Recruits See Benefits In Joining National Guard
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
Thursday evening, the Guardsmen sat down at the Warsaw Armory to talk about why they joined and what they expect to get out of serving their state and country.
One of the two youngest recruits, Pfc. TJ Day, 17, a junior at Warsaw Community High School, is doing a split training program and ships out May 23, “so it’s coming up quick,” he said. He said he’ll do his basic training this summer and then Advanced Individual Training after his senior year. He enlisted in the Guard in March.
“I joined for a couple of reasons,” Day said. “First and foremost, I’ve always wanted to serve the country. Second, it gives me an added benefit because I’m also trying to get to a service academy, West Point specifically.”
He said he wants to make the military his lifelong career, and the Guard will help him pay for college.
“And my (Military Occupational Specialty), which is my job specifically, I chose that (infantry) because as the shortest AIT, that way if I don’t get into the academy, I can start college on time,” Day explained.
Day’s uncle made the military his lifelong career, and his mom was in the Air Force.
Pfc. Danielle Hamby, the other 17-year-old in the group, ships out two days after Day on May 25 to basic training. She also enlisted in March.
“I joined because most of my family is in the military. My uncle kind of made it his full life and now he’s in the Navy,” she said.
She said all of her uncles, two of her aunts and a few cousins all are serving in the U.S. military.
Pfc. Tyler Murphy, 18, a WCHS senior who graduates in about two weeks, has already completed basic training and leaves June 20 for AIT in Missouri for military police training. He said he might go through a couple more weeks of basic first, so he could end up in basic and AIT for an estimated 14 weeks.
“I joined to help people out and serve the country, to follow my parents’ footsteps really,” Murphy said. “My dad was an MP. He’s still in the military. My mom was an MP. I just enjoy it. I’ve been around the military life pretty much my whole life.”
The first three weeks of basic training was the roughest, Murphy said. “They break you down. Build you into soldiers. But after that, it’s actually really fun. You’re at the range every day, shooting all types of weapons. You meet some really cool people,” he said.
Of the nine Guardsmen, Murphy and Pfc. Carlos Brito, 20, were the only two who already completed basic with Brito also having completed AIT. Brito now serves as a part-time recruiter under Spc. Jordan Welch. He enlisted in 2013, finishing training in 2014.
Recalling his basic training, Brito said, “For seven weeks, I basically learned how to take care of myself outside. We shot weapons and they taught us basically how to survive outside.”
As to AIT, he said, “For 11 Bravo (infantry), everyone has a different job. It’s a different MOS. But for mine, it’s just like practicing techniques, how to be outdoors and stuff. Getting dirty.”
Brito said being in the Guard is better than he expected. When he first enlisted he didn’t have any idea of what to expect other than what he was told.
“Once you’re in it, you learn a lot of nice things, leadership. You build up confidence in yourself. It makes you a better person. I don’t regret joining,” Brito said.
Murphy said being in the Guard and in high school simultaneously was “actually pretty enjoyable.”
“I walk down the hallways and people ask me how it is. They look up to me. The teachers give me more respect. The military has pretty much taught me how to be more respectful, to be on top of things like school work,” he said.
Several other students, like Day, decided to join the Guard because of Murphy’s influence.
Pfc. William Newtown, 19, ships out Sept. 21 for basic and AIT. He just enlisted in April and his first weekend with the Guard is this weekend.
“I’m ready to get it done,” he said.
His job in the Guard is health care specialist, also referred to as combat medic. Newton plans to attend I.U. and major in anatomy and physiology.
As a combat medic, “We’ll be working on cadavers and stuff like that and performing tracheotomies. So that will help a lot because a lot of students won’t have that experience and that will give me a leg up on that,” Newton explained.
Welch said combat medics also get EMT certified in their training.
Pfc. Brandon Johnson, 18, is going to basic training this summer. He enlisted Sept. 30 partly to serve his country.
“It feels pretty good, the idea of serving your country, knowing that after training I can help people,” Johnson said.
Serving his country was the biggest reason Pfc. Dusty Akers, 21, joined.
“Just being to help other people and knowing that you did something good,” he said. “It keeps you out of trouble.”
Akers is waiting to find out when he gets shipped out. He enlisted last year, but suffered an injury and is waiting to be medically cleared before going through training.
