Photo By Master Sgt. Opal Vaughn | Spc. Bobby Pritchett, a driver with 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, poses...... read more read more
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By Spc. Opal Vaughn
14th Public Affairs Detachment
Despite already having served 15 years of service to country, Staff Sgt. Brian Pritchett, with 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, re-enlisted indefinitely two months ago. Now, following in his father's footsteps, Spc. Bobby Pritchett, a driver with 3rd Squadron, 2SCR, is doing the same.
With his right hand raised and the other locked by his side, standing at attention with a smile on his face, Pritchett began to recite the Oath of Enlistment during a re-enlistment ceremony at Forward Operating Base Warhorse, located in Diyala, Iraq, Sept. 19, 2008.
Col. John RisCassi, 2SCR regimental commander, presided over the ceremony.
Soldiers re-enlist all the time. Volunteering to continue to serve one's nation while deployed is also very common. But when both father and son, both in the same unit, re-enlist at the same time, it is history in the making.
"This means a lot to me," said Brian. "At first I was apprehensive about my son joining. But he told me he was going to join and he did. The determination he showed me let me know that he wanted to do something with his life and to help protect his country."
Most military members joined the service straight out of high school. Aspirations of earning a lot of money, getting a free education and travelling the world are many reasons for young adults to join up and serve.
"I initially enlisted because I wanted to see the world," said Bobby. "I wanted to see what I could do in the Army and what I could do for my country. It means a lot to me to serve. I am going to keep doing it until I'm done."
For this auspicious occasion, having his father present at the re-enlistment ceremony was very important for Bobby.
"Having my father here was very special for me," Bobby smiled. "I haven't seen him in over a year, so it was very important for me to have him at my re-enlistment ceremony."
The two Pritchetts, father and son, are not the only ones with a passion to serve. Service to country runs in the family.
"My father was in the Air Force," Brian added, "he served his country and now I and my son are doing the same. I only wish that I had known that my son was going to re-enlist during this tour. I re-enlisted indefinitely two months ago but I would have waited so that we could have been sworn in together."
Looking toward the future, Brian anticipates great things for his son.
"I hope that my son will continue to serve his country and one day, he will hopefully become an NCO and lead troops like I have," Brian grinned.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.04.2008 13:02 |
| Story ID: | 24511 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 1,447 |
| Downloads: | 1,407 |
This work, Father, son: one unit, one fight, by MSG Opal Vaughn, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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