Adversity leads to fitness inspiration

  • Published
  • By Second Lieutenant Jerred Moon
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
A little over two months ago, my brother completed the Bataan Memorial Death March, a 26.2 mile march through the desert terrain of White Sands Missile Range, N.M.. The amazing thing is that just over a year ago, my brother was told that he would never walk again.

At 26 years old, my brother was in a terrible motorcycle accident. He was driving home at 70 mph when a drunk driver pulled out in front of him and changed his life forever. If not for his sheer determination and will power, the doctors would have been right and he would have never walked again. As a cavalry scout in the United States Army and having served two combat tours in Iraq, quitting is not something he is accustomed to.

The road to recovery has been painful, but also inspirational. The amount of physical therapy he had to go through and work he had to do is astounding. It was near impossible for my brother to maintain any sort of physical fitness routine. However, the day he could walk again, that was exactly what he was doing.

My brother and I have always been very active people, living active lifestyles. I have always been very interested in fitness, but now it has taken on a new meaning for me and my family because of my brother. He has shown me that achieving great things is only limited to your dedication and commitment.

Now I train six days a week, sometimes twice a day in an effort to get to the CrossFit Games, an international fitness competition. I haven't always been this way; it was the inspiration of my brother that has led me down this path. People often wonder why or how I train so much and I rarely offer an explanation. My brother has shown me that anything is possible if you want it bad enough. He has also shown me that I need to take advantage of what I have and can do. Now I train for my brother and hope to make him proud.

Never take for granted what you can do. Staying in shape may seem like a taxing and mundane part of your life, but don't overlook its importance. As able bodies of the United States Air Force, we must remember not everyone can do what we can do or achieve what we can achieve.

Today, I encourage you to take advantage of your fitness and mobility and be thankful for what you can achieve. Get out and move!