Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Scott Turner | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Michael Siler, supply sgt. assigned to Bravo Company, 256th...... read more read more
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FORT MCCOY, Wis. - Since attending Basic Combat Training, Staff Sgt. Michael Siler, member of Bravo Company, 256th Combat Support Hospital in Twinsburg, Ohio, has heard about the many competitions the Army Reserve has to offer.
He has a strong appetite for competition but has not been assigned to a unit that was actively participating in any Best Warrior competitions before joining his present unit.
“I enjoy the physical aspect of competition, so I thought it would be cool to be the soldier of the year,” said Siler. “I like being around others that like competition because it helps me up my game. Other soldiers inspire me when it gets tough but it was harder than I thought it would be to get here.”
Continuing education has been a top priority for Siler. Using his Army Reserve benefits, he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in social work and says it would have been very difficult without the help of those benefits.
“I earned my degree using the GI Bill program and I would have struggled a lot more if I had no help,” said Siler. “I had to work part time but I was able to go to school full time without incurring too much debt.”
Social work is not all he is interested in though. He is also kicking around the idea of going to medical school and possibly becoming a physician assistant.
“It has been something I have thought about,” said Siler. “I enjoy working with people and like helping people get on their feet, and I think I could be more useful working in the medical field so I am considering going back to school to become a physician’s assistant.”
After being deployed to Iraq in 2007–2008 and again to Afghanistan from 2011-2012, being in unfamiliar places is nothing new to Siler.
“While deployed to Iraq, I was a detainee guard and that’s about all,” said Siler. “I had a different experience in Afghanistan though. I learned more about the Afghanistan Army by providing both life-support and operational maintenance for about 1,800 soldiers and more than 200 structures. It was very rewarding to help them, as you discover some of your weaknesses and strengths when you are challenged.”
Although Siler likes being active in the Army Reserve, he also enjoys his down time by spending some of it in the kitchen.
“I enjoy cooking every now and then but I don’t do anything special yet,” said Siler. “I don’t really consider myself an advanced cook but I did win two chili cook-offs back home. I did discover it’s harder to get the correct portion of ingredients just right without a recipe though.”
Siler says he is out for the experience of the 2013 Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition here in Fort McCoy, Wis., and that he will do his best, but he is happy and confident in his abilities no matter the outcome here this week.
“I really enjoy the atmosphere here at the BWC, which makes this a lot of fun to me,” said Siler. “I thought it was a cool opportunity to experience some tough training and I look forward to competing against the best the Army Reserve has to offer, and let the chips fall where they may.”
| Date Taken: | 06.26.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 06.26.2013 20:30 |
| Story ID: | 109317 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Hometown: | NEW BALTIMORE, MI, US |
| Web Views: | 88 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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