START Fitness

Most people attend boot camps to lose weight, not to get strong enough to fight the Taliban. But that's just how START Fitness founder Sgt. Ken Weichert got his start. The veteran of Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom and six-time Soldier of the Year is also a certified Army Master Fitness Trainer who pushes combat troops to reach the military's fitness standards in basic training—that is, actual boot camp. In START Fitness's weekday morning boot camps, the veteran transfers his field commands to the civilian realm in order to help everyday athletes lose weight, build muscle, and forge healthier lifestyles. Sgt. Weichert trained his team of seasoned instructors personally. They lead the camps which alternate between indoor and outdoor activity, calling on more than 100 lessons that constantly change up the workout to keep bodies guessing. The classes are designed for students who are already somewhat active, as they are intended to sculpt and tone as students go through obstacle courses, do push-ups, complete partner-assisted exercises, and run up to five miles without tiring or requiring a treat and an ear scratch after each task.