MEMPHIS FIT
By Lucy Harrison Photo by Tindall Stephens
Devotion to Fitness, Family & Country Michael Cole, 37, can be described in one word: devoted. A native Memphian, Michael always knew that he wanted to serve his community and country as either a member of law enforcement or the military. It was a familiar career path that many of his friends and family chose. But beyond that, Michael knew that this was how he could truly make a difference.
Country Instead of choosing between the military and law enforcement, Michael found a way to do both. He currently serves in the Tennessee Army National Guard as a Sergeant in the military law enforcement sector, and works for the Shelby County Division of Corrections in a specialized unit know as CERT, or Corrections Emergency Response Team. Every day, Michael ensures that inmates at the Shelby County Division of Corrections remain safe and that the facility remains secure. And one weekend each month, he trains with the Tennessee Army National Guard. Held in either Alamo or Millington, TN, National Guard training is a mixture of physical and classroom work with one underlying goal: to ensure that members are always prepared to serve at a moment’s notice. “It is a joy to serve my country,” he says. Despite the current climate of political unrest, Michael’s passion for his career is unwavering.
Family Back in 2013, Michael’s wife at the time was dealing with health issues that involved kidney failure and going through dialysis three times a week. Watching her pain and agony was unbearable.
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“I hated to see her suffer,” he says. It motivated him to look into kidney donation. Sadly, he was not a viable option. However, they learned of kidney donor chains that could help them find a match.
