“A goal requires steps and action and an end goal, so we can help with that meaty part in the middle,” she said.

“The 10 pounds is the end goal, but how are you going to get there?”

The “Shredder” challenge began with an initial weigh-in with bi-weekly scale visits until March 28.

With individuals and teams of three, winner incentives include time off when mission allows for the civilian employees and soldiers.

Fun team names include, “Duds to Studs,” “Shredz-A-Lot,” “Winning Losers,” and “Butt weight! There’s more!”

The first thing “Lego Techs” team member Argelia Alvarez did after signing up for the challenge was move her candy dish from her desk to another table in her office.

“Even though I had started aligning my nutritional goals with consistent workouts, I was missing the accountability piece of being a team member,” said the administrative officer in the Test Technology Directorate.

“I was surprised we tied it into the 50th anniversary,” Alvarez said. “I like the fact the command tied in the civilians, because (physical training) or weight loss efforts are typically tailored to the military, and so to see it come to the civilians is nice. It feels we are a part of the team and not an afterthought. We are all in this together.”

Operations Staff Sgt. Scott Pangelinan’s only goal concerned his wardrobe.

“I have a 36-inch waist right now, but I have a lot of 34-inch pants,” he said.

“I don’t want to have to get rid of those pants, and my goal is to fit back into those pants.”

Col. Christopher Albus, deputy commander and chief of staff of USAOTC, urged everyone to use the Wellness Center for advice and encouragement on diet, nutrition and exercise.

“It’s a friendly competition where 43 of us can lose 550 pounds,” he said. “That would be impressive.”

He thanked everyone for getting involved.

“I’m glad to be part of the team, and I’m glad that you are a part of my team as well, as we kick off this 50th anniversary of the Operational Test Command,” Albus said.

On Oct. 1, 1969, the origins of USAOTC were humble, and there were no ceremonies, or unit colors when it began.

A small group of military and civilian employees banded together to launch the unique test organization – U.S. Army Project Mobile Army Sensor Systems Test, Evaluation and Review, or MASSTER – in a storeroom of the III Corps and Fort Hood headquarters, when it stood as a World War II-style building.

MASSTER was only supposed to last as long as the conflict in Vietnam, but the test unit continued to 1976 when its name was changed to Training and Doctrine Command Combined Arms Test Activity.

USAOCT’s name changed again Oct. 1, 1988, to TRADOC Test and Experimentation Command, or TEXCOM, and in 1999 it was re-designated as USAOTC.