something that wasn't good for me they would tell me to stop and eat something healthier. They were very supportive of me right from the beginning."
Though Mr. Ward never had any intention of enlisting or commissioning in the Air Force, he believes that civilians are important to the Air Force mission and their fitness is just as important as the Airmen's. Other members of Team Charleston have also expressed that they couldn't agree with him more on that.
"I personally have seen the transformation of his body and it is amazing," said Senior Master Sgt. Tony Levine, 315th Operations Support Squadron Intelligence Flight superintendent, who regularly saw Mr. Ward while working out at the fitness center. "It shows that fitness not only applies to military members but is a total force effort that includes our civilian warriors."