Dedicated Weight Loss to Become Naval Officer

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Derien C. Luce, Officer Training Command Public Affairs

NEWPORT, R.I. - A native of Craig, Nebraska, and recent student at Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island, (OTCN), started an independent weight loss journey months before Officer Candidate School (OCS) even began in order to qualify for selection.

Officer Candidate Jeremiah Dixon runs during the holiday 

stand down at Officer Training Command Newport (OTCN)

Rhode Island. 

Officer Candidate Jeremiah Dixon, scheduled to graduate Jan. 29, spent the last 12 months training and dieting to qualify for OCS. Before arriving to OCS, Dixon lost more than 100 pounds.

Dixon began his weight loss journey with a desire to travel while pursuing his career and ultimately decided to join the Navy. According to him, weighing 293 pounds kept him from meeting his goal.

“I wanted to join the [Navy’s] civil engineering corps and wanted the opportunity to explore the world while I’m still young,” said Dixon. “After leaving the recruiting office, I started getting phone calls from officers who had information on how I can lose the weight.”

Dixon is already seeing how those types of benefits from his weight loss can help him in OCS.

“I was overweight in grad school, constantly sleepy behind the desk… I wasn’t really motivated to take on new tasks or help out other colleagues,” said Dixon. “Now I feel more energized because I’m in a more physically fit body, I’m more active and awake, and I see myself completing tasks I would have thought were overbearing at this time last year.”

One resource Dixon used to help him with the nutrition portion of his weight loss was the Navy Operational Fitness and Fueling Series (NOFFS) application on his cell phone.

“I used the [smartphone application] as a tracker and it was great to monitor how much I should be eating to meet my goal,” said Dixon. “I would definitely recommend it to others.”

The NOFFS app provides the Navy with "best in class" physical fitness and nutrition information for sailors, allowing the Navy to maintain peak physical readiness, which is a top priority of the 21st Century Sailor and Marine initiative. The program can be tailored to any environment or fitness level, allowing all sailors to benefit from the program.

Dixon attributes his success to friends and family who encouraged and supported him. 

“The biggest struggle for me was that as I got closer to my goal the weight started coming off slower,” said Dixon. “In the beginning, I was losing about 10 pounds each month. Once I got to about 230 pounds, I only lost two or three pounds a month. That’s when my family’s motivation was most important for reminding me of my goals.”

Dixon reached his weight loss goal because of dedication.

“There were times when I had to remind myself to just keep working at it,” said Dixon. “The key thing I want people to think about when hearing my story is to keep on believing in themselves, because success will come to you, it will work.”

Chief Boatswain’s Mate Gary McCoy, command fitness leader for Officer Training Command in Newport, Rhode Island, said it is common for otherwise qualified officer candidates to struggle in the beginning of their fitness program because of a lack of physical training preparation.

“The physical training at OTCN is high intensity,” said McCoy. “If you come to the program unprepared, you will struggle. The high-risk training evolutions can be dangerous for an unhealthy person. We ensure all candidates conduct proper exercises and stretches, while receiving the proper nutrition.”

OTCN morally, mentally and physically develops future leaders of character and competence - imbuing them with the highest ideals of honor, courage and commitment in order to serve as professional Naval officers worthy of special trust and confidence.