Doing your duty

Photo By Sgt. James Taylor | Sgt. Nathanial Patterson, a chemical operations specialist with the 4th Battalion, 80th Infantry Regiment, representing the 80th Training Command, gets a final inspection before presenting himself to a board of sergeants major July 18 at the 2012 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis. Patterson, a New Castle, Pa., native, made to sure to look his best for this event.  

FORT MCCOY, WI, UNITED STATES

07.20.2012

Story by Sgt. James Taylor 

U.S. Army Reserve Command

FORT McCOY, Wis. – Sgt. Nathanial Patterson, a chemical operations specialist with the 4th Battalion, 80th Infantry Regiment, representing the 80th Training Command in the 2012 U.S. Army Reserve Best Warrior Competition, has a family history of serving the United States.

“My family has had known relatives who have fought in every American war since the Civil War,” Patterson said.

Patterson said he has his freedom and he intends to keep it. He feels like it’s every American’s duty to serve his country, and he plans to do so for a long time.

“I plan on sticking it out for the full 20 years before I retire,” he said.

Patterson said he gets his motivation from making sure he is taking care of his family. His family is also very supportive of what he does and understands why he is doing it, he said.

Patterson was in the active Army for more than four years before he transitioned to the Army Reserve to be closer to his family and still be able to do his duty. He’s been a warrior-citizen for two and a half years

“Being able to spend more time with family, but still having the option to go on another deployment was important to me,” he said. “I got out of active duty because I was too far away from family. The reserve is more flexible.”

Patterson got put into the BWC by his command, but he said he was glad because it allowed him to learn a few things about his own abilities.

“I’m doing this to see if I have what it takes to be called the best,” he said. “This is the kind of stuff I like about the Army, and it’s been a fun ride.”

Patterson said that his glad that his family supports him.

“If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be able to come out here and do this,” he said.

• Date Taken: 07.20.2012
• Date Posted: 07.20.2012 10:36
• Story ID: 91886
• Location: FORT MCCOY, WI, US
• Hometown: NEW CASTLE, PA, US