Photo By Cpl. Darien Wright | U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jacqueline Sapitro, a student at the Expeditionary Warfare...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va. – She didn’t just want to be another Marine; her journey into strength training was about proving herself right.
“I'd like to advocate for and show Marines – not just officers but junior enlisted, too – that it is possible to do amazing things,” U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jacqueline Sapitro said.
She was competitive growing up, her mother, Diane, explained, which was always a part of her character and aided her through her journey of strength training. Although, Sapitro explained her fitness journey really began when she enlisted in the Army Reserves, which gave her a foundation in running.
Sapitro said she enjoyed the military lifestyle, but she wanted to do more than what the reserves offered her, so she looked to become active duty. The Army, however, didn’t have career options that spoke to her. Instead, she found a calling to the Marine Corps, where she enlisted as an aviation maintenance technician.
During her time as an enlisted Marine, she was surrounded by Marines who participated in obstacle courses and weight training, and so she naturally began doing the same.
“I realized that I could be kind of strong and saw that most Marines do weight training, so that’s what I started to do,” said Sapitro, who is currently a student in the Expeditionary Warfare School, at Marine Corps University on MCB Quantico.
While fitness became a passion, so did leading Marines. She reached a point in her career where she thought she could do more as an officer.
“I wanted to be able to give back to the community and offer amazing opportunities to my Marines,” said Sapitro. She added that she wanted to “award those Marines who were doing well and help the ones that weren’t.”
She explained that she struggled to a degree as an enlisted Marine, so it’s something she empathizes with. She felt becoming an officer would give her the opportunity to have a larger influence and be a good role model for young Marines.
Diane said that her daughter always had a strong determination and desire to help others.
“She pushes herself constantly and wants women to see it’s possible to be strong physically,” her mother said. “[Sapitro] enjoys the comradery of her fellow Marines and being a good example is very important to her.”
Part of being a good role model for her Marines was to be physically fit, according to Sapitro. She discovered her potential to lift competitively when she arranged weights for competitors. While volunteering, a coach noticed her moving the weights around with relative ease, but it wasn’t anything she thought was particularly impressive.
“They were really surprised,” said Sapitro. “They even said I should compete!”
That encouragement planted a seed, and soon, Sapitro was face-to-face with a new goal to compete in strongman competitions. At this time, she was figuring it out on her own, researching how to improve herself.
“Training was a guessing game for me at first,” said Sapitro, “but everybody was really supportive and helping me out, giving me tips and tricks while I was trying to compete.”
Even though she didn’t feel entirely ready, she persisted with her self-generated regiment to achieve her goals. Eventually, she acquired assistance from an online coaching program, and moved on to another coach, but one she would meet in person with. Neither of those options seemed to help her.
About five months ago, she visited Iron House Gym in Davenport, Florida, to continue her training. Alan Colley, the owner of the gym, took note of her from afar while she was training.
“I noticed she was doing some things wrong, and we talked about it, he said simply.
Colley coached Sapitro ever since, giving her tips and helping her prepare for the competitions to come.
“He's provided some really great guidance, and I've made some serious improvements,” she remarked. “In general, he's just been fantastic.”
Sapitro now competes in strongman competitions regularly. Her most recent competition was in Westminster, Maryland, which featured a firetruck pull, a fire hose press, and more firefighter-themed events.
Sapitro said she strives to be an inspiration to others through these competitions. Whether they be young Marines or men and women who want to compete in strongman.
“I wanted to be able to give back to the community and offer amazing opportunities that I didn’t have.”
“I enjoy teaching, mentoring and guiding both men and women in strength training,” Sapitro said. “I've had plenty of female and male partners, showing them how to work out and just guiding them through that process.”
While she enjoys encouraging others, Sapitro draws motivation from those around her, such as the Marines who inspired her to start lifting weights.
She also draws this motivation from her closest support network. Her mother has been a constant source of that, celebrating her accomplishments and qualities that make her daughter unique.
“Jackie, I admire you for what you’ve accomplished. You’re thoughtful, generous approach to others and how your fierce determination drives you forward,” Diane said. “I’m looking forward to what amazing experiences are ahead for you.”
Sapitro’s journey is the story of a Marine pushing her own boundaries to discover her true potential. To her, it’s not only about lifting weights—it’s about lifting others along the way. What started as a passion for fitness grew into a fierce determination to compete and succeed, whether it was navigating obstacle courses or facing the challenge of strongman competitions.
| Date Taken: | 02.16.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2025 19:50 |
| Story ID: | 490701 |
| Location: | QUANTICO, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 3,023 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Raising the bar: Former army reservist becomes USMC officer, now competes in strong man competitions, by LCpl Ethan Miller, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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