Serving those who serve: Marine veteran helps Marines, spouses reach their fitness goals

II Marine Expeditionary Force
Story by Lance Cpl. Cory D. Polom

Date: 01.19.2012
Posted: 01.19.2012 11:12
News ID: 82565
Serving those who serve: Marine veteran helps Marines, spouses reach their fitness goals

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Anthony Woodfolk is a personal trainer here at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, where he helps residents keep physically fit and achieve their goals. Woodfolk has a unique history which helps him while he assists Marines.

Woodfolk served in the Marine Corps from 1984-1990 for four years of active duty and completed two years of active reserves.

“I feel the Marine Corps has helped me become a better person and has helped me understand different ways to help people in my present job field,” said Woodfolk. “Being a personal trainer for Marines and their families is a great job and I love doing it.”

Woodfolk works with Marines, their spouses and other residents of Cherry Point to help achieve an athletic fitness level he thinks all Marines should have to keep deployment ready.

“It is my job and personal goal to make sure all the Marines who seek my help are ready for combat,” said Woodfolk. “I think all Marines need to be tactical athletes. Most Marines back in my day came out of high school where they played sports and were already athletic. Today you have Marines who never competed before they sat inside and played video games. I make it my personal goal to turn them into athletes.”

Besides working with units on combat fitness Woodfolk works with spouses helping them reach their goals.

“Anthony is a great trainer,” said Alleson L. Owen, a Marine spouse. “He motivates me to do well and complete the work outs he creates. He never makes you do something that he knows you can’t do.”

Owen agrees with Woodfolk that the best motivation is inspiration and fun.

“I still stick to the core values of the Marine Corps of honor, courage and commitment,” said Woodfolk. “I will not have someone do something I wouldn’t do myself. I use things I learned in the Marines to help push my trainees to get the job done right."

“Being a personal trainer is extra motivation to keep in shape and work hard to maintain my physical training,” he added. “I enjoy leading by example and from the front. That is just one other big life lesson the Marine Corps taught me.”