FORT SILL, Okla. (July 17, 2014) -- Jonathan Bell, Network Enterprise Center network administrator, wanted to get himself in shape and he saw the 2nd Annual Fort Sill Garrison Commander's Fitness Challenge as a perfect opportunity to do that.
Through a walking regimen with co-workers, participating in organized 5K runs/walks and a diet change, Bell was able to meet his weight goals.
"I wanted to lose at least 10 pounds, and I was actually able to lose 21 pounds so I'm pretty happy with that," he said.
Bell was set to compete in the culmination of the challenge with a 5K walk/run July 11 at Cedar Lakes Jogging Trail along with about 135 other employees from every directorate.
"The challenge helped me get into shape and stay in shape," said Bell, who stopped exercising when he left Army active duty in 1996. "Now exercise is a regular part of my daily activities."
The fitness challenge was open to all garrison civilian employees and garrison-support tenant agency employees, who wanted to lose weight and or start exercising. Over 180 garrison employees signed for the program; 92 were women and 89 were men. The challenge ran April 1 through June 30.
The payoff of exercising was weight loss, improved health, stress reduction and overall well being. Another incentive for the challenge was time-off awards.
Col. Glenn Waters, garrison commander, authorized two hours off for every five pounds an employee lost -- up to six hours off; or who participated in two 5K walk/runs including the one on July11, said Tom Easterly, Plans, Analysis and Integration Office management analyst and the challenge's program manager.
Employees were weighed-in initially by their respective directorates' designated administrator, and their weight was monitored during the three-month challange to determine the "biggest loser," Easterly said.
Many of the administrators lead informal exercise sessions. Although no duty time was authorized to exercise, employees used breaks or lunch time as well as after-duty time to exercise.
Carleen Pilcher, Resource Management Office program analyst, said about 16 of the 28 RMO employees participated in the challenge.
"Some of us would walk together on our 15 minute breaks around the post quadrangle, and even after hours we would walk the Three-Mile Track," she said.
She noted that collectively the RMO employees lost over 100 pounds.
One office administrator said that their five employees walked over 50 miles each through regular end-of-the-workday walks in preparation for the 5K.
Waters and Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Miller participated in the 7:30 a.m. 5K. Miller said the challenge was part of the DoD's Healthy Base Initiative and Operation Live Well. The OLW program's goal is to increase the health and wellness of the total Army force with sustainable healthy lifestyles.
"We all, not just Soldiers, need to look at how we can better take care of ourselves, and lead healthier lives," the command sergeant major said.
Numerous garrison Soldiers also participated in the run to support their civilian co-workers, including the entire Field Artillery Half-Section. Participants said there were many reasons why they joined the challenge and what they got out of it.
"We all got together and had a lot of motivation and camaraderie from the staff," said John Cutler, Personnel Control Facility deputy commander, where 21 out of 31 civilians participated. "The challenge shows that the garrison commander really supports our organizations -- it's a strong message to us."
All the participants were honored with certificates, and were invited to a wellness social at the Patriot Club July 11.
Staffers at vendor tables provided information about services from the Army Wellness Center, Dental Activity, Preventive Medicine, Army Substance Abuse Program, Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention Office, Voting Assistance Office, as well as complimentary massages from therapists from Platt College.
During the ceremony, Waters recognized the employees who lost the most weight, and who won the 5K run, with his Commander's Coin of Excellence. He noted collectively that there was a total weight loss of 455 pounds, and that employees had walked or run about 1,200 miles during the challenge.
"Biggest losers"
Men
JR Warren, DPTMS, 33 lbs.
Christopher Bloomfield, NEC, 26 lbs.
Women
Sharon Barnhill, NEC, 19 lbs.
Christina Culotta, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, 17 lbs.
Women's 5K winner Marie Berberea, Garrison Public Affairs, 22 minutes, 55 seconds.
Men's 5K winner Christopher Cooksey, RMO, 22:08.
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