Photo By Sgt. James Taylor | Spc. Benjamin Olson, an infantryman with the 3/304th Regiment representing the 108th...... read more read more
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FORT McCOY, Wis. – Spc. Benjamin Olson, an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 304th Infantry Regiment, joined the Army Reserve to do his duty to his country and pursue personal goals simultaneously.
“I wanted to maintain my role in the military and start a family,” Olson said, who is representing the 108th Training Command at the 2012 U.S. Army Reserve Command Best Warrior Competition at Fort McCoy, Wis.
He added that the Army Reserve allowed him to use his GI Bill to attend the University of Southern Maine where he is majoring in geosciences.
His ultimate goal is to attend officer candidate school to become an officer in the Reserve. One of his short-term goals is to win the U.S. Army Modern Army Combatives tournament. The tournament is the last event of the weeklong competition.
“The Best Warrior Competition is a good way to test yourself against the best in the Army and see where you stand,” Olson said.
He has trained for combatives by completing level one and level two certifications. Yet, he added that he also trains other Soldiers and is ready to give it his all for his unit.
“I hope to represent my battalion to the best of my abilities at the U.S. Army Reserve level,” said Olson.
Olson remarked that he believes in the sacrifices of his forefathers and mentioned the importance of serving in the military.
“Out of respect for everything we were born into,” he said when asked why he serves. “People had to sacrifice for what we have and we should remember their sacrifices.”
In the civilian side, Olson maintains his ties to the military by working for the Maine Military Funeral Honors Program. Being a citizen-soldier and being a part of something larger than himself gives Olson the drive to compete. That drive has brought him this far and could allow him to become this year’s Army Reserve Soldier of the Year.
| Date Taken: | 07.19.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2012 13:26 |
| Story ID: | 91824 |
| Location: | FORT MCCOY, WI, US |
| Hometown: | PORTLAND, ME, US |
| Web Views: | 90 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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