Tired after a weekend filled with new challenges at Fort Leonard Wood, some 50 new Missouri National Guard recruits marched out the back of a C-130 at Rosecrans Memorial Airport on Sunday. They boarded a waiting bus that took then to the Mayes Armory at Woodbine Road and Faraon Street.
New citizen/soldiers gathered last week for a special Missouri Army National Guard drill that included a hop aboard a cargo plane flying to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. The 139th Airlift Wing of the Missouri Air National Guard provided a C-130 Hercules transport to fly the troops.
Tim Cathey got to sit behind the co-pilot Sunday as the plane took off heading back to St. Joseph. The trip down and back was his first plane ride.
“The pilot took the plane up to 12,000 feet and you could look out the window and see the horizon where earth and sky meet,” Mr. Cathey said. “That was cool.”
Mr. Cathey started attending DeVry University in Kansas City.
“I found out it’s really expensive, about $42,000 a year to study computer networking,” Mr. Cathey said.
A college education was a reason to join, but the new soldier discovered pride.
Rappelling down a wall was terrifying and exciting at the same time, Mr. Cathey said.
He will leave later this month for boot camp in Georgia and then go to an Army school for computer training.
Among the group of 50 new recruits was a 2005 Lafayette High School graduate, Casey Sobeck.
After working as a general laborer, he wanted something better.
“I want a college education,” Mr. Sobeck said.
The Guard offered that opportunity. In addition to GI Bill benefits, the Missouri Guard offers tuition assistance to members attending a state college or university, said Sgt. 1st Class Charles Wood, a local recruiter.
New recruits routinely get assigned to a special program in the interval between signing and departing for boot camp, which can be a year.
The recruit program provides the opportunity to experience an interesting training environment, said Capt. Tamara Spicer, a spokeswoman for the Missouri Guard.
Nikotye Hale and her college roommate, Heather Moeller, are students at Northwest Missouri State University. Miss Hale is a pre-med student and Miss Moeller is pursuing a career in physical therapy. Thursday, they joined the Army Guard for education assistance. The two were decked out in camouflage uniforms with new boots for their first weekend drill.
“I was surprised how easy it was to fall in with everybody else and march,” said Miss Hale, who was pleased she could tackle some things she’d never done before, like rappelling.
It wasn’t that easy. By the end of the drill weekend the two ladies weren’t wearing their new boots. Tennis shoes and bandages were allowed after both developed big blisters on their feet. They’re hoping they will heal before next month’s drill.
Marshall White can be reached
at marshall@npgco.com.