Pfc. Marcus Boyer, 18, ships out June 20 for basic and AIT. He joined the Guard last year and has thought about maybe making the Guard a lifelong career.
“I had thought about it. Maybe not a total lifelong career, but I’ve thought about enlisting after my eight years and doing it again. I haven’t been in that long, but so far I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know everybody and doing everything. It’s really not as bad as it sounds at times. There can be times where it can be hard work, but with the right motivation and dedication to it, it’s a breeze,” Boyer said.
Welch clarified Boyer would have to re-enlist before six years – not eight – was up.
Pfc. Josh Fitzgerald, 18, leaves Aug. 1 for basic and AIT. He enlisted in April and said he wants the military as his career.
“There’s a lot of guys before us here that have went and not came back, and I think it’s pretty important that we carry on their legacy as we young soldiers go in and complete the task that they started,” Fitzgerald said.
He said his family was supportive of that as his family has a good military background including his uncle who is a master sergeant.
All nine Guardsmen at the Armory had family members who served or are serving in the military.
If anyone is considering joining the service, the nine Guardsmen shared some advice.
“Keep your grades up. Stay in school. If you really want to talk about it, think about it, come here and talk to the recruiters,” Murphy said.
“Specifically Specialist Welch,” Boyer added.
“And if they’re thinking about joining, they should do it their junior year. That’s what I regret – not doing it when I was younger because I could have had two years done by the time I graduated,” Akers suggested.
“Stay out of trouble. There’s a lot of guys that come talk to the recruiters and then get into trouble. They could have had something really good but they messed it up with making stupid decisions. Make smart decisions,” Fitzgerald said.
“Always stay motivated and dedicated to your main goal,” Boyer said.
“Work out. Work out and stay in shape,” Johnson said.
Welch said if a person joins the Indiana Army National Guard and goes to an Indiana state school that is state funded – like I.U., Vincennes, Indiana State University, Ball State and Purdue University – their tuition is covered 100 percent through the National Guard Supplemental Grant.
To contact Welch, call his cell at 574-226-1476 or email [email protected][[In-content Ad]]
Thursday evening, the Guardsmen sat down at the Warsaw Armory to talk about why they joined and what they expect to get out of serving their state and country.
One of the two youngest recruits, Pfc. TJ Day, 17, a junior at Warsaw Community High School, is doing a split training program and ships out May 23, “so it’s coming up quick,” he said. He said he’ll do his basic training this summer and then Advanced Individual Training after his senior year. He enlisted in the Guard in March.
“I joined for a couple of reasons,” Day said. “First and foremost, I’ve always wanted to serve the country. Second, it gives me an added benefit because I’m also trying to get to a service academy, West Point specifically.”
He said he wants to make the military his lifelong career, and the Guard will help him pay for college.
“And my (Military Occupational Specialty), which is my job specifically, I chose that (infantry) because as the shortest AIT, that way if I don’t get into the academy, I can start college on time,” Day explained.
Day’s uncle made the military his lifelong career, and his mom was in the Air Force.
Pfc. Danielle Hamby, the other 17-year-old in the group, ships out two days after Day on May 25 to basic training. She also enlisted in March.
“I joined because most of my family is in the military. My uncle kind of made it his full life and now he’s in the Navy,” she said.
She said all of her uncles, two of her aunts and a few cousins all are serving in the U.S. military.
Pfc. Tyler Murphy, 18, a WCHS senior who graduates in about two weeks, has already completed basic training and leaves June 20 for AIT in Missouri for military police training. He said he might go through a couple more weeks of basic first, so he could end up in basic and AIT for an estimated 14 weeks.
“I joined to help people out and serve the country, to follow my parents’ footsteps really,” Murphy said. “My dad was an MP. He’s still in the military. My mom was an MP. I just enjoy it. I’ve been around the military life pretty much my whole life.”
The first three weeks of basic training was the roughest, Murphy said. “They break you down. Build you into soldiers. But after that, it’s actually really fun. You’re at the range every day, shooting all types of weapons. You meet some really cool people,” he said.
Of the nine Guardsmen, Murphy and Pfc. Carlos Brito, 20, were the only two who already completed basic with Brito also having completed AIT. Brito now serves as a part-time recruiter under Spc. Jordan Welch. He enlisted in 2013, finishing training in 2014.
