Photo By John Crosby | Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Smith, Indiana Recruiting and Retention Command, presents Pfc....... read more read more
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INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Army Basic Combat Training can be a daunting hurdle for anybody joining the military. Army Pfc. Alyssia Brown completed basic when she was a junior at Huntington North High School in northeastern Indiana. Army Advanced Individual Training to become a military police officer can also sound intimidating to those thinking of joining the armed forces. Brown enlisted before she could legally buy a pack of cigarettes, and graduated at the top of her class.
Brown graduated with distinguished honors from the Military Police Officer Basic Course at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Oct. 21. She received commendations from the post commander of Fort Leonard Wood, U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command representatives and the president of military police for her outstanding leadership ability, discipline and performance while under her training environment’s command.
She said she draws her motivation to be the best at what she does from her mother.
“My mom has been through a lot and always perseveres,” said Brown. “She got good grades and ran track in high school. I try to be like her. She always pushes me to do my best.”
Brown joined the military to follow in the footsteps of her brother and uncle, both Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, and her grandfather. Her father is a reserve police officer for Huntington County, Ind.
She wanted to enlist from a young age, and at 17 she swore into the Indiana Army National Guard on Feb. 13, 2009. She joined the Army’s Split Option program where she completed basic training during the summer break between her junior and senior years of high school, and completed MP school upon graduating high school.
“I always knew I wanted to join,” said Brown. “I think everybody should serve their country in some way.”
As a Split Option soldier, Brown served in the Recruit Sustainment Program in Fort Wayne, Ind. The program’s cadre teaches recruits Soldier skills that prepare them for basic training. Those returning from basic training can turn around and teach new recruits what it is really like.
“There wasn’t a thing that was introduced in basic [training] that wasn’t already touched upon in RSP so it made me feel like I wasn’t completely thrown out of the water,” said Brown.
At the recruit program, soldiers are taught the military rank structure, military courtesies and culture, drill and ceremony, weapons systems, etc.
“With basic [training] having such high stress levels, it was a lot easier to have learned all those things I needed to know beforehand, as opposed to learning everything right when I got there.”
While at MP School, Brown was recognized for her outstanding leadership skills for taking charge during a detail at the 2010 MP Warfighter Competition held at Fort Leonard Wood. Brown was tasked with setting up tents for the competition. A group of people dressed in civilian attire asked for assistance in setting up a tent for their organization. Although she didn’t have to, Brown obliged them, quickly taking charge, giving them orders and expediting the process so she could return to her detail.
The people she helped were high-ranking officials of the Criminal Investigation Command, and several weeks later she was recognized in front of her company for her efforts.
Brown was also recognized as the distinguished honor graduate for her unwavering motivation, outstanding physical training scores and excellent rifle marksmanship.
“I’m really glad to be honored like that, especially in front of my family on graduation,” said Brown, whose mother recorded the ceremony. “They were all really proud of me. I’m just glad that I was able to work hard enough to get to be able to go up on stage and have my name called off. If even to be recognized just for a fraction of a second, it was truly an honor.”
Now graduated, she will return to her roots at the RSP for one last drill before moving onto her permanent unit.
“It has been a great pleasure having her as a RSP Soldier, she really sets the standard as to what we want all of our soldiers to be like,” said Staff Sgt. David Grimm training sergeant for the recruit program’s Detachment 2 in Fort Wayne, Ind. “When I first met her she was very respectful and eager to learn and grow as a soldier. She always has a great attitude and demeanor, and that never-say-quit attitude always rubbed off on others.”
Grimm believes the leadership qualities she’s displayed and her experience to become an MP will reflect when she returns to the RSP.
“She has a great relationship with her fellow soldiers,” said Grimm. “She goes out of her way to help others with anything they may be doing at the time. She takes pride in being a battle buddy and a friend and she shows all of the leadership qualities a young Soldier could possess.”
Her family has embraced her role as a soldier and is also proud of her achievements.
“I couldn’t be more proud of her,” said Jeff Brown, Alyssia’s father. “I’ve always encouraged her and her brother to join. I couldn’t be more proud of them both.
“I think there might be a bit of a rivalry growing between her and her brother now. He didn’t take home all those plaques and medals that she did,” said Jeff, chuckling.
Jeff said that his daughter enlisting has strengthened their bond and given them something else in common; law enforcement.
“Alyssia and I will sit and talk about law, what she can and can’t do as a soldier, what I can and can’t do as a civilian,” said Jeff. “She’s really grown into it.”
For the younger Brown, it’s been quite a successful beginning of her career. She plans to maintain her professionalism and always remember the promise she made to her country, her mother and to herself.
“It’s been a life changing experience for me,” said Brown. “There’s a responsibility that you put on yourself that you can’t put on anybody else, that pushes you to your limits and shows you that you can still succeed.”
| Date Taken: | 11.24.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 11.24.2010 09:51 |
| Story ID: | 60808 |
| Location: | INDIANAPOLIS, IN, US |
| Web Views: | 76 |
| Downloads: | 3 |
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