How the U.S. Army Reserve helped one Soldier find his calling in communication

Photo By Spc. Kayla Silvers | U.S. Army Reserve Pfc. Hunter Drinkard, a signal support systems specialist with the 377th Military Police Unit out of Cincinnati, participates in his first annual training at Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Kayla Silvers)  

MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, IN, UNITED STATES

07.20.2019

Story by Spc. Kayla Silvers 

209th Broadcast Operations Detachment

For Pfc. Hunter Drinkard, Titan Warrior was exactly the training he was hoping for from his first Annual Training in the U.S. Army Reserve. After recently graduating from Advanced Individual Training to become a certified signal support systems specialist, he was excited to use his skills in an austere training environment.
For members of the 209th Military Police Brigade, Titan Warrior is a rigorous 15-day exercise. Drinkard’s time to shine was when his company set up at Muscatatuk Urban Training Center and began preparing for four days of 24-hour scenario-based detention operations, to include processing and handling enemy prisoners, detainees.
“People say the king of battle is artillery and the queen is infantry, but the soldier that goes unknown is communication,” says Drinkard. “You don’t have an army if you don’t have communication.”
Drinkard sees communication as an important part of his life. In his civilian career, he is a wedding caterer in the small town of Nicholasville, Kentucky. When asked why he took the opportunity to fulfill the role of a signal support systems specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve while having a career in catering in the civilian world, he says he did it for the people. “I like helping people, but the technology is what I like the most,” he said.
Education played a large role in his decision to join the Army Reserve. “The Army has provided me the means of getting an education without me having to worry about money for college. It was hard growing up for me money-wise, so I had to make my life easier for me,” he said. “Getting the chance to get an education for myself was a big bonus.” In college, Drinkard plans to obtain a degree in computer science because it will help him be better at his job in the Army Reserve.
With deployment in the future for Drinkard, he believes that he is ready. “When I first joined, I was scared to deploy. I knew I wanted to get my life together and get college money, but after basic training, I worry less about it and my family is more at ease knowing what I do in the military.”
With Drinkard being from a small town in Kentucky, he stresses the importance of being able to be successful, no matter what. “A lot of people who join the military go home and have their lives together. They are making a difference. I joined the military to get a step in a better direction for my life.” He revisits personal obstacles that he has faced to become a Soldier but believes that optimism is the key to success. “It’s literally all about mindset and morale. Encourage other people and you are golden.”

• Date Taken: 07.20.2019
• Date Posted: 07.24.2019 14:06
• Story ID: 332793
• Location: MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, IN, US
• Hometown: CINCINNATI, OH, US