It's a factor for some young people in considering joining the military. Their parents, grandparents, siblings or other relatives did it, so they think about following in the footsteps before them.
At the Indiana National Guard Open House Thursday night, legacy was a motivating factor for some to be at the Warsaw Armory."My whole family does it," said Pvt. Phillip Hawks, 20, Warsaw.
Hawks just received his ROTC patrol number Thursday. He joined the Guard in February this year.
Hawks said his uncle is a sergeant major, and his father is a command sergeant major in the Indiana Guard Reserves.
Hawks said he wants to deploy to Iraq after basic training. By deploying, he said, when he returns, it will give him good leadership skills to be an officer and he wants his men to trust him.
"It's going to be my career," Hawks said of the military.
Karissa Lattea, 16, is partially considering joining the Guard because her father, Richard Lattea, was a Marine.
Richard said they were attending the Open House Thursday because of Karissa's interest. "She's interested in joining the service and she wanted to get more information about it," Richard said.
"It's the only thing that makes sense to me that I can actually see myself doing," said Karissa, a high school sophomore.
Along with the benefits the Army National Guard offers for Karissa to go to college, Karissa said it also will make her a stronger and better person.
"I've been thinking about it since eighth grade, so I'm pretty sure I want to," she said.
Pvt. Mark Vining, 18, Claypool, is a Tippecanoe Valley High School junior. He said he signed up for the "experience, legacy. My grandfather was in." He also said the Guard will better his life.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Vining. "I enjoy it. It's fun."
At the Guard Open House, sponsored by the National Guard Bureau, attendees could climb a rock wall, get on the bungee run, check out an unarmored Humvee with a Mark 19 attached, or look at Guardsmen's weapons and gear. Along with free pizza and giveaways, Sgt. Chris Gustafson, the ROTC coordinator for IPFW, spoke about the scholarship opportunities through the ROTC program and Guard.
Before his talk, Gustafson said he would explain to the possible enlistees how they can get into the ROTC program and what it entails. The ROTC program, he said, is in its first year at IPFW but it has had a great response.
Pvt. Jack Linn and Spc. Ryan Murray showed off some of the weapons used by the Guard over the years. There was the M-16, a bayonet, M-60, .50 cal. and a 9 mm. A mask and chemical suit were on display.
"When they say, 'gas, gas, gas,' you need to have the mask on in 15 seconds. The rest of the suit in 1-1/2 minutes," said Murray.
Linn has only been in the Guard since August, and is a Bluffton High School senior. Murray has been in the Guard for five years and is on the alert list to be deployed. Like Hawks, Murray said he wants to be deployed.
Spc. Nicholas Steele, 25, a two-year Guard member, displayed some other gear the government issued to him. "It's lighter than the last stuff we had," he said. On the table, was everything from a bullet-proof vest to a hydration system and eye protection.
Corp. Kenny Starnes, a two-year Guard member, volunteered to be deployed to Iraq. He leaves April 14. Starnes said he was in the ROTC program, but volunteered to go to Iraq because he is going to be a second lieutenant. By going overseas before his commission, he will have first-hand experience of what his men will face.
The best part of being in the Guard, Starnes said, is "serving the community as well as the country."
Staff Sgt. Shawn Fisher, a six-year Guard member, already has served overseas. Fisher said with that experience, he can tell potential enlistees what it is like and get them interested in serving. He said he tells them about how the Iraqi people are hospitable, humble and good people. Fisher said the Iraqis are big into family and are glad the Americans are there.
New recruits like Patrick Hale, 19, Columbia City, will look up to guys like Fisher and Starnes as they prepare for the life of being in the Guard.
Hale said he started the process of joining the Guard about a month ago. He said he wants the experience, and will use the benefits provided by the National Guard to go to college.
"I have friends who are serving. They're over in Iraq at this point," said Hale.
