Future Airman gains confidence, loses 160 pounds

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Lindsey
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Leo Knight-Inglesby is more determined than ever, and for the past 15 months has pushed himself beyond the limits he, and his loved ones, ever thought possible.

The 22-year-old Silver Spring, Md., native is so set to "Do Something Amazing" in the Air Force that he shed more than 160 pounds to meet the physical standard of enlistment, amazing his recruiter, family and friends.

"No one believed I would do it 'til I showed them the [enlistment] papers," Mr. Knight-Inglesby said. "My life has completely changed. Not only am I stronger physically, I am mentally stronger and more confident."

Today, the former 351-pound college freshman continues noshing on only healthy food, limits his daily caloric intake and exercises at least five days a week. Although he maintains the same smile, he looks like a different person at approximately 190 pounds, said his recruiter, Staff Sgt. Ty Lopez.

"He's well on his way to making his goal of 185 pounds before heading to basic military training," Sergeant Lopez said. 

Mr. Knight-Inglesby is currently scheduled to attend BMT at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in March, but hopes to attend earlier if a spot becomes available.

The 317th Recruiting Squadron recruiter caught Mr. Knight-Inglesby's attention in the summer of 2007 while speaking about Air Force opportunities to a group of people near a local community college.

"I wasn't getting much interest out of anyone except an obviously overweight guy in the back of the group," Sergeant Lopez recalled. "He asked me questions that I gladly answered in hopes that the other guys in the group would become interested. At the end of our conversation, Leo said he wanted to join."

The recruiter told the young man he looked heavier than the maximum allowable weight to enlist and that at his height he needed to weigh below 202 pounds to join. A week later, Mr. Knight-Inglesby visited Sergeant Lopez, tipping the Rockville, Md., recruiting office scale at 347 pounds leading to a serious evaluation of his life.

"My uncle was overweight and had a massive heart attack, and I didn't want that to happen to me" he said. "I knew I had to get my life on track, and I wanted the benefits the Air Force offers."

The potential to travel overseas, especially to Germany, remains a powerful motivator, as does his father's encouragement to serve in the military. Both his grandfathers and father served in the Army and his brother continues to serve in the Navy.

The only issue that kept Mr. Knight-Inglesby from becoming an Airman earlier was his girth. He isn't alone in his struggle though.

AFRS records show that during the past year, 611 of the 23,435 applicants who processed were disqualified at the Military Entrance Processing Station for weight-related issues, said Maj. Jeffrey West, AFRS Physical Standards chief.

Strong personal determination made a difference in the lives of two other overweight, but otherwise qualified young men who shared Mr. Knight-Inglesby's drive to join the Air Force. Twenty-year-old Matt Mobley of Charleston, S.C., shed 90 pounds, and Will Sims of Warner Robins, Ga., dropped 128 pounds, qualifying for service.

As a member of the Delayed Entry Program with less than 90 days until basic training, Mr. Knight-Inglesby and fellow future Airmen encourage one another to realize their dreams by maintaining clean records and healthy lifestyles.

Mr. Knight-Inglesby's weight loss has been a gain for Sergeant Lopez in more ways than expected. The recruiter said he has gained positive insight about the power of personal determination. When Mr. Knight-Inglesby proved he was serious about making the standard, Sergeant Lopez joined him at the gym and helped the future Airman continue when he reached a plateau in his weight loss at 220 pounds.

"We worked hard and he would never give up," Sergeant Lopez said. "No matter how hard I worked him or how tired he got, he would keep going and ask for more.

"As a recruiter, we get hung up on time management.  I have 28 high schools and colleges to visit every month, in addition to scheduled appointments," he said. "Applicants 15-20 pounds overweight say they want to join and that they'll lose the weight, then I never hear from them again. But based on Leo's case, now I'll think twice about not taking them seriously."

Air Force enlistment and commissioning weight standards vary based on height. People interested in joining should visit their local Air Force recruiter. Recruiter contact information is available by clicking on the Recruiter Locator link at www.airforce.com or call 1-800-423-USAF (8723).

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