Melissa Brockman

Hello, I started my journey into the fitness realm while I was active duty Air Force. I was assigned to the 56th Services Squadron at MacDill AFB in Tampa FL. I hadn't really thought about a career in fitness and frankly up until I joined the military, I really didn't care to get sweaty doing anything. I had started working at the base fitness center and met my supervisor who happened to also be a certified personal trainer. I shadowed him for the next couple of months and through testimonies of the clients, discovered the endless benefits of exercise. My supervisor submitted me as the first AD military from MacDill to be sent to the Cooper Institute for my personal training Certification. After personal training for several years, I became interested in the challenge of instructing. Meanwhile, I decided to pursue my AA in Physical Education and then continued on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness Promotions and Master of Science in Sports Administration and Management at Eastern Washington University. Also during that time, my husband and I decided that I would go into the AF Reserves and become a Citizen Airman to add some stability to our deployment schedule. Soon after, I began working full time for the Air Force as the Fitness Program Manager for MacDill AFB where I developed exercise prescriptions for AF AD members on medical profiles due to injury. I also taught lecture and group exercise classes for members who could not pass the AF Fitness Test. I was responsible for training Personal Training Leaders from 36 Squadrons to develop and conduct safe, effective and well rounded exercise sessions and proper testing procedures. After our second child was born, we decided that I would stay home and only work part time. So now I am happily teaching and personal training on my schedule. I am so thankful that I am doing something I love and being given the opportunity show people that exercise can not only be beneficial to their health and well being, but also tremendously FUN!