To this day I still could not explain exactly why I joined the military. I know I wanted a break from school and I wanted to travel. Maybe it was the speech or video from the recruiter, or I was possibly just drawn to the adventure. Whatever the case, it quickly became a way of life for me. All in all I was a pretty dutiful child. I was respectful to my parents and we got along great. I had no issues with structure or authority and I enjoy challenges. I took to basic training and the military like a fish to water. I attended one station unit training as an unassigned Infantryman at Fort Benning, Georgia. The only difficulty I had in basic training was being unable to contact my family. I have such a tight bond with all of them that
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was a massive and awesome culture shock for a poor little country boy and beach bum, of that there was no doubt. Orlando was a close city that I often ventured into, but it cannot begin to compare to the diversity of culture, architecture, and history of D.C. It was a bit much to take in at first, but now it is one of my favorite cities in the world. One of my favorite aspects is that as amazing as the city itself is, just a short drive away is the Shenandoah Mountains and river. I have hiked, paddled, fished, and hunted that area enough to create memories that will be unsurpassed. While many of my coworkers were spending their weekends partying in D.C. (I did my share of that too!), I spent the vast majority in some outdoor undertaking. As much as I loved the woods in Florida, the Eastern Mountains were quickly becoming my favorite. The 3D United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) is a unit unlike any other in the military. I will carry the levels of respect and tradition that I learned there with me for the rest of my life. Some of my leaders in those early years are still some of the most influential. The single best NCO that I have ever had the pleasure of working for was my platoon sergeant there: SFC Gary Hardy. He epitomized standards and his ability to take care of soldiers by whatever means necessary never ceased to amaze me. At this point in my life I was just trying to learn how to be a good soldier and infantryman, my path was
was a massive and awesome culture shock for a poor little country boy and beach bum, of that there was no doubt. Orlando was a close city that I often ventured into, but it cannot begin to compare to the diversity of culture, architecture, and history of D.C. It was a bit much to take in at first, but now it is one of my favorite cities in the world. One of my favorite aspects is that as amazing as the city itself is, just a short drive away is the Shenandoah Mountains and river. I have hiked, paddled, fished, and hunted that area enough to create memories that will be unsurpassed. While many of my coworkers were spending their weekends partying in D.C. (I did my share of that too!), I spent the vast majority in some outdoor undertaking. As much as I loved the woods in Florida, the Eastern Mountains were quickly becoming my favorite. The 3D United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) is a unit unlike any other in the military. I will carry the levels of respect and tradition that I learned there with me for the rest of my life. Some of my leaders in those early years are still some of the most influential. The single best NCO that I have ever had the pleasure of working for was my platoon sergeant there: SFC Gary Hardy. He epitomized standards and his ability to take care of soldiers by whatever means necessary never ceased to amaze me. At this point in my life I was just trying to learn how to be a good soldier and infantryman, my path was