CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - He joined the Army in 1977 because his father said, "It will make a man out of you." Now, nearly 34 years later, Sgt. 1st Class Ara Cater, operations noncommissioned officer in charge of the Equal Opportunity Office, is on his second tour with Third Army in as many years.
Along with helping Soldiers who feel they have been discriminated against, Carter is educating warriors of all ages on how to think, eat and exercise to live a healthier life.
It all started during his first tour here a year ago while working in Third Army's Surgeon's office. Carter, a native of Vancouver, Wash., was spinning one morning in the Zone 1 Gym when Kevin Scott, Morale, Wellness and Recreation director, approached him about teaching a spin class to service members.
At the time, Carter declined the offer, fearing the commitment would interfere with his duties as a Soldier. However, this time around, with no fitness instructors on post, Carter, who recently earned his fitness instructor certification, agreed to help Scott out by teaching spinning along with a Max Interval class in the mornings.
"I have a passion to stay active and keep myself fit," said Carter. "My goal is to help others look and feel great."
"If you let yourself go physically, your self-esteem will erode along with your appearance," he added.
Carter, a smoker and self-described "scotch man," admits he is not perfect, but he has the credibility to lend others guidance on how to get fit as his weight dropped from 260 pounds to 198 in recent years due to healthier eating, more exercise and less alcohol consumption.
"I can empathize with Soldiers who aren't as fit as they'd like to be, because I myself was there at one time," said Carter. "It is all a matter of you, yourself making some life changes and having a determination to get in shape. After all, nobody can do it for you."
Carter, who believes military members come up with too many excuses about why they don't have time to work out regularly, sees the chow hall's menu as a major obstacle for some people who want to improve their conditioning.
"I think they should get rid of the desert bar all together," said Carter with a laugh. "I can't believe some of the high-calorie junk food they serve in the dining facilities these days."
Carter's classes have a cult following now, including members of his own unit who look up to him for guidance and energy.
"He pushes me and makes me give it my all at the morning classes," said Spc. Steven Briseno, administrative specialist, Third Army EO Office, and native of Kansas City, Mo. "He brings the same positive attitude and smile to the workouts that he brings to work every day, which always keeps people motivated to do their best."
Carter, who says his mother is his best friend, plans on helping other service members reach their fitness goals until he leaves Kuwait in October and returns home to his military technician job in Washington State.
"My biggest life accomplishment has been raising my three kids and having them be such wonderful people," said Carter. "Getting old is fun because the older you get, the more you learn from your mistakes."
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2010 10:10 |
| Story ID: | 47530 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 396 |
| Downloads: | 385 |
This work, Reservist's classes help promote fitness to troops at Arfijan, by SPC Brandon Babbitt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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