Adventure Man: Answering the Call few ever even Hear -- by Jadrian Klinger, Photography by Major Ed Shank

Posted @ Nov. 04 2011 03:15PM by Timmy - in-print

It’s a calling few hear, and even fewer answer.

To volunteer to join a select group of individuals whose sole purpose is to serve the greater good in times of most dire need takes a person who possesses a stronger sense of community than of self. Most just don’t have it in them; the demands of unwavering bravery, unflinchingloyalty and, at times, ultimate personal sacrifice prove far too great. The price of admission to this elite band of brothers and sisters: blood, sweat and tears. The reward: the privilege of protecting the safety of their neighbors as well as preserving a set of hard-earned, founding freedoms that we all enjoy. For those who answered the call few ever even hear, who raise their hands and take the oath to be part of something larger than themselves, who endure the mental and physical tests to become more, who give up civilian status in exchange for the duties of a soldier; courage is much more than a noble notion, it’s a way of life.

Through the centuries-old tradition of the American military, courageous men and women have risen to the occasion and given all in the name of freedom. Each branch of the armed forces boasts a storied history of these selfless soldiers, and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard (PANG) is no different.

More than 250 years ago, Benjamin Franklin led some 600 Philadelphia “gentlemen and merchants” in banding together under the common cause of defending against Indian raiders and French privateers. Now acknowledged as the foundation of the PANG, this volunteer militia not only escorted General George Washington to take command of the Continental Army in New York just before the start of the Revolutionary War, but also represented 4,500 of the 6,000 troops sent from Pennsylvania to fight in 1776.

Through the centuries and through just about every major American conflict and disaster, the call to service that ignited the colonial origins of the PANG continues to echo in the ears of the members who serve today. And with the hope of experiencing just a little of what it takes to join and learning what it means to be part of this 19,000-member state force, I visited the Recruiting and Retention Battalion of the PANG at Fort Indiantown Gap.

So inspired by the sight of the PANG’s newest recruits was I that I asked permission to attempt the Army Physical Fitness Test, an exam consisting of push-ups, sit-ups and running that every soldier must pass. Thanks to the generosity of PANG Director of Public Affairs Major Ed Shank, as well as motivational help during the test from former Drill Sgt. Dana M. Graham, permission was granted. To prepare for the test, I opted to look like a recruit by getting a genuine military hair cut (shaved down to the scalp) mere minutes before the intense physical fitness exam, rather than doing any sort of exercise training. As deceiving as my distended, pear-shaped midsection might be, I had not done a push-up or a sit-up – let alone run any further than a few strides – in probably the better part of a year. So, as readers can probably guess, my training regimen did not pay off quite like I had planned. I was, however, pretty good at getting my head shaved – I sat still the entire time. But more, later, on how I fared during the standard two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and the two-mile run that every PANG recruit must pass prior to basic training.

Roughly a week prior to taking the fitness test, Sgt. 1st Class Ed Zink and Sgt. 1st Class Adrian Cann were kind enough to allow me to see firsthand a little of the training new PANG recruits must go through during his or her stretch of service. It was not basic training, though some of the soldiers had already accomplished that grueling 10- week task, but rather a primer of sorts called the Recruit Sustainment Program, which prepares recruits for what’s to come. The drill sergeants did not shout orders nor did they demand pushups for small infractions like you see in films and television shows, but then again, it was not boot camp. Instead, the drill sergeants issued stern commands peppered with encouraging words of instruction and guidance as the new soldiers took the very same fitness test I planned to attempt. It was obvious that they wanted the recruits to be prepared and wanted to help them succeed. Afterward, Sgt. 1st Class Zink took some time to explain the test to me. “You have to first take a PT assessment,” says the 18-year Army veteran. “It’s one minute of push-ups, one minute of sit-ups and a one-mile run.

For males, they have to do 13 push-ups, and females have to do three push-ups. The sit-ups are standardized to 17 each. Then the females have to do a mile in 10 minutes, 30 seconds or less for their run, and the males have to do eight minutes, 30 seconds or less. The reason they do it with us is so when they go downrange to their basic training site, they’ll have four or five days of in-processing, and that’s one of the last events they’ll have to do in order to qualify to actually train. From there, the drill sergeants take charge and condition them, and it gradually increases until they take a full-blown two-minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and a twomile run at the end of their training.”

