Idaho Soldier keeps unit motivated on first deployment

Courtesy Photo | Spc. Riley Mullin, convoy escort platoon member with Golf Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and native of Pocatello, Idaho, at Camp Behring, Kuwait. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Christian Hall)  

JOINT BASE BALAD, IRAQ

11.23.2010

Courtesy Story

3rd Division Sustainment Brigade

By 2nd Lt. Christian Hall

JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - Spc. Riley Mullin, convoy escort platoon member with Golf Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), and a Pocatello, Idaho, native, loves his job in the Idaho Army National Guard.

A childhood dream of serving his country and trying to make the world a better place drove Mullin to make the hard choice of joining the military in early 2008; a challenging decision that has caused him to be separated from his loving wife, Morgan.

He is motivated by the fact that what he does makes a difference and protects those he serves with, he said.

Mullin is a jack of all trades, as are many of his military brothers and sisters. He is a certified tank mechanic, communications specialist, and logistics operator. Mullin has proven to be an asset in each of his assigned tasks, inspiring diligence and hard work.

Ever ready to serve, Mullin has been a motivator to those around him, working all hours of the night to ensure that those that are going “outside the wire” have all that they need to successfully accomplish their mission. Additionally, Mullin is assigned to a crew in the convoy escort platoon where his versatility and motivation are indispensable.

Upon his return, Mullin is looking forward to a career in the military, attending college to obtain a degree in forestry, and enrolling in the Warrant Officer Candidate School or Officer Candidate School in order to pursue a career in Army aviation or military communications, he said.

Mullin says that he has enjoyed the new experiences of riding a camel and drinking fresh camel’s milk in Kuwait, along with many other military experiences. He is looking forward to returning home to his family and the intellectual conversations he has with his wife, he said

Mullin maintains that he has been filled with a sense of purpose serving those around him.

• Date Taken: 11.23.2010
• Date Posted: 01.09.2011 12:11
• Story ID: 63272
• Location: JOINT BASE BALAD, IQ