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Today’s recruits, tomorrow’s soldiers
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Boardman's Ryan Orosz (left) acts as a human bench while Cody Turney, of Struthers, performes elevated push-ups. These future soldiers know what teamwork is all about.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Frank Ravotti (left) holds the ankles of Mike Chiovitti as he knocks out a set of sit-ups. Both are students at Boardman High School.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
shakeem@vindy.com
Foreseeing the future is a difficult task, but these recruits see their future as a soldier in the U.S. Army.
The U.S. Army Recruiting Station, located at the Southern Park Mall in Boardman, prepares recruits for their transformation into soldiers through their future soldiers program.
To be a part of the program, recruits must first pass the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) test, which is required to enlist in any branch of the military, and take their oath of enlistment. Sgt. Michael Kehoe is in charge of the program and is labeled as the future soldiers leader. He says that he doesn’t want his future soldiers to go into Initial Entry Training (IET) without a basic knowledge of military customs and courtesies.
“We’ve been working on how to tell military time, the rank structure and of course, physical training,” Kehoe said.
Passing a physical fitness test is required of each recruit before they can graduate from IET. They are evaluated on pushups, situps and a two-mile run. Kehoe says he urges them to meet and exceed those standards that are required for IET graduation.
The future soldiers are also trained on drill and ceremony which covers facing movements, formations and marching. Kehoe says that his future soldiers are very dedicated in preparing for their upcoming training.
Everyone has their own personal reasons for joining the military. Ryan Orosz, of Boardman, says that the Army will open up opportunities for him. He is focused on the success of his future and his family.
“I have a daughter and I want to give her a better life,” Orosz said.
Nicole Persing, of Petersburg, says that she enlisted because she wanted to make her family proud. Coming from a military family, she wanted to keep the tradition going.
“My dad is in the military, both of my grandfathers were in the military. I will be the fourth generation in the military,” Persing said.
Some want to travel the world and make a personal contribution to the United States. Cody Turney, of Struthers, joined because he wanted to make a change in his life and while doing so, also serve his nation.
“I wanted to do something new, something good and I wanted to serve my country,” Turney said.
Regardless of the reason for enlisting, these recruits are future soldiers. They meet with Kehoe every Monday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. One hour is used for classes and the other is used for physical training. All of the future soldiers are scheduled to ship out to IET this year.