KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Pvt. 1st Class Jeremy Musni always knew he wanted to join the military, but he did what young people often do when it comes to career decisions – he procrastinated.
At 23 years old, Musni, who previously worked at a convenience store and later a hotel, decided it was time to enlist in the military. He joined the U.S. Army on July 2, 2012.
Two months after he reported to his duty station at Fort Carson, Colo., his unit – Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division – was preparing to deploy to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan. He arrived at KAF with his unit in July.
Musni, who is a couple of months into his first deployment, is thankful for the opportunity to serve. He said his love of country is one of the biggest reasons he joined the military. It’s also why he gladly took on the challenge of deploying to Afghanistan, even as a new soldier.
“It would mean I served and fought for our country as a deployed soldier,” he said. “I was looking forward to deploying.”
Musni comes from a military family. He has aunts, uncles and family friends serving in the U.S. Navy, and although some of them tried to convince him to join the Navy, Musni stood firm on his decision.
“I wanted to be different and join the Army,” Musni said, adding that his family helps keep him strong through the deployment.
Although Musni was trained as a cable installer, during the deployment, he has been serving as a permanent entry control point guard at KAF, checking badges of those entering the compound he works at and ensuring no unauthorized individuals get past his ECP.
“They needed people and I happened to be the one,” said Musni, who works 12 hours a day as a permanent guard and keeps himself busy in his off time by working out. “I’m a soldier 24/7.”
Staff Sgt. Alex Potgeter, Musni’s noncommissioned officer in charge, said Musni embraced his job from the start.
“He’s really dedicated to what he does,” Potgeter said. “He was excited to have a responsibility.”
Musni was born in Norfolk, Va., but he was raised in both the United States and in the Philippines, where his family is from. He is very proud of his Filipino heritage, and he even has a longtime girlfriend who lives in the Philippines. Musni plans to visit her during his rest and recuperation leave.
Musni loves the Army so far and he plans to make a career out of it, he said.
“I want to do something for the greater good,” he said.
Spc. Dychambra West, Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, a human resources specialist who often works with Musni at the same ECP, said Musni always has a positive attitude.
“He’s always willing to help people find where they need to go to and the people they need to connect with,” she said.