Recruit gets crossed rifle tattoo, loses 102 pounds in 90 days, and joins the Army


A young man in Washington once deemed too fat to join the US Army pushed himself to the limit after being rejected, taking rather extreme measures to accomplish his mission.

Once a 300-plus pound example of how 1/3 young Americans are unfit for military service, Spokane resident Joe Manadro was told he was simply too fat to be a US Army soldier.

“Sergeant Quimby (his recruiter) was like, ‘Well we can get you into the Army as long as you lose the weight,’ and I took it as a challenge,” he said. “I have to lose all this weight and go at it 110 percent and don’t stop…If I want to be here in life I have to earn it…I went for a three-mile run thinking I could do it. I had to have somebody come pick me up because I was dying half way through”

However, a mere 90 days later, he was able to shed 102 pounds and took his sacred Oath of Enlistment.

Given the rather premature crossed-rifles tattooed above his right elbow, Manadro may be going into the Infantry- and might have a few more obstacles ahead.

Of course, he has more than enough inspiration to push him through, namely from his grandfather, a retired Airman and police officer.

“He was freaking out over the phone yelling and screaming saying, ‘Good job!’ It was a really proud moment for me to be able to tell him your grandson is joining the Army,” he explained to KREM2 reporters. “It was very emotional. It was like there was no way I am standing here right now. Ninety days ago, I was this big ole boy with no chance of getting into the Army.”

From being told “no” to raising his right hand less than three months later, Manadro seems to be on the right track to actually earning those crossed rifles- at least we hope so, for his sake.

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