Frost cools off the competition Published June 11, 2014 By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Byron C. Linder avy Operational Support Center Omaha Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Every weekday at 4:30 a.m., hours before the sun creeps into the Nebraska sky, a small contingent of dedicated fitness enthusiasts converges on the Offutt Field House. Amongst this five-days-a-week crowd is Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Ronnie Frost, assigned to Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Omaha. Away from his desk, where he coordinates the paychecks for more than 350 Reserve Sailors who drill at eight different units on Offutt Air Force Base, the Nashville, Tenn. native' s workout focus is not geared to the Navy's semi-annual physical readiness test (PRT) - rather, it's toward walking onto a brightly-lit stage in front of a panel of judges and making a winning impression. Frost is a bodybuilder, who on June 7 finished in 2nd place at the National Physique Committee (NPC) Duel of Champions event in Omaha. Before this, he finished in 1st place at the 2013 NPC Midwest National Championship in the novice-lightweight division. These accolades have their genesis in a simple case of being in the right place at the right time, with a conversation at the gym. "I've always been active in sports, and very competitive," Frost said. "I was working out at the field house when a competition judge who works out here at Offutt approached me and said 'You know, you have the physique for bodybuilding. You could do really well.'" His interest piqued, Frost sought out and networked with other bodybuilders and watched previous competitions online, where he gained insight into the world he was about to enter. In his five-plus years of service, Frost kept himself in shape through doing what he loved - weight training and playing basketball. But bodybuilding, Frost learned, demanded a drastic shift. "Basically, I've transformed my way of thinking, eating and living as a whole," he said. "It's wasn't really easy making those changes at home with my wife and the kids, but she's been very, very supportive." During this transformation, Frost managed to juggle a myriad of responsibilities, both at home and work. A father of three, he also is pursuing his degree in exercise science. And he's channeled his passion for the benefit of the Sailors assigned to NOSC Omaha as the assistant command fitness leader (ACFL). "Petty Officer Frost has taken the ACFL position to a new level. I can see more effort being put into working out by the entire staff," NOSC Omaha's senior enlisted leader Chief Engineman (SW) Darren Cook observed. "PRT scores are up across the board and since it seems he's always in the gym, the Sailors here do not want him to catch them slacking off - his influence is clearly felt throughout the command." Frost has not limited his exploits to the Omaha area. He has also travelled to Kansas and St. Louis, expanding his name and his pool of competitors. "For me, Omaha is a hot spot because this is where I began the journey. But I do like to travel for a change of scenery and to compete against different contenders," Frost explained. "Being on stage in front of many people being judged took some getting used to, but it's a great feeling." Regardless of where he competes, Frost knows he always has a well-stocked cheering section. "My wife travels with me for that added support when I'm on stage, and my family members back home in Tennessee love what I'm doing and my accomplishments," he said. "It's always a proud moment when I'm recognized and I can say I'm in the Navy. This really shows the Navy offers a lot of opportunities, but you have to be the one to take them. When I joined, I didn't think I'd go to all the places I've been, let alone Nebraska. I didn't even know we had the Navy here when I joined. But I'm happy to be here and I hope I can continue to inspire those around me and afar."