Searcy (LP) Ever since the National Guard was founded in 1636, the armed forces organization has strived to “defend people at home; and take care of incidents, riots, and natural disasters. If the nation has the need for us to go out of the country, then we can out of country and defend or we can take care of the people at home that are stricken with natural disasters,” states Steven Lovelace. Steven is a Specialist, in the Enlisted rank four, which is the rank of someone that has been promoted above privates. He joined on July 26, 2012. He states, “It felt like something I wanted to do. It’s a calling. It’s not just about being in the Guard, it’s about enjoying the people that you’re around. There’s a sense of camaraderie between us. We’re always able to talk about anything.”
During the monthly drills the National Guard members are required to go to, many activities are completed. When they first arrive, they go through roll-call. The sergeants call off each soldier’s name to ensure everyone is present. After that, members of the specialist group of the National Guard will do PMCS, (Preventative Maintenance Checks and Services), where they determine the condition of the trucks. This is a very important task. The trucks are used very often to transport troops, weapons, and supplies. When it is time to eat meals, the soldiers go to the armory. On occasion, they have to train in the wilderness. There, they eat MREs, which stands for “Meal, Ready to eat”, a meal that normally has a two thousand calorie count. MREs have the typical food groups:meat, vegetable, fruit, milk, pasta, and protein. Most of the foods are powdered or dried, as to keep them from rotting. Energy bars, powdered gatorade, powdered milkshakes,
dried fruit, spaghetti, and various vegetables are some examples of food found in MREs. These meals are eaten when a soldier has to do a lot of physical work. The soldiers can pick out certain items from the meals to eat at different times, or they eat the meal at once. The meals replace the calories lost during the strenuous exercises they participate in.
Being a soldier in the National Guard is a difficult job, but it is valued. Motorized transport operator Erick Poss loves being a soldier. He states “I joined June 15 of 2013, so I could follow in the footsteps of my father military wise and drive large trucks. I like the experiences I receive, such as traveling, learning new skills, and communicating with veterans on a similar level. I plan to go to college, travel the world, and become a higher ranked soldier enlisted. I want to stay in the Guard for twenty plus years and then retire.”
Enlisting in the National Guard is a huge accomplishment. It takes a lot of strength to serve the country. To enlist in the National Guard in Searcy, call 501-380-5128 or visit 3105 South Main Street. The Air National Guard’s phone number is 1-800-864-6264. The United States number for the National Guard is 1-800-464-8273.
