Family first

Photo By Jacob Boyer | Spc. Eric Jobb, a motor transportation operator with 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, records identification information for a point he found July 17 at a land navigation course at the 2012 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis. Jobb, a Richmond, Va., native, is representing the 11th Theater Aviation Command in the competition.  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

07.17.2012

Story by Staff Sgt. Jacob Boyer 

U.S. Army Reserve Command

FORT McCOY, Wis. - A positive attitude and strong family foundation are two assets that one soldier gunning for the title of Army Reserve Soldier of the Year said drives him here and in his career.

Spc. Eric Jobb, a motor transport operator with 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment at Fort Eustis, Va., said the support he gets from his wife, Lauren, and three children make his career successful. Jobb is representing the 11th Aviation Command, July 15-20, in the 2012 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis.

“They're supportive. They're someone I can lean on and a constant in my life. The military is always changing, but family is a constant; they're always going to be there,” said the 23-year-old Richmond, Va., native. “My wife is gung ho about this competition. She's really happy I won the last one and came here.”

Service to the United States runs deep in Jobb's family, he said. In addition to a cousin and a grandfather who served in the Marine Corps, Jobb's younger brother recently signed an enlistment contract with the Air Force. He said his experiences over three years in the Army Reserve helped push his brother to serve his country.

“It's made me a role model to my little brother,” Jobb said. “He probably never would have done that if it wasn't for me joining the Army and telling him how great it was.”

A deep sense of patriotism and a desire to improve his life prompted Jobb to enlist, and he said the values he learned as a Soldier make his family stronger.

“I'm more of a father figure and a leader because of what the Army taught me. Every single aspect of your life gets stronger, as long as you believe in the military, love your country and keep progressing,” he said. “[My wife] knows I'm out here struggling for my family and I know she's at home struggling for me.”

Jobb, currently on active duty orders with his unit, plans to stay a Soldier until he retires. He said he wants to go back to school and pursue an advanced education in the medical field. Although he is a full-time soldier right now, he said his former employer, Charles City., Va.'s, E.L. Muller Construction, was always supportive of his Army Reserve career.

“He was very supportive. There were no questions asked,” Jobb said “He liked to thank me a lot when I'd leave for annual training. He told me to do what I had to do. I never had a problem with that. He was really encouraging about the whole thing.”

With his sights set on a long Army career that reaches into the senior ranks, Jobb said he hopes return to his unit and share what he learns here with his unit.

“I plan on … teaching soldiers everything I've learned. I'll be able to take that as a leader and help with training at my unit,” he said. “When we did warrior tasks the first day, I think I learned something at every single event.”

Jobb wants to leave Fort McCoy a winner, but said if he does not, he plans to return for another try.

• Date Taken: 07.17.2012
• Date Posted: 07.17.2012 18:29
• Story ID: 91705
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US