Photo By Terrance Bell | Pfc. Sam and Pvt. Jennifer Mei, both Pennsylvannia National Guardsmen, pose in front...... read more read more
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FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 1, 2016) -- The tradition of family military service can stretch back several generations.
Or it can suddenly sprout out of nowhere.
The latter is a fair description of what happened to the Mei family through the actions of its eldest sibling, Pfc. Sam Mei.
A budding car enthusiast, the 22-year old joined the Army in February to jumpstart his career prospects. His two siblings were paying attention and followed suit, joining the Pennsylvania National Guard as he did.
One, 21-year-old Jennifer, is enrolled as a student in the same military occupational specialty – Stryker systems maintainer -- Sam recently earned while attending the Ordnance School here.
Another sibling, 19-year-old Milton, joined the other two here also as an initial entry training student. However, he opted to break the family’s fledgling Stryker tradition for the MOS training responsible for fueling them – the Petroleum Supply Specialist Course taught by the Quartermaster School here.
With two siblings still in MOS training, Sam said he is cognizant of being seen as a role model.
“There definitely is a lot of pressure for me because I have to set the example for them,” he said. “The way I look at it, I want everyone to succeed, so I have to succeed in the military as well as in life. I want them to follow in my footsteps. If they do and overachieve, that’s fine, but if they don’t, that’s the issue I have to deal with as the oldest sibling.”
The Meis’ parents emigrated here from Vietnam in the early 1990s, said Sam. Ming and Lan made their home in Philadelphia and raised their children to be mindful of their perpetual status as family representatives. Fully aware of his role as the eldest, Sam was the first to research military service as a way to bolster his aspirations to become an auto mechanic. A cousin helped to solidify his decision.
“She is an (Army) aircraft mechanic, and she told me about all the different jobs, so I looked more into it and found it would be a good way for me to learn because I didn’t have any mechanical experience,” he said. “
Sam chose the 91 Sierra MOS because the Stryker combat vehicle is relatively new (the first class graduated here in 2012), and the 17-week course would be a great introduction to his auto mechanics career. Sgt. 1st Class Scott Newman, the 91S senior instructor, said the course covers basic mechanics and much more.
“We go over the automotive portion, which covers the engine, transmission, drive train, suspension, etc.,” he said. “In addition to all that, we cover the vehicle’s armament – the 105mm cannon Mobile Gun System, 120mm mortars, remote weapons station and anti-tank guided missile.”
Jennifer – who joined the Guard in April, two months after Sam did – said her aspiration for auto mechanics was not on par with her brother’s, but she saw the highly-detailed course as a vehicle to minimize personal shortcomings.
“I wanted to learn more discipline,” she said. “When I was at home, I wasn’t responsible, and I was lazy. I told myself that I can’t be like this for the rest of my life. I wanted to grow up to be the person I always wanted to be.”
With some gentle encouragement from Sam – “You should just try it out,” he said – Jennifer joined not only to fix her work ethic but bolster her educational opportunities as well “because I really wanted to go to college, but it was too expensive,” she said.
Women make up a small percentage of Stryker maintainers, but Jennifer said she knew so going in, and the fact was reiterated later during training.
“We were told in basic (combat training) it would be harder to gain respect because (the MOS) is new,” she said. The small number of females, she added, has not been a deterrent.
“I wanted something that was hands-on and face-to-face, and mechanics was one of the jobs that popped into my head,” she said.
Sam, who graduated Nov. 22 and has returned to Philadelphia, said he plans to attend more auto-related courses and eventually own an auto mechanics-related business.
Jennifer, who is scheduled to graduate in March, wants to attend college and major in a medical specialty or continue to pursue a career in maintenance.
“I’m still undecided,” she said.
Milton, who was not available for comment, is expected to complete the petroleum supply specialist course in January.
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 12.01.2016 08:56 |
| Story ID: | 216106 |
| Location: | PHILADELPHIA, PA, US |
| Web Views: | 79 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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