Building bodies and discipline at Kirtland Air Force Base

Not all people are able to see a crossover between bodybuilding and being the 377th Test Support Squadron commander, but Lt. Col Steve Young can see it.

At 41, Young knows what he wants and how to achieve that goal and he has his eye on winning a medal in an upcoming bodybuilding competition.

As a young adult, Young always had an affinity for fitness and the pursuit of health. He also had dreams of being high in the sky by working in aviation.

Those two goals lead Young to enlist into the Air Force. He signed up for his first bodybuilding competition in 2007.

In the first competition, Young did not do well. He decided to focus on his career in aviation, thinking nothing of the competition. However, years later, Young would find himself back at another bodybuilding competition.

Young came to New Mexico in November 2022. By February 2023, he decided it was time to get a trainer to help him reach new fitness goals. Young had no plans to try competing in bodybuilding again, but once his coach convinced him to try another competition.

“I put myself on an aggressive schedule to focus on the show. I’ve got a fantastic team behind me, but everything has to be scheduled down to the minute so I have time for this (bodybuilding) and leading an organization,” Young said.

Young decided to join an OCB, Organization of Competitive Bodybuilders, bodybuilding competition held in March of this year in Albuquerque. The group focuses on a drug-free competition setting and drug tests competitors, as opposed to some bodybuilding competitions that do not drug test. Young wanted to compete the all-natural way.

Young’s second bodybuilding competition went far better than he could have imagined. He took first place in: Men’s Bodybuilding Novice, Men’s Bodybuilding age 40+, and Men’s Bodybuilding Open. Since winning the OCB competition, Young is now in the pro category of bodybuilding, which means he will compete at a higher level and have the chance to win prize money.

“There’s nothing but pros at the next competition, and I just want to look shredded and have the best competitive package of symmetry, presentation, and overall leanness,” Young said.

Young names a few reasons for his success: a clear goal, discipline and a rigorous schedule.

“I have discipline. You can throw a cake in front of me and nothing would happen,” Young said.

Young competed earlier this month for his first pro competition and has plans to keep the momentum going.

“I want to give them a run for their money. I’m 138 pounds, and it’s hard to level the competition because of height and weight,” Young said. At his current build, Young’s body only contains 3.7% body fat, and he plans to continue getting leaner.

Bodybuilding may start in the gym, but there are several intricacies to the events. When watching him and his coach Don Hardy run through a posing practice. To an average onlooker, Young is simply flexing his muscles. However, the pair say there is far more it.

“The posing ends up turning into a session of cardio. Most of these guys do two to four categories, so they can be on stage for a long time. They have to remember to breathe,” Hardy said.

Hardy and Young met at an “Evolve Strong” prep camp and immediately clicked. Hardy respected Young’s firm mindset and dedication to fitness and physique.

“We did an hour of posing practice, and Steve and I just connected. He asked if I could coach his next two competitions and I agreed and now we meet three to four times a week,” Hardy said.

During posing practice, the two run through poses to be performed at competition. Small details make all the difference. A quarter-turn of the foot can help protrude certain muscles that might not have been seen without it. A single breath can be the difference between certain sections of muscles appearing or not. There is a lot of precision in the way Young poses to maximize the looks of his muscles.

“When you’re moving around, you’re trying to show everyone a different striation, and they can see all the muscles moving at the same time,” Young said.

Young says that his focus and dedication to bodybuilding transfers into his daily life and work as well.

“Everything in my work and bodybuilding are transferrable,” he said. “Discipline, work ethic, and integrity are key components in both fields. Everybody in my squadron has above a 90 on their PT (physical training) test. I am very involved in my team and their development, and what better way to do that than through their health?”

He also says that this has helped give him the foundation to a better life.

“This goes into everything, “ he said. “Your clothes fit better, your body moves and functions better. You just have more energy. These shows teach you a healthy lifestyle.”

Young hopes to continue competing and even bring a bodybuilding show on base for his fellow officers and cadets to join. In July, Young will be handing out trophies for the OCB competition.

Young hopes his passion and discipline inspires those around him to work tirelessly toward their goals. His advice for anyone thinking about taking up bodybuilding:

“Go to a show and see what it’s about. Find a coach if you decide you like it. A coach makes all the difference. Name any great star, and they had a coach in their corner.”