Recalling his basic training, Brito said, “For seven weeks, I basically learned how to take care of myself outside. We shot weapons and they taught us basically how to survive outside.”
As to AIT, he said, “For 11 Bravo (infantry), everyone has a different job. It’s a different MOS. But for mine, it’s just like practicing techniques, how to be outdoors and stuff. Getting dirty.”
Brito said being in the Guard is better than he expected. When he first enlisted he didn’t have any idea of what to expect other than what he was told.
“Once you’re in it, you learn a lot of nice things, leadership. You build up confidence in yourself. It makes you a better person. I don’t regret joining,” Brito said.
Murphy said being in the Guard and in high school simultaneously was “actually pretty enjoyable.”
“I walk down the hallways and people ask me how it is. They look up to me. The teachers give me more respect. The military has pretty much taught me how to be more respectful, to be on top of things like school work,” he said.
Several other students, like Day, decided to join the Guard because of Murphy’s influence.
Pfc. William Newtown, 19, ships out Sept. 21 for basic and AIT. He just enlisted in April and his first weekend with the Guard is this weekend.
“I’m ready to get it done,” he said.
His job in the Guard is health care specialist, also referred to as combat medic. Newton plans to attend I.U. and major in anatomy and physiology.
As a combat medic, “We’ll be working on cadavers and stuff like that and performing tracheotomies. So that will help a lot because a lot of students won’t have that experience and that will give me a leg up on that,” Newton explained.
Welch said combat medics also get EMT certified in their training.
Pfc. Brandon Johnson, 18, is going to basic training this summer. He enlisted Sept. 30 partly to serve his country.
“It feels pretty good, the idea of serving your country, knowing that after training I can help people,” Johnson said.
Serving his country was the biggest reason Pfc. Dusty Akers, 21, joined.
“Just being to help other people and knowing that you did something good,” he said. “It keeps you out of trouble.”
Akers is waiting to find out when he gets shipped out. He enlisted last year, but suffered an injury and is waiting to be medically cleared before going through training.
Pfc. Marcus Boyer, 18, ships out June 20 for basic and AIT. He joined the Guard last year and has thought about maybe making the Guard a lifelong career.
“I had thought about it. Maybe not a total lifelong career, but I’ve thought about enlisting after my eight years and doing it again. I haven’t been in that long, but so far I’ve had a lot of fun getting to know everybody and doing everything. It’s really not as bad as it sounds at times. There can be times where it can be hard work, but with the right motivation and dedication to it, it’s a breeze,” Boyer said.
Welch clarified Boyer would have to re-enlist before six years – not eight – was up.
Pfc. Josh Fitzgerald, 18, leaves Aug. 1 for basic and AIT. He enlisted in April and said he wants the military as his career.
“There’s a lot of guys before us here that have went and not came back, and I think it’s pretty important that we carry on their legacy as we young soldiers go in and complete the task that they started,” Fitzgerald said.
He said his family was supportive of that as his family has a good military background including his uncle who is a master sergeant.
All nine Guardsmen at the Armory had family members who served or are serving in the military.
If anyone is considering joining the service, the nine Guardsmen shared some advice.
“Keep your grades up. Stay in school. If you really want to talk about it, think about it, come here and talk to the recruiters,” Murphy said.
“Specifically Specialist Welch,” Boyer added.
“And if they’re thinking about joining, they should do it their junior year. That’s what I regret – not doing it when I was younger because I could have had two years done by the time I graduated,” Akers suggested.
“Stay out of trouble. There’s a lot of guys that come talk to the recruiters and then get into trouble. They could have had something really good but they messed it up with making stupid decisions. Make smart decisions,” Fitzgerald said.
“Always stay motivated and dedicated to your main goal,” Boyer said.
“Work out. Work out and stay in shape,” Johnson said.
Welch said if a person joins the Indiana Army National Guard and goes to an Indiana state school that is state funded – like I.U., Vincennes, Indiana State University, Ball State and Purdue University – their tuition is covered 100 percent through the National Guard Supplemental Grant.
To contact Welch, call his cell at 574-226-1476 or email [email protected][[In-content Ad]]
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