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Recruit sheds the pounds to become a Marine

Ulysses Milana wanted to serve in the military, as many of his family members have, but one recruiter after another told the 330-pound former culinary student that he needed to lose weight — and a lot of it.

Milana, 23, of Lewiston, Maine, was turned away by the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The task seemed impossible — that is, until he met Staff Sgt. George Monteith and the Marines of Recruiting Sub-Station Dover, N.H. Monteith started working with Milana in December 2007 and helped him develop a workout regimen.

“You can sit there and preach,” Monteith said, “… but if you’re not willing to help, then it doesn’t lead you to success. If I say, ‘Go lose weight, and I’ll see you in a year,’ then what kind of help have I offered to make that happen?”

Milana’s pounds started to melt away. It wasn’t easy, he said, but he exercised like a madman, adopted healthier eating habits and said no to the mother of all temptations: beer.

“It was really hard,” Milana said. “You see all your friends drinking beer, and you’re like, ‘Oh, man, I want one.’ ”

Eleven months later, he is 140 pounds lighter. He shipped out for Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, S.C., on Nov. 17.

How did he make it happen? Self-discipline and determination: qualities one finds in every good Marine.

— Joe Bush