What advice would you give a 29 year old who is trying to finish school, lose weight, and re-join the military as an officer?

As for the weight you have two options. Maintain a steady diet and do a fitness program, maybe one from Bodybuilding.com (Do a cutting program since that's your main goal) or go oldschool Marine Corps and Run and do Calisthenics. The aerobic activity will help you cut calories regardless.

Now for some advice in becoming an officer, don't forget your roots. You started out enlisted, remember all those things that seemed a little off? Now you have an opportunity to change them, but don't go over the top. Remember another thing is you're going into a different branch. I recommend saying that you were a Marine as little as possible unless it comes up. I know some Army -> Marines and they said that the Marines that came into the Army were the most narcissistic bunch. it's fine to say you were enlisted and served in their shoes before and you can bring up the Marine Corps. Just don't be obnoxious about it, I.E The Marine LCpl's I served with were 10 times better than you etc. Also good luck and congratulations once you get in brother!

Ok, I have been there and done that. First forget fast and just be consistent in your exercise routine. Depending on how out of shape you are start walking everyday come rain or shine. Increase the length and the speed. ( i was way out of shape so i walked for a full month.) Jogging came next then running so i could meet the PT standard. I filled in with the pt before or after i'd been running. ie push up, sit up, overhead bars or what ever passes for qualification exercises these day. Start slow and add one or two reps to your initial starting maximum every other day. I know that there are other ways of getting in shape but to get into basic shape this will get your mind and body into the routine of exercise and from there have at it with a program that can challenge your goals. One caution though, avoid going all out and getting injured as an injury can not only set you back but could hurt your career goals; nothing counts if you don't finish on your feet. I saw many soldiers destroyed trying to break records on obstacle courses and road marches. Good luck and after Marine Boot Camp i have no doubt you have the discipline. Eat right and forget smoking.

It would be an inspiration and motivation to the troops you serve; not to mention the experience you would bring. I would be more than proud to serve under the leadership of such an officer.

LCpl Ben Spalding Forget the quick weight loss. Cut back on your calorie intake and do a lot of walking. Cut out all liquor. Expand your exercise routine and vary it. Why are you not trying to become a Marine officer?

What prior service program @ FLW are you referring to?

Also, purely out of curiosity, what major are you! What branch do you want? What's your GPA? Do you want grad school immed, or to wait? Imcam tell you straight off, that if you're going commissioned, you're gonna be expected to do a !asters ASAP, that, I can assure you, is very, very real. Not just your PME, that, too, you'd need to get thayndone absolutely ASAP. If your GPA now s decent, ask about doing a masters where you are now, and look at USAF AFIT at Wright Pat, or Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterrey, CA, near the Presidio, I think. You can ask for those as Army, though you'd need a really decent GPA. If you're clinical at all, look at USUHS at Bethesda Naval, they also have really interesting biomed sci PhD programs as well. If you can get your masters or doctorate before you go back in, trust me, toudnhavenfar fewer distractions, I went through a good deal of that. Also, if you're clinical at all, look at the USPHS Commissioned Corps, they have numerous interactions with Army, I even read of an engineer assigned to Army Corps of engineers fro USPHS as well. If you'd care to chat further, I'd of course be most willing, hope was of at least some interest, I'd be most eager for your thoughts, many thanks

I can onlymgive you what actually worked for !e, of course. I realize you might not have thought of this, however I've done aikido for a good many years now off and on, and also just started addind iaido. I also do biking and swimming, watch my weight assiduously,a and whenever it starts going up get reap draconian, and exist on fruit, yogurt, and tuna, that's it. Doingnthay, imwemt from 342lvs to about 265-272 lbs, give it r take. You do an hour of aikido ormiaidoma day, and three hours on Sundays as I did, that's like running 10 miles a day, trust me. She I swam, I did solid laps, no nonsense, in an outdoor pool all summer, I do it ever su!!er, four days a week, 4-6 hrs a day, no playing games, for real. You all bike, and I mean 10 miles a day, trust me, you'll pose of, I know, I did, honest.