JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas –
Inside the Army Wellness Center at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, a Soldier stands still inside a capsule known as the BOD POD Gold Standard Body Composition Tracking System while its computers calculate an assortment of measurements.
Although this setting may resemble a scene out of a science fiction movie, this is actually part of a routine undertaken by Staff Sgt. Jody McIlroy, a signal intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, or HHBN, U.S. Army North Army (Fifth Army), in preparation for the Best Warrior Competition at Fort A.P. Hill, Va., from Sept 30-Oct. 6.
McIlroy is no stranger to this event, and he emerged as one the top noncommissioned officer in the July 30-Aug. 4 event in JBSA-Camp Bullis.
“The BOD POD analyzes your body fat composition and weight,” said Staff Sgt. Jody McIlroy, a signal intelligence analyst with HHBN ARNORTH. “It also analyzes metabolic rate for how many calories that I’ve burned and provides nutritional information as well.”
The 12-year Army veteran partly attributes his success to his strenuous exercise regimen.
“I’ve been participating in the Mountain Athlete program, which is a ruck-based selection program conducted six days a week with one day of rest,” McIlroy said.
Additionally, McIlroy states that his father and peers have always motivated him to pursue his endeavors.
“My dad – who was a Green Beret – pushed me to strive to be the best that I can and to believe in myself. Also, I get the drive from my battalion leadership and their belief in me that I can compete at this level,” McIlroy said, referring to the Department of the Army level.
According to Sgt. Connor Smith, a HHBN ARNORTH signal intelligence analyst, McIlroy’s tenacity and competitive spirit serves as in inspiration for his peers.
“He’s motivated – physically and mentally – and always willing to help other Soldiers,” Smith said. “He’s always willing to set up off-site physical training events to prepare for Best Warrior Competition and take time out of his life to get other Soldiers to go further as well, and that’s respectable.”
“Just do it,” McIlroy said. “Nobody else is going to do it for you. It’s one of those things that takes incentive to step up and go the extra mile, and it’s the only way to get better.”
By his own admission, McIlroy asserts that the competition will be fierce. Nevertheless, he has expressed what he considers to be the most important factor of BWC – the opportunity to interact and network with other Soldiers.
“I’ve made friends with some incredible Soldiers in previous competitions,” McIlroy said. “I’m sure that the caliber will be even tougher at this level, but I’m still going to meet some great people. To me, that’s really what this is about.”