In 1990, I took a semester off from Rutgers University and joined the New Jersey Army National Guard. Why? Just to do it; for the challenge, mostly, and out of a belief that I’d like to do everything there is to do in life. Of course, the six credits you get for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT) is a pretty good selling point ,too.

Joined: January, 1990
Basic Training: Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Infantry Unit, Fort Jackson, S.C.
Completed: April, 1990
Advanced Individual Training (AIT): Alpha Company, 369th Training Battalion

Completed: June, 1990

MOS: 71L, Administrative Specialist
In training, we had the unique experience of typing Orders wearing full NBC ("Nuclear Biological Chemical") gear. No better way to spend a 102 degree South Carolina morning.

National Guard Unit:
Headquarters, Headquarters Battalion
Eggerts Crossing Road, Lawrenceville NJ

Awards:

• New Jersey Merit Award (NJ Guard Unit)
• "Fast Track" (honors) award, (AIT)
• Commander’s Award for exceeding Company standards (AIT)
• Letter of Commendation: created computer program now used to train all U.S. Army Administrative Specialists more efficiently (AIT)

Discharged: Honorable, January 1992