For many Sailors, deployment is a time for reflection and personal betterment through taking on demanding challenges, such as a new warfare pin or losing weight. What happens when the plan doesn't work or the motivation is lost?

Josh Hockett, the Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) fit boss for Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2), has a plan to rejuvenate confidence and the perception of self. Recently Hockett developed the "Biggest Loser" competition aboard Essex, with the goal of helping Sailors and Marines obtain their weight-loss desires and returning to home port with a sense of accomplishment.

"The Biggest Loser challenge is a command-wide initiative to give a little bit more attention toward those that really want to lose weight while they are underway," said Hockett. "It's not just about the weight loss, but the change of lifestyle that promotes being healthy and fit. Weight loss is part of that, but to foster some extra attention, support and resources, they need to take that eight weeks [of success and maintain it] when they get back to homeport."

Hockett said he doesn't plan on stopping with the 24 Sailors who joined the program. He has much grander plans that go far beyond the hull of the Essex.

"This program matters because I am thinking big picture with it," he said. "If this works for the 24 participants that we have, we are going to take exactly what we did with this program and apply that to the fitness enhancement program (FEP) across the board with the idea of eradicating FEP on this ship."

According to Hockett, very Sailor and Marine has their own motivation for stepping into the gym to positively impact his or her life, as well as taking the steps to learn proper nutrition, dieting and important lifestyle changes.

"I want to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight, and [get] my confidence back," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Brittany Brasher. "My main motivation is my son. Everything I do is for him. My other motivation would be to see the look on my family's faces when we I get back."

In order to sign up for the program, anyone can go to the MWR office and submit a $20 pledge that shows their commitment to the program. The pledge money will go toward weekly prizes and the grand prize for participants who make it to the winner's circle.

"From there, myself or one of the two [assistant command fitness leaders] that are helping spearhead the program will take their official weight and body taping, and we keep their sheet updated every week on Sundays when they come weigh in. This way we can hold them accountable for objective progress," said Hockett. "If they know that they want to lose weight and get healthy, this is the program they want to do."

Essex, the flagship of the Essex Amphibious Readiness Group, with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.

For more news from USS Essex (LHD 2), visit http://www.navy.mil/.