Florida teen loses nearly 100 lbs, fulfills dream of joining Marine Corps boot camp

Published Aug 5, 05:31 PM UTC

Michael Guzman, a 19-year-old from Clermont, Florida, graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island after losing nearly 100 pounds. Inspired by his uncle's service, Guzman had dreamed of becoming a Marine since age 5, but weighed nearly 270 pounds after high school. After praying for guidance, he received a text from Staff Sgt. Luis Cervantes, a Marine recruiter, which he took as a sign. Guzman began running daily, training in the evenings, and eating healthier, with support from his family and the recruiting substation. He lost enough weight to ship to boot camp on April 14, 2026. During recruit training, his senior drill instructor stopped calling him 'Meatball' after his transformation. Guzman kept pace with athletic recruits during the Crucible, the culminating event. He graduated with his family present, especially his uncle. He will next attend Marine Combat Training and military police training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and hopes to become a Marine recruiter.