FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
In the dawn of a new operational era, the U.S. Army is building a new Soldier; this Soldier is comprehensively fit, resilient and Army Strong. Tomorrow's warrior will possess a healthy balance of the five pillars of comprehensive fitness: physical, emotional, spiritual, social and family strengths. By strengthening these dimensions, Soldiers will be better able to face and recover from adversity. This new warrior isn't being developed in a sterile laboratory environment, but on the fields of battle in Overseas Contingency Operations and Operation New Dawn.
Fort Eustis Soldier Sgt. 1st Class Maria A. Caulford is one such Soldier. After overcoming adversity on the fields of battle, Sergeant Caulford brings her strength and motivation to others each weekday lunch hour at McClellan Fitness Center during her Tae Bo and Zumba classes.
Sergeant Caulford's story began in 2007 when the convoy she was traveling in was attacked during her deployment to Iraq while assigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, N.C. That fateful day, the Humvee she was riding in was hit by an Improvised Explosive Device and rolled over, leaving Sergeant Caulford with life-threatening abdominal injuries.
"I suffered shrapnel wounds to the abdomen. It was unreal. I had to learn to do things over again," Sergeant Caulford said.
Before her deployment, Sergeant Caulford was a physically-active Soldier but found the PT (physical training) at Bragg to be lacking.
"I was at Bragg, a brand new NCO in the Army, and I hated PT because [they] never catered to the women. I went to Gold's Gym one day where I was a member and asked how to go about getting certified for aerobics. They had instructors who did certification, so I started training and got certified," she said.
Once she became a certified Tae Bo instructor, she began holding Tae Bo classes at the gym during lunch. Upon her redeployment, however, she was unable to continue her intense physical regimen or leading classes.
Sergeant Caulford said that the attack set her back not just physically but mentally as well.
"After my injury, I was devastated. It took so much for me to do normal things. It's difficult when you are so active every day," she said. "When I saw myself going in the hole [depression], for about a year, I decided enough was enough and I had to get out of it," she said.
Sergeant Caulford began her own recovery process with slow and steady exercises. Although doctors warned her that recovery would be a long and sometimes painful process, she was determined to get back on her feet and in fighting form.
"I bought silicone scar tape from the Internet. I put it on and slowly started running and the more I ran, the more I noticed I was healing better," Sergeant Caulford said. "The sit ups were the hardest. I started by using a rope at the gym to pull myself up. I told myself, 'I know it looks handicapped, but I'm doing it.'"
Sergeant Caulford reported to the U.S. Army Aviation Logistics School in October 2009 and literally hit the ground running with her intense physical fitness regimen.
"I love PT. I go to PT from 5:55 to about 7:10 a.m. every day, and then I teach class at lunchtime," she said.
Eustis, like Bragg, lacked a formal exercise lunchtime program, so early this year she approached Don Tillotson and asked to start a free Tae Bo class. Mr. Tillotson agreed on a trial basis and if the class caught on, to continue providing the space.
The first class was small but within days grew exponentially.
"The first week I had like eight people. They were people from my job, people that knew I was going to start the class. By the second week, it grew to about 40 people. I was shocked. I was like, 'Whoa, where did all these people come from?'" she said.
Because of the instant popularity, the class moved from the smaller aerobics room to the basketball court.
"We were in the aerobics room and it was crammed. Mr. Don didn't want to discourage the people from coming so he offered me the basketball court, half of it. The maximum there was 80 and within the next month, I had about 50 people coming," she said.
Although Sergeant Caulford was in the last stages of her own recovery, she still had to slow it down for Tae Bo beginners.
"Tae Bo's harder than aerobics; it's more techniques and routine. We use all the forms in martial arts when we do Tae Bo, but we do it to music. We started off with a slow tempo and then as everyone progressed, we kicked it up," she said.
Once the Tae Bo class was established and running smoothly, attendees began to clamor for more so Sergeant Caulford obliged.
"A couple of months after the Tae Bo started, some of the ladies were saying they wish there was another class. They talked about Zumba and I said, 'Well, I've never taught Zumba, but I love to dance and I wouldn't mind learning to teach it.' So I got some tapes and learned how to do it and started teaching it," she said.
Sergeant Caulford's lunchtime program has proven to be a hit with a daily attendance of 20 or more people each day.
The class is composed of members from all walks of the Eustis community.
"We have mothers; two grandmothers; civilians; Soldiers; a lot of pregnant females; all kinds of people, sometimes kids, too. They're everyday folks who just want to come and have a good time," she said.
Most participants attend the Zumba and Tae Bo classes on a regular basis and attest to the benefits they have reaped.
"Her workout is a total body workout. I haven't really looked to see how many inches or weight I've lost, I'm just more physically fit," said Keisha Scarborough, spouse of 1st Sgt. Terrence Scarborough, 169th Transportation Detachment, 24th Transportation Battalion, 7th Sustainment Brigade.
Kelly Lyzenga, a program analyst with the Fort Eustis Directorate of Resource Management, is one of the program's most ardent promoters.
Mr. Lyzenga started participating in the class in March after learning about it from a coworker.
"When I started, I was already on a walking program in the morning and at night, about four miles. Then I heard about the Zumba class here from one of the ladies at work. I took one years ago in California and I thought 'Hey, I can do that in the afternoon and it can help me out.'
"I started doing that and then I started doing the Tae Bo, so I had something to do everyday. I just kept doing that and with eating right, within two months I had lost 50 to 55 pounds," he said.
At first, Mr. Lyzenga was only one of two men in the Zumba classes but he didn't let that dissuade him.
"There are good people in the classes. Not only the instructor, but the others make it fun and we really motivate and help each other," Mr. Lyzenga said.
Besides weight loss, Mr. Lyzenga has benefitted in other ways as well.
"You go to this class in the middle of the day and it energizes you. I have a lot more energy. Not only that, my joints seem to be better, I'm limber, more stretched out. Overall, I feel good," he said.
Word of the program spread not only to individuals but to unit leaders as well.
"[Command] Sergeant Major Thomas, of the 7th Sustainment Brigade, heard about the program and invited me to hold a class for the Pregnancy and Post-Partum PT. We do it Thursday mornings at 0630 [6:30 a.m.] at McClellan. I've also taught the class for other unit PT," Sergeant Caulford said.
Sgt. Christa Hudson, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Sust. Bde., not only participates in the daily exercise classes, but also attends the Pregnancy and Post-Partum PT sessions each Thursday morning as well.
"It's definitely helped. I've only been doing it for three weeks, but already my clothes fit better. I've got to get back to weight after my son's birth and this is helping me do that. I've lost like six pounds. I'm just a few pounds shy of my target weight and this will help me get there," Sergeant Hudson said.
Unknowingly, Sergeant Caulford's determination and indomitable spirit have spilled over to her classes, helping participants reach beyond their normal endurance and strengths to develop healthier minds and bodies.
"It feels good. When I'm in the class, I don't just do PT, I do something extra, and I just all-around feel good," Sergeant Hudson said.
Sergeant Caulford said that although she still suffers pain and discomfort from her injury, like her students, she has discovered motivation for self-help and healing in the company of others.
"My abdomen still hurts, but the teaching helps. The people that come to the class, they're so motivated, and I just think that if they're motivated to come, I owe it to them to teach it."