Pvt. Zachary Shellenberger, a resident of Alburtis, Pa. and a member of the 108th Area Support Medical Company, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, is a wheeled vehicle mechanic who is happy he joined the National Guard when he did.
Shellenberger joined the National Guard about eight months ago, but has been thinking about it since he was much younger.
“I wanted to do the military right out of high school, but I had second thoughts about it because I was seventeen and I wasn’t sure,” he said. “Then I grew up and thought I have to do something with my life.”
Shellenberger said he decided on becoming a wheeled vehicle mechanic because he wanted the experience and to learn a new skill.
His favorite thing about being in the Army is listening to the accounts of his fellow Soldiers, he said.
“Their experiences and stories fascinate me,” he said. “I’ve been to other states, but some people have been around the world, which is cool.”
Shellenberger’s goal is to go to school to become a certified diesel mechanic and his proficiency as a mechanic in the Army has laid a good base for pursuing that goal.
Currently, Shellenberger works on vehicles as a side job in the civilian world. He finds there are similarities between working on his friend’s cars, but also many differences.
“I’m used to working on foreign cars, so I use the metric system,” he said. “Here, it’s the imperial system, which is different for me.”
Shellenberger said he is happy with his decision to join and said it was a good life choice.
“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “It’s a great experience and it’s helped me grow up.”