WEBVTT

00:01.867 --> 00:05.784
(country style music playing)

00:08.336 --> 00:09.169
- [Staff Sgt John Sheets]
Started researching

00:09.169 --> 00:11.050
the military branches and found the Army

00:11.050 --> 00:12.980
and it seemed like
something I wanted to do,

00:12.980 --> 00:15.530
to mainly get myself out of

00:15.530 --> 00:17.060
the little small town where I'm from.

00:17.060 --> 00:18.640
I called the recruiting office,

00:18.640 --> 00:19.473
called the recruiter

00:19.473 --> 00:20.630
and was like, "Hey I want to join!"

00:20.630 --> 00:22.040
And, we set up an appointment,

00:22.040 --> 00:23.410
he came out and talked to me

00:23.410 --> 00:25.490
and I took the ASVAB and that was it,

00:25.490 --> 00:26.430
that was the end of the story.

00:26.430 --> 00:29.430
I went and enlisted, and
was happy as could be.

00:29.430 --> 00:31.780
I went Infantry with the
82nd Airborne Division

00:31.780 --> 00:32.890
at Fort Bragg.

00:32.890 --> 00:37.010
And, I served there for
probably three years

00:37.010 --> 00:39.450
and then got stationed in Vicenza, Italy,

00:39.450 --> 00:41.650
and now I'm here in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

00:41.650 --> 00:44.103
Yeah, so living in Europe was great.

00:45.270 --> 00:48.023
Being from a little small town,

00:49.040 --> 00:52.360
you know, I never really
saw the need to travel,

00:52.360 --> 00:54.000
I was really closed-minded.

00:54.000 --> 00:56.087
So, when I found out
that I was going there,

00:56.087 --> 00:58.560
"I don't want to do this,I
want to go somewhere else."

00:58.560 --> 00:59.440
I didn't have an option.

00:59.440 --> 01:01.600
It was either stay at
Fort Bragg, or go there.

01:01.600 --> 01:03.080
Now, I went there, and I loved it

01:03.080 --> 01:04.000
and enjoyed it.

01:04.000 --> 01:06.190
Got to travel, got to see
a lot of different things,

01:06.190 --> 01:07.990
a lot of different countries.

01:07.990 --> 01:11.230
Think I hit 18 countries
in two and a half years

01:11.230 --> 01:12.160
that I was there.

01:12.160 --> 01:13.780
Some for work, some for vacation,

01:13.780 --> 01:16.337
met a lot of cool people,
and just had a blast.

01:16.337 --> 01:18.630
"You know you've been selected as the top

01:18.630 --> 01:20.890
ten percent of the Army
to be a recruiter."

01:20.890 --> 01:22.020
I didn't really want to do that

01:22.020 --> 01:24.510
because sitting behind a
desk just isn't my thing

01:24.510 --> 01:28.360
so I was like, "Okay, well
I'm going to re-enlist,

01:28.360 --> 01:29.220
one way or another."

01:29.220 --> 01:30.053
Plus, I also don't want to get out.

01:30.053 --> 01:31.660
It's also not something I volunteered for,

01:31.660 --> 01:33.270
but it has been a blessing.

01:33.270 --> 01:35.670
I've got to meet a lot of good people.

01:35.670 --> 01:38.100
In my opinion made some positive impacts

01:38.100 --> 01:40.180
on peoples lives around the community.

01:40.180 --> 01:41.540
Something I did with my dad,

01:41.540 --> 01:43.230
like fishing local tournaments

01:43.230 --> 01:44.540
and just going out and having fun,

01:44.540 --> 01:46.985
and having a good time,
just being outside,

01:46.985 --> 01:48.040
being in nature.

01:48.040 --> 01:51.820
Ever since, everywhere I go,
I find somewhere to fish.

01:51.820 --> 01:53.130
I fished in Italy.

01:53.130 --> 01:56.940
I met fishermen over there,
and fished in tournaments

01:56.940 --> 01:59.410
and competitions there.

01:59.410 --> 02:01.320
Being in the Army, it's
providing insurance,

02:01.320 --> 02:03.866
it's providing a guaranteed paycheck

02:03.866 --> 02:05.690
it's provided me the opportunity

02:05.690 --> 02:08.273
to go and see different places,

02:08.273 --> 02:10.173
do different things,

02:12.590 --> 02:16.350
and just wholly and fully enjoy life.

02:16.350 --> 02:18.660
A misconception from talking to people

02:18.660 --> 02:20.970
about the Army is they think that

02:22.290 --> 02:23.620
you're giving up your life.

02:23.620 --> 02:26.690
Well, no, it's just enhanced my life

02:26.690 --> 02:30.900
and my ability to go do what I want.

02:30.900 --> 02:33.860
I find something that
that person wants to do

02:33.860 --> 02:36.010
and show them how the Army can help

02:36.010 --> 02:37.457
and that's it because the Army

02:37.457 --> 02:39.650
can help you chase your dreams,

02:39.650 --> 02:42.315
and pursue your dreams,
and help get you there.

02:42.315 --> 02:44.898
(gentle music)