Former Soldier Sheds Pounds to Trade in Army Green for Air Force Blue

Published Sept. 9, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Valerie Smock
910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- Editor's note: The following is the second part of a three-part series about 910th Airmen who reclassified from another AFSC, unit or service.

It is not unusual for a service member to serve in two branches of military during their career, but it is more uncommon to go through a complete transformation to do so. Staff Sgt. Marvin Hall, an aeromedical technician with the 910th Medical Squadron, did just that.

Hall began his military career in the Army Reserve. He spent eight years there and then went back to the civilian world for seven years. After all those years he thought about reenlisting, but this time with the Air Force.

"My wife and I tried to talk him into the Air Force years ago," said Capt. Dominic J. White, the 910th Force Support Squadron Readiness and Plans Chief and Hall's neighbor. "He finally saw the light when he crossed over into the Blue."

Hall took White's advice and said knew he made the right decision in switching branches.

"The Air Force is so much different than the Army," said Hall. "I don't know how to explain it. I get to do more things and get to go more places [with the Air Force]."

But that ability to see the world wasn't going to happen if Hall didn't do a little traveling of his own beforehand. That journey was a run, and plenty of them at that.

"I gained weight when I got out of the Army," said Hall. "I went from 180 to 265 pounds. Before I could join I had to lose weight."

Hall said he knew exactly what he needed to do to accomplish his goal. After running in high school and college, he said hitting the track was exactly the ticket he needed to get back into the military. He started running and dropped the weight.

It wasn't just a few mile runs here and there; Hall took his training to the next level. He participated in triathlons, marathons and half marathons. To ensure he did well during each run, he had to train on a daily basis.

"It's a lot of work because workout plans have to be right and you have to eat right," said Hall. "I complete three hours a day of training, but it's fun."

If the accomplishment of running marathons wasn't enough, he also joined the Air Force Ironman Team. To take it one step further, he also received a 98 percent on his Physical Training test, which includes pushups, sit-ups and a 1.5-mile run.

Many of his fellow service members have taken notice of his love for running.

"Marvin has a great passion for running and exercising," said White. "I saw him at the Franklin Apple Fest on his day off to run in a running competition. I also see him around our neighborhood always running and bicycling."

When Hall isn't running around Conneautville, Pa., it's possible to see him taking a jog around Youngstown Air Reserve Station.

"When I am here on the weekends, two of us go out cycling or running around Vienna or nearby areas on Friday and Saturday of the Unit Training Assembly," said Hall. "We will do 8-12 miles after softball games."

Hall isn't just dedicated to running; he is also dedicated to his civilian career as a paramedic for the Community Ambulance Service in Venango County, Pa.

"He is always willing to help others in need," said White. "Marvin has a wonderful personality and will always stop and talk to see how things are going."

Hall is able to take his love for helping others to another level, too. On top of working as a paramedic, he is also a certified personal trainer, helping clients to gain muscle, lean down and get faster.

"It's something accomplishable, but you have to keep in mind that is your goal and something you want to accomplish," said Hall. "It's not as easy as the infomercials say."