Recruit dropped 120 pounds so he could join

[Vulture6]

Recruit dropped 120 pounds so he could join

By Seamus O’Connor - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Mar 3, 2008 12:19:57 EST

Daniel Kuertz was a natural football lineman in high school and college — weighing 320 pounds, he could bench over 300 pounds and squat 670, he told Air Force Times.

When it came time to pick a career, he said the military was a natural choice. Kuertz, 20, comes from a family full of military members, and he got “hooked” on the Air Force after his father took him to meet a recruiter.

But the recruiter, Staff Sgt. Paul Lindsey, laid out the plain facts: To go from the O-line to the front line, Kuertz needed to get down to about 200 pounds.

Normally, recruits faced with such an ultimatum bow out.

“Nine times out of 10, we never see them again,” Lindsey said.

But Kuertz took the challenge in stride. He cut his diet from 4,000 calories in three daily meals to 2,500 in six or more. “I didn’t do any gimmicks or anything, I just started doing better,” Kuertz said.

And “I never have a problem going to the gym,” he said.

More than a year and about 120 pounds later, Kuertz walked back into Lindsey’s recruiting office in Columbus, Ohio, and qualified for one of the Air Force’s hardest job specialties: combat controller.

A large part of Kuertz’s motivation was the thought that “if everything goes well, I’m going to be going out with Navy SEALs,” he said. He ships out for basic Tuesday.

And he doesn’t blame Lindsey for not expecting the dramatic change.

“They don’t need to waste their time on somebody who possibly can’t do it or is not going to do it,” Kuertz said. “I was glad to be the one” in 10.

[flymke1200]

wow nice story

[MSgT GPY]

what's he doing now ?

[AF-FinalApprch]

I don't care who you are thats dedication right there. Real life example on how hard I should work to get what I want