Photo By Maj. Alun Thomas | Sgt. Christopher Livingston, combat medic, 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, allows...... read more read more
MESA, Ariz. – Personnel from 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment and the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), briefed the AZ-931 Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC), on opportunities within their respective teams, Nov. 8. Mesa High School.
Both the Rangers and USAMU were in the Phoenix region to support local events, including the Arizona State University Salute to Service football game in Tempe and the U.S. Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) Area 2 Championship in Mesa.
Briefing the JROTC on behalf of the USAMU was Staff Sgt. John Browning and Sgt. Jacob Hetherington, both competitive shooters for the team.
“We’re the face of marksmanship for the U.S. Army and travel the nation competing in competitions using pistols and shotguns,” said Browning. “We win matches to show marksmanship excellence. The Army has given us a great opportunity to do this and so many other things.”
Browning talked about what the Army was able to do for himself and many others in the USAMU.
“The pay and benefits are something that are not always easy to find in the civilian sector, especially paid college tuition and medical costs,” he said. “These are things to think about when considering the military.”
Hetherington, a native of Prescott, Ariz., then explained how he became a member of the USAMU and what it’s done for his career.
“I was in the Air Force JROTC program like all of you, while at the same time competing in pistol competitions and doing well at it,” Hetherington said. “Because I was winning, it gave me the chance to join the Army and become part of the marksmanship team. I was originally going to attend college, but instead I chose to be in the Army.”
Hetherington said he travels the country and the world shooting in competitions, which he considers an ideal position to be situated in.
"It’s my dream job, I can’t imagine doing anything else. I don’t have a college degree, but it’s something I’m working on right now, thanks to the Army,” he continued. “I won’t be in debt and the Army will pay for it, while I continue shooting for the unit.”
Sgt. 1st Class Michael Smentek, operations assistant, 2nd Bn., 75th Ranger Regt., then talked about the Ranger mission and the demands that go with it.
“I’m sure most of you are aware of the high standards of the Rangers. Our physical fitness has to be at its peak because of our mission set,” Smentek said. “Everyone has to meet the standard, whether it be physically or tactically. It doesn’t matter about age or gender – you have to achieve our standards.”
“I’ve had a lot of good experiences in the Ranger regiment, including traveling all over the world – I would never have got that anywhere else,” Smentek continued.
Discussing his experiences was Sgt. Christopher Livingston, combat medic, 2nd Bn, 75th Ranger Regt., who said he went to college prior to joining the Army, before deciding he wanted to be part an elite unit like the Rangers.
“As a Ranger I’m around people every day who are committed to the fight … I’ve only been in two and a half years and deployed three times,” Livingston said. “We have physical therapists, dieticians, conditioning coaches, the best facilities and the best equipment. This is because we’re pushed to be great. This includes jumping out of airplanes and blowing things up.”
Smentek said being in the Army is something he loves, especially the distinction of being a Ranger.
“Not everyone knows they want to make the Army a career, but once I became a Ranger I knew I did,” Smentek said. “I fell in love with it and it’s worked out for me. It’s not always the right thing for everyone, but at least try it out. You’ll never regret it.”
| Date Taken: | 11.08.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 11.08.2018 16:25 |
| Story ID: | 299309 |
| Location: | MESA, AZ, US |
| Web Views: | 376 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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