Aside from passing a test of physical fitness, there is a mental component necessary to be part of the PANG. “To meet the enlistment criteria, they have to be physically, morally, legally and medically ready to join the military for the active duty and the reserve standards...[It also takes] an adult mindset. We in America come from an individualist society. In the military, you have to get rid of that mindset and worry about the group. We take them from being
individuals and the ‘me’ mentality, and bring them in and take them to a ‘we’ mentality...In my opinion, anyone can do that.”

Sgt. 1st Class Zink speaks the truth; anyone who wants it bad enough can do that, but that does not mean it’s easy, which is why the military makes up less than one percent of the nation’s population. Each recruit has their own reasons for enlisting. For some, it’s about tradition and patriotism; for others, it’s the college benefits and job security. “They join for educational benefits,” he says. “They join for patriotism, or sometimes to get out of where they are. It’s an avenue for them because we have a great educational program.

We have 100-percent educational benefits for 14 state-run colleges in Pennsylvania. They can join the Guard, get their college paid for a six-year enlistment and their contract starts counting down. So it is a win-win situation.” For Sgt. 1st Class Zink, it’s all of the above and more. “I like the regimentation of the military. I like to serve my country and know that I’m doing something, being part of something bigger than myself. You don’t do something for 18 years if you don’t love it...And, for me, it means that I’m able to take care of my family because this is a good job. I also get to be part of training the next generation because I’m a drill sergeant and a senior noncommissioned officer.” Spending part of a day with PANG recruits and their drill sergeants gave me an even greater respect for those who serve in the military.

These men and women truly are special and deserve our sincerest gratitude. And after taking the fitness test they all had to pass, I am in awe of how awesomely physically fit they all are. So, how well did I do on the Army Physical Fitness Test? Or, more appropriately worded, how badly did I fail the Army Physical Fitness Test? Not as poorly as I expected, although to be honest, I did almost throw up after the run. For the two minutes of push-ups, two minutes of sit-ups and two-mile run, my fitness-test results are as follows: 20 push-ups completed, but quit before time was up; 25 sit-ups completed, but quit before time was up; and quit after one mile of running/walking, which took 10 minutes, 30 seconds to complete. To pass the test, a recruit must score at least 180 points. I scored 84 points – not entirely shameful, but not all that wonderful either. I would, however, like to point out that I excelled during the head shaving portion of my test, but sadly I did not receive any points for my ability to sit quietly. I learned two things during my time with the PANG. One: I am incredibly out of shape and my “muscles” are still sore from the test – probably should have done some stretching afterward. Two: the PANG and the soldiers who serve are more awesome than awesome.

Click here to see the photo gallery of Adventure Man: Answering the Call few ever even Hear.

Several Pennsylvania Army National Guard Recruits shared their own reasons for answering the call so few ever even hear.

Spc. Jhoselis Brioso, 22: "Initially it was because I have to start paying back my student loans. I made a deal with myself. I said, 'If I don’t have a job, I’m going to consider the Army.' So, I figured this would get my foot in the door and give me some experience....To say that I have done it; it’s definitely a rare thing. Only like one percent of the American population has served, and that’s definitely something to be proud of. I would have done this for free, but they paid me and that’s great."

Pvt. Chase Hewitt, 18: "To do something better. I also wanted to help people, and I enlisted in the National Guard because I see that effort more with disaster relief. I also get to do something that most people don’t, and I thought that was pretty cool...It means everything. I grew up, I wanted to be in the Army. Then having the opportunity to do it just made my dream come true. Most of the time, you put dreams out, your wishes that you can’t fulfill. But I was able to fulfill it. So that was really awesome."

Pvt. 1st Class Jessica Lara, 22: "One big reason was that they are paying a lot of my loans back for me. Also one of my long term goals is to eventually work as an agent for a federal agency, and this will definitely give me the training that I need. I also thought it would be a good idea to serve my country...It’s an honor to do it, to be eligible because a lot of people who want to join, they actually can’t. I feel honored that I can do it and serve my country as well."

Pvt. Casey Thomas, 17: "I was looking into it my junior year, and I was thinking about joining a branch because my dad was also in the service. And I was talking to my recruiter about college and everything, and I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to go overseas. That was my biggest worry. The program I’m in, they pay for my college tuition for the four years I go, and I don’t get deployed while I’m in college. I’m just kind of an asset to the military, and that was a big key for me...It’s also pride. I’m proud of what I do. I joined the Guard because it protects my state. That was one of the main reasons. You change who you are. I can see the difference in myself from June until now. I have so much more respect. I look at and handle situations differently. And it’s just a different outlook on life that I wouldn’t have had before."