Sergeant Tony's Blog

I needed a job.

I had bills to pay.

So I updated my resume to reflect my most recent work history and newly acquired skill sets. I made a dozen copies of it and put them in a manila folder and then put the folder in my briefcase.

After that I polished my shoes, put on a nice pair of trousers, a starched dress shirt and neck tie, and hit the street.

I spent the whole day going from one place of business to the next applying for a job. I handed out almost all of my resumes and talked to HR managers, business managers, and business owners alike. It was exhausting. I got a lot of rejections and lots of kind “sorry, but we don’t have anything for you” responses. But even still, most everyone was very nice to me.

I was pretty discouraged by the end of the day but, as would often happen, by late that afternoon and down to my last resume, I asked the last business owner I spoke with if he had any openings in his company.

“Here’s my resume,” I said, handing him my last copy.

“Your resume?” he asked with a curious smile, surprised that a 12 year old boy had a resume.

No, my resume wasn’t written in cuneiform on stone tablets! But it was handmade and handwritten on notebook paper. There weren’t any copy machines in those days and no typewriter in my house, so I’d meticulously and painstakingly handwritten 12 copies of my resume, as if I were a medieval monk pouring over an ancient manuscript, trying not to make any mistakes. But I made plenty of mistakes writing in ink and had a pile of wadded up papers next to my desk that had misspellings in them. Those rejects didn’t make it into the folder.

Armed with my brother’s briefcase in hand, I’d taken off, walking up and down Garrison Avenue (main street) in my hometown of Fort Smith, Arkansas, looking for an after-school job.

“Yes, sir!” I said, proud that I had a resume, just like grown folk had.

“Well, what can you do?” Herb Price asked me, while looking over my vast education and extensive work history! Hahaha

Actually by this time I’d worked at the Boy’s Club for a year, sweeping the gym floor and keeping things organized and tidy in the equipment checkout room. My resume said that I had been the “Equipment Room Manager.” I’d also worked for two years at the local Pizza Hut, washing dishes at first and then waiting tables. No lie! At 12 I had three years of work history already. Admittedly, my education was still a little weak, though I was a recent graduate of Albert Pike Elementary School.

I worked for Herb Price for the next three years before moving on to a little better job, but never losing touch with him. He and I remained very close friends for the rest of his life. Herb had two daughters and I’d become the son he never had. Over the years, and long after I’d left my hometown for good and had my own family, I could always expect a phone call from him every couple of months, even when I lived in Japan! What a great guy he was. I was still living in Japan when he passed away.

I know what it’s like to look for work and not able to find a good job. I’ve been blessed to have contacts in Memphis that I am all too happy to use to help you find a new opportunity. I’m not an employment agency, but as I said last week, I’ve helped several Boot Campers find new jobs.

But what happens if you’ve been looking for a job and nothing seems to be out there?

Well, you keep on keeping on. There’s more to it than that, of course. But staying at the task is essential. Improving yourself and your interviewing skills are too.

You also DO NOT GET TO QUIT COMING TO BOOT CAMP!

If you lose your job, or your spouse loses theirs, you are REQUIRED to keep doing USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP and at no charge! And NO, I will NOT feel taken advantage of! And I will NOT take “no” for an answer. I will feel pretty badly if you stay away though.

OK, I can’t REQUIRE you to keep coming. But I want to strongly, strongly, STRONGLY urge you to keep coming!!! And once you get a job, you can just start paying from that point forward. You do NOT pay for the past months while you were looking.

Joining me on The Quarterdeck and exercising while you look for work will help to make you a better job seeker! You’ll stay energetic and hanging out with me will keep you positive! You’ll keep your weight down. You’ll feel better about yourself. And you’ll be able to present yourself better in an interview, putting your best foot forward. Plus, you never know who’ll be on The Quarterdeck that day. Maybe someone you can network with! I love connecting good folk with good folk!

If it was your spouse who lost their job and money gets tight, you keep coming! You’ll be a better support for them if you yourself are positive and energized! Same deal applies; free boot camp while your spouse looks for a job.

If you have a job opening in your office or business let me know. If you’re looking for a new job, let me know what you’re looking for. Try and be as specific as possible.

Why is hiring a member of USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP a good idea? You’ll get an employee who isn’t afraid of hard work. You’ll get someone who’s disciplined and motivated to improve and succeed!

Help me, help you! Sorry “Jerry Maguire” fans!

Have a GREAT Wednesday everyone and good luck to those who’re hitting the streets today looking for a new job!

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A LETTER FROM 0530 BOOT CAMPER ROBERT HUNT

“Tony,

I want to say Thank You (I mean that sincerely) for the past year.

I came to USMC Boot Camp on July 31, 2009. I had been away on a weekend trip with another family and we talked about this ‘boot camp thing’ and it seemed interesting. I was at a point that I knew I had to do something. At 52 I was not getting younger but did want to get older.

My weight was at the highest point it had ever been, about 210 lbs.

That said I wandered into boot camp on a Friday (it happened to be a Baghdad workout….what was that I wondered). I worked out that day next to David and he made a joke about how sore he was the next day. Not having worked out in years I thought I might be sore also…..Had I not started on a Friday, I might not have come back to boot camp because on Saturday I could not move. I have never been so sore….wow! Sunday was a little better, but not much. By Monday I decided to give it a try again and ended up joining that week….for a month, then for 3 and finally for a year. So here’s how some of the number have gone:

When I started boot camp:

age 52
weight 210
cholesterol: between 220 and 240
waist….we just wont go there (man has it been expensive to get rid of those clothes…but well worth it)
number of push-ups I could do … hardly any
running: none

One year later:

age 53 +1 (hey it is good for some numbers to go up)
weight: 175 (down 35 lbs)
cholesterol: between 180 and 220
waist: about 3 inches smaller
number of push-ups……well I can do more but I need to get better…hey, you gotta have goals
running: over the past year I have run approx 350 miles, done several 5Ks and my first 1/2 marathon.

