WASHINGTON — The Army and a non-profit have joined forces to find a new way for soldiers and veterans to shed pounds while reclaiming their lives and careers. The new program, the Winded Warrior Project, will launch service-wide and through VA hospitals around the country in September, after six months of successful trials in the National Capital Region.

"I actually got an administrative separation, because I couldn't meet the weight standards," said Winded Warrior director Mitch Mesa. "The other guys called me 'Mesa Grande."

"It really hurt."

The organization takes troops who are in danger due to weight standards, or veterans who were forced to separate for being overweight, and helps them get their lives back. A comprehensive PT, coaching, and counseling regimen is given free of charge to all participants. Troops currently in line for separation are given a 60 day hold to show substantial progress. “Or," Mesa added, "if they’ve basically given up, then we just give them a Rascal Scooter and wish them luck.”