CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Checking in at 253 pounds, the weight limit could keep most people from even thinking about joining the Air Force ... but not everyone.
"I wasn't surprised that I weighed too much, but I really didn't know the weight limit would be that low," said Matt Mobley, a 5-foot-7-inch 20-year-old. "But I knew that I wanted to become an Airman more than anything else, so I set a goal for myself."
Tech. Sgt Christopher Conaway, a Charleston area and Mr. Mobley's recruiter, gave him some information about the Air Force and his business card when he first stopped by in September 2007. He also said he was there for him if he wanted some motivation along his journey.
"I thought that was the last I would see of Mr. Mobley, because I would say that about nine out of 10 people never come back," said Sergeant Conaway. "Much to my surprise, Matt came into my office in October and then again in November and December -- this young man was losing weight. I found myself becoming a huge Matt Mobley fan."
When Mr. Mobley found out that he had to lose nearly 80 pounds to qualify for the Air Force, he started eating healthy and exercising several times a day.
"I was always a big kid," said Mr. Mobley, the Summerville, S.C., native. "So I started eating healthier and in moderation along with running and biking all the time. When I started, I could bike about six miles in 45 minutes, but now I can do about eight miles in only 25 minutes and I can run two miles in less than 15 minutes."
As he continued to lose the weight, he also regularly weighed himself at the gym and checked into his recruiter's office about once every two weeks to check his weight to help him stay motivated.
After eight months, Mr. Mobley weighed himself at the gym on a May morning to find that he was actually under his weight limit. He went in that same day to inform his recruiter.
"I could not help but cheer and clap my hands," said Sergeant Conaway. "We were both jumping up and down; Matt had done what he set out to do."
Since Mr. Mobley's new weight of 164 pounds was safely under the limit of 175 by more than 10 pounds, his family didn't see any harm in celebrating with him.
"I felt great that day," said Mr. Mobley. "My grandma baked me a cake and we all had pizza. My family and friends were very supportive of me doing this the past few months."
Mr. Mobley is scheduled to start Basic Military Training at Lackland AFB, Texas, July 1 and will begin his career as a tactical crew chief because he said he was eager to make a career move after taking courses at Trident Technical College for the past two years. While in the Air Force, he said he plans on taking advantage of the Air Force's educational opportunities to attain his bachelor's degree and possibly his master's degree.
"I told my recruiter I wanted to leave as soon as possible," he said. "I know it's going to be hot, but the sooner the better because now I'm just sitting around waiting to go."