John Mikula: Keeping Dobbins fit to fight

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Lauren Douglas
  • 94 AW PA
Consistent, knowledgeable, motivated. These are just a few of the words used to describe John Mikula, the Human Performance Center’s exercise physiologist at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.

The former Army infantryman, Mikula, is a jack of many trades. He loves fitness but has served in several other capacities throughout his life. He is a lover of computer graphics, plays bass guitar, and takes on family roles as a husband and father. He also recently finished writing his first book.

Mikula served in Army Infantry at Fort Benning and Fort Ward in the mid-80s, but left the military and took up musicianship in California after his time served.

“I was a musician in [Los Angeles] for about five years, and then I went back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in recreational therapy from Southern Illinois University,” said Mikula. “I took a job at the Veteran’s Affairs in Gainesville, Florida for medical fitness. It really rekindled my passion for strength training, conditioning and exercise physiology”

Mikula is the administrator responsible for fitness testing, physical training for military leaders and anything related to exercise science. He hosts group and personal fitness classes every week at the Human Performance Center and takes time to track the progress of his students.

“If I had to describe [Mikula] in one word, I would say professional,” said Kenneth Duhart, Force Support sports specialist, who works closely with Mikula in the HPC.

Mikula has a passion for everything fitness and has lent his skills in many athletic outlets. Not only does he conduct training and testing for military members, he also strength trains for the John 3:16 baseball clinic in Acworth, Georgia. Mikula was a regular volunteer strength coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars for five years and a visiting strength coach with the Carolina Panthers during their rookie camp in 2012, which featured future NFL defensive Rookie of the Year and 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, Luke Kuechly.

“One of the things that really bothered me was the number of overweight and obese military members that were sent to my clinic after being out of the military only a year or two,” Mikula recalled. “The most demanding part is how multi-faceted this role is. I’m not sure anybody who doesn’t do this role has a real understanding of how much is involved. You have to be a researcher, a good clinician and a people person, where most of the people that do what I do are able to work with only a certain population and things are more clinical.”

The support of Mikula’s students really showed how effective his coaching skills are. The students come in before class and start their pre-class circuits at workout stations around the room. They energetically speak to Mikula, and share any recent personal news.

“He’s a motivator, and pushes you past your limit,” said Master Sgt. Michelle McNeill-Wilkerson, member of the Eastern Recruiting Squadron and student of Mikula’s weekly fit camp. “When you’re about to give up, he gives you that extra encouragement.”

During fit camp, Mikula blasted rocking tunes to motivate his students through a circuit of workouts that he adjusts each class period. The class is held Monday through Friday, with a convenient class at lunch time on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“[Mikula] is definitely a scientist,” said Duhart. “He likes all the fitness stuff. I could nickname him Professor, because he is always learning and researching.”