THOSE WHO DARED USAA STORY: My name is PV2 Reffert, I was sworn into the Army Reserves on 15 January 2014. I had always planned to serve. Being adopted from Russia, I always was very passionate about being American. Over time, this passion only grew bigger and eventually, I decided that at a very young age I wanted to join the military. The funny thing about it all is that if you would have told me a year ago that I would enlist in the Army, more less the Reserves, I would have laughed and called you crazy. One, I never wanted the army, and two, I always wanted to be active...here I got both. LOL. I was always Marine Corps for as long as I could remember. When I was younger we had what was called Career Day in school and we had all sorts of doctors and firemen and police officers come in and tell them why they did what they did...then at the end I looked at myself, and asked well...do I want to be a doctor? No. Do I want to be a Policeman? No. Do I want to be a teacher? No....nothing seem to fit what I was looking for. I wanted three things, to give back, to help people, and to make a difference somehow. The jobs they presented to us did all these things...but I was looking for something more....until I found the military. When I initially started looking into it I bounced back and forth between the branches until I had my heart set on the Marines for four years straight. Then, December 5th came along and I made a pretty sudden left turn when I found out that the Army National Guard offered split-option enlistment. (Where you go to basic training between your junior and senior year and serve with the reserves) I immidiately got to the grindstone. Called up Sergeant-John Pease and asked if the Reserves offered a similar program. He said yes, and I said Sign me up!! I think he was a little shocked that suddenly I showed up ready to sign no questions asked . LOL and later we finished the paperwork and I was eventually sworn in.... I had FINALLY found my niche. From day one, I knew this was what I wanted, but of course people doubted me. Oh hell change his mind in a few years. was an absolute slap to the face to me before. I never heard it since...LOL. So, I went to my unit for the first time, and I was immediately welcomed with open arms, and I was by far the only one smiling at formation at 0700 that morning...Still do that by the way, my love affair with the army never changed, and only grew. Now fast forwarding to today....I came back from Basic still as gung-ho as I left, if not more! LOL Not even a Drill Sergeant could get me to put my damn teeth away as DS Rhoads said to me after a set of 50 push-ups...But...even then I started to feel like there was STILL more that I could be doing! So, once again, I was on the path to find out what I wanted. It was suggested by an officer in my unit that maybe I ought to apply to West Point. I had the grades, the leadership, and the support of my chain of command. So I did, and with the tireless efforts of myself and my team-leader Sgt. Melissa Eberwein, I managed to secure a commanders endorsement from our group commander Colonel Barger, and many high recommendations (SOEs) from others as well. Ontop of that, I recieved a Reserve Component Nomination to West Point from the Secretary of the Army. I completed the application, and just received word that I am medically qualified today by DoDMERB. Now, I am simply waiting on my acceptance letter to come sometime in the next few months. I know many people who have no doubt that this is exactly what I had been looking for all along. Overall, More than anything else, the Army has opened countless opportunities and doors from which I could excel at just about anything I decided to do. Before anything else, I am a soldier. Those that are close to me know thats just how it is, and will always be until the day I die. My story is different, but I take strength in knowing that I am giving back to the country that gave me a life, a family, and a home. #Thosewhodared #Veteransday2014
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 23:46:32 +0000
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