Southern Marine hits fitness stride in Afghanistan

Photo By Cpl. Katherine Solano | Staff Sgt. Jason Skaggs, a 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) transportation coordinator, completes upper-body workouts during a fitness routine in the Griffin Gym aboard Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, Oct. 4, 2011. Skaggs says that impressing his wife with how he looks inspires him to work out.  

CAMP LEATHERNECK, AFGHANISTAN

10.13.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Katherine Solano 

II Marine Expeditionary Force   

CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan - After Staff Sgt. Jason Skaggs first arrived in Afghanistan, he took full advantage of the luxuries offered aboard Camp Leatherneck, like ice cream and fried foods. Once it was announced that a weigh-in would be conducted, Skaggs knew he had to make some changes.

First to go were the fried foods. He recruited the help of Marines from all around his unit to get him motivated in the gym. Thirty days later, he was 15 pounds lighter and markedly stronger.
He hasn’t looked back since.

Skaggs, a 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward) transportation coordinator and native of Corning, Ark., said that fitness is about more than just looking good to him. It’s about the camaraderie and the bonds formed. The relationships he has developed in the gym have kept him focused, as well as fit, on his year-long deployment.

“You meet people in the gym, develop friendships,” he said. “Some of the Marines I’m close with, I only know from the gym.”

He claimed that without his fellow gym-goers supporting him, he would be unable to stay committed to any type of regimen. With their help, he has stuck with a weight-lifting routine.

“They learn your strengths and weaknesses and push you to your limit,” Skaggs said.

In addition to his gym partners pushing him, Skaggs said his wife is a huge inspiration behind his goals.

“She says she will love me no matter what I look like, but coming home from a deployment looking good and different always puts a smile on her face,” Skaggs said.

He intends to continue with his fitness goals throughout the end of his deployment. He has loosened up on his diet restrictions, though, stating that sometimes chocolate ice cream is a must, but he still watches what he eats regularly. Skaggs is always striving to do better than his last workout.

“It feels good to improve in the gym,” he said.

• Date Taken: 10.13.2011
• Date Posted: 10.14.2011 04:14
• Story ID: 78468
• Location: CAMP LEATHERNECK, AF