Lansing, Mich. – Private First Class Brodie Herbst demonstrated the fighting spirit of the Marine Corps by overcoming the challenge to lose 120 pounds as he strove to earn the title United States Marine. From the day he stepped into a Marine Corps recruiting office to the day of graduation, Herbst worked with both his recruiters and on his own to go from 300 to 180 pounds.

His dedication and determination showed as he returned to the station after successfully completing recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina, on August 16, 2019.

"He put in the effort and showed that he had the dedication to make it," said Gunnery Sgt. Benjamin Deitz, staff non-commissioned officer in charge at Recruiting Substation Novi. "I knew that I had to push him to put new limits for himself, and that he would never quit on me.”

"Mentally, losing the weight felt impossible," said Herbst. "I kept wondering if I was doing enough and that there was no chance I could do it."

Herbst said that the road of losing this much weight was tough and that if he didn’t have the goal of becoming a Marine then he wouldn’t have been able to stick with it. He recommends anyone struggling with their weight to find something they can work toward.  Now that he has lost the weight Herbst is determined to both keep it off and help others with their progress.

"I really wanted to join the Marines," said Herbst. "Now I can proudly say that I earned the title."

If you are looking to become a part of something bigger than yourself or to learn the dedication that gave Herbst the ability to lose 120 pounds, come out and talk to us at your local recruiting station. To learn more about what it means to be a Marine or to get more information, visit www.marines.com.