Now, all of this was not just because I show up for boot camp. I actually try to do all the exercises, I listened…I have increased my weights over time, I eat less and snack in between the smaller meals.

I love the ‘community’ and the whole premise of USMC Fitness Boot Camp. It has absolutely changed my life for the better … for that and everything else when I tell you THANK YOU, I mean it sincerely! See you on the quarter deck!

Robert”

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COLLIERVILLE LOCATION OF USMC FITNESS BOOT CAMP MOVES

The Collierville Battalion of USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP has officially moved to the Cordova/Arlington area!

Sgt. Les Bonnett and the Cordova-Arlington Battalion are training at 0515 (15 min earlier than our East Memphis location) at the Woodland Hills Church of Christ at 10011 Woodland Hills Drive, Cordova, TN 38018

CALL SGT. LES for more information at 901-592-7097

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THE RETURN OF THE 0830 CLASS

The 0830 Class will return to ACTIVE DUTY status on Wednesday, September 8!

I’m looking forward to seeing you 0830 Boot Campers!! Don’t forget that there is child care available at the church for this class!

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SGT. TONY’S HALF MARATHON TRAINING!

It’s getting close.

Training for the St. Jude Half Marathon begins on Saturday, September 4. This is perfect for the first time beginner half marathoner or even a half marathon veteran.

Can you do this?

If by August 31st you can run 3 miles without stopping in under 35 min, you’ll be ready to begin training. This assumes that you’re doing an hour of continuous cardio on the weekends.

Training is open to all. Cost for the three month training is $75 for members of USMC Fitness Boot Camp and $120 for non-boot campers.

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HEAT INDEX

Anytime the heat index is 100 or above the class will go inside. If the conditions warrant it, the evening class may also be found on the courtyard inside the day school area. So if we’re not on the playground we’ll be there.

And speaking of the evening class, Tues/Thurs are at St. Agnes school track for cardio workouts on the track … at your own pace!

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NEW PRICING FOR FAMILIES AND COUPLES

If you’re a part of a family (usually husband and wife) that does USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, a new pricing plan goes into effect in August! Ask me about it! You’ll like it!

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AUGUST IS ANNIVERSARY MONTH!

To mark the occasion all new enlistments next month will only be $90 and a One Year Tour of Duty will only be $475.

Other celebrations and such are planned and you’ll hear more soon!

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AWOL

Have you been away from USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP for a while? Comfortable in Turdeville? Wanna come back? C’mon then!! I won’t bite you! (see above!)

I know how it is. You miss a day or two … and then it’s been a week or two … and then it’s a month or two …

Get back on track. Come back to the Quarterdeck!

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BOOT CAMP DISCOUNTS AND FACEBOOK EXPERIMENT!

Facebook has now reached a major milestone: 500 million users! One out of every 14 people on the planet are on Facebook.

That’s the population of the US, Japan, and Germany combined! Half a BILLION people are on Facebook.

In the world of cyber-marketing, Facebook usage can’t be ignored.

So here’s our experiment.

Make a Facebook status update and get a discount!

For every status update that you make that references:
“USMC Fitness Boot Camp,”
“Sgt. Tony’s Boot Camp,”
“Tony’s Boot Camp,”
or something similar, you can take $2.50 off your reenlistment fee for each update, up to $20 off for any given month!

Your status update has to be a specific reference to USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP or to me specifically by name.

You can use Foursquare linked to your Facebook account to “check in” and you’ll get the same discount!

You can use YELP and write an awesome review!

Use your own wording and personality, just include the specifics.

So log on and get started today!

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WANT TO LOSE 10 to 15 POUNDS BY THE END OF AUGUST?

Take Shape For Life is the BEST weight loss program I know of. If you’d like to lose weight talk to me. This is the program I used to lose the almost 30 pounds I gained after knee surgery. Let me help you!

You can also go to www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com/

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BOGA tomorrow at CUMC @ 0530. BOGA is one half hard core boot camp fitness and one half power yoga … BO-GA!

Mt. Fuji next Tuesday, August 17 at the U of M at 0530!

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TUESDAY & THURSDAY EVENING CLASS

The Tuesday and Thursday evening classes meet at St. Agnes’ track. These are cardio (walking/jogging/running) workouts and they begin at 5:45 PM.

St. Agnes is at the corner of Walnut Grove and Mendenhall.

Should the St. Agnes track be occupied or the field being used, making the track unavailable to us, we’ll go to St. Mary’s track, at Walnut Grove and Perkins.

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CALENDAR

A calendar has been added to the official USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP website.

http://www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/calendar.html

For you visual learners, you’ll find this an easy way to glance at the week or month and see where the workouts will be, if there’s a venue change.

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What would you do if money were not an issue, fear were not a factor, and failure were not an option?

To your optimum health and fitness!

SEE YOU ON THE QUARTERDECK!

Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow

USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
Mailing address: 4888 Southern Ave., Memphis, TN 38117
Cell Phone: 901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com

http://www.combatchallenge.tsfl.com/esuite/home/combatchallenge/–