Courtesy Photo | West Virginia National Guard Pfc. Private Brooke Puffenbarger and Pfc. Hannah Rezutek...... read more read more
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Growing up in the historic “Queen City” of Cumberland, Maryland, West Virginia National Guard Pfc. Private Brooke Puffenbarger had no intentions of ever joining the military when she graduated from Fort Hill High School in 2015. This all changed when her teammate and best friend at Potomac State College, Hannah Rezutek, joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard in 2016. Puffenbarger attended Rezutek’s graduation from Basic Combat Training (BCT) at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and that day changed her life forever.
“Watching her graduate and seeing her in her uniform did something to me that I can’t explain,” Puffenbarger said. “That day I knew that there was something more that I should be doing.”
Over the next few months, Puffenbarger talked to countless recruiters from both active duty and National Guard components trying to decide which opportunity to serve her nation would be best for her and allow her to contribute the most. While her first inclination was to join her home state organization, she wanted to explore all her options.
“Considering I live in a part of Maryland where I can be in either West Virginia or Pennsylvania within a few minutes, I thought it might be to my advantage to look into the surrounding states,” she recalled. Friends pointed her towards Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Hoban, the WVNG recruiter in Keyser, West Virginia.
When Puffenbarger and her parents sat down with Hoban, she was immediately impressed with the advantages of joining the WVNG, especially the educational benefits.
“Even though I was planning to attend Allegany College of Maryland after training to attain my associate degree, Hoban informed me that I could attend a West Virginia college for 100 percent free tuition to earn my bachelor’s degree,” she said. “Who would turn down that opportunity?”
In November 2017, Puffenbarger raised her right hand and officially joined the West Virginia National Guard as a Unit Supply Specialist (92Y).
Her training has left an indelible mark. “BCT pushed me way past what I thought was my limit,” she said. “You complete what is called, ‘The Forge’. Within four days, we hiked over 55 miles and completed many night infiltration courses. I can honestly say I have never been so tired in my whole life! To this day, I am still in shock that I completed it, but I’d do anything to relive the whole experience over again.”
Puffenbarger is quick, however, to state BCT wasn’t all challenge… some parts were fun.
“Honestly, I didn’t really grow up around weapons as a child. Therefore, being able to shoot the M4 every day was awesome,” she recalled. “Another thing I surprisingly really enjoyed was sleeping in the woods. Most of my best memories from BCT were with my battle buddies in the field and completing battle drills.”
After attending Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at the U.S. Army Quartermaster School in Fort Lee, Virginia, Puffenbarger became a proud member of the 1201st Forward Support Company in Kingwood, West Virginia, where her duties include issuing of all needed clothing and supplies, conducting gear inspections, general upkeep and maintenance of all Army supplies and records.
When asked about her new career, Puffenbarger replied, “My favorite thing about the WVNG would have to be the experiences and friendships that it has given me. Without the WVNG, I seriously wouldn’t be where I am today, and I wouldn’t have met the people I have relationships with today. I am still very new to the WVNG family, but I can’t wait to see where it takes me in the future.”
Puffenbarger isn’t afraid to share her story with family and friends. She is proud of her path and wants to share it with others who might also be contemplating military service. And her strong advocacy has worked. Her younger brother, Tyler, has followed in his sisters’ footsteps and will be shipping to U.S. Navy boot camp to become an Aircrew Survival Equipmentman on the one-year anniversary of her enlistment.
Puffenbarger hopes to have a continuing positive impact on other lives as well. “I waited until I was 20 to enlist and let me tell you, I wish I would have done it sooner. Being a National Guard soldier has given me the confidence and pride for this great nation I didn’t have before. This challenge is 110 percent worth it. Trust me.”
| Date Taken: | 09.28.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.28.2018 16:03 |
| Story ID: | 294915 |
| Location: | CHARLESTON, WV, US |
| Hometown: | CUMBERLAND, MD, US |
| Web Views: | 129 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Maryland native find home in West Virginia Army National Guard, by Edwin Wriston, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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