Active 1st
Story & Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Wedeking, Reserve Component Liaison NCO - Posted June, 2008
FORT SILL, Oklahoma ― Two Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers recently graduated as cannon crewmembers and represent the first Active First program participants to successfully complete their artillery training at Fort Sill, Ok.
Georgia Army National Guard Pvt. Jhakeem A. Chambers (left), 18, of Springfield, Ga.,, and Washington Army National Guard Pvt. Mikal S. Browell, 19, of Spokane, Wash., stand on a stage following their graduation as cannon crewmembers from D Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery. Both Soldier were the first Army National Guard “Active First” program participants to graduate from Fort Sill, Okla., since the program’s inception last October. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Eric Wedeking, Reserve Component Liaison NCO)
Washington Army National Guard Pvt. Mikal S. Browell, 19, of Spokane, Wash., and Georgia Army National Guard Pvt. Jhakeem A. Chambers, 18, of Springfield, Ga., were on their collective ways home for two weeks of Hometown Recruiter Assistance Program before they both reported in to Fort Hood, Texas, to be assigned as artillerymen based with the 4th Infantry Division. Currently, most of the division is deployed to Iraq.
At their graduation from D Battery, 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery, both Browell and Chambers received numerous rounds of applause from 62 of their fellow “battle buddies” and attending family members after Capt. Jonathan W. Craig raised his right hand and recited to both Soldiers the “Oath of Enlistment” into the U.S. Army.
“This is a historic moment for Fort Sill to graduate their very first Active First Soldiers,” said Sgt. Maj. Gregory M. Galloway, Reserve Component Liaison sergeant major. “Both Pvt. Chambers and Pvt. Browell should feel proud of what they’re doing because the Active First program is only open to the very best candidates and very few people qualify to enter the Active First program.”
Since both Soldiers signed up in Active First to serve in the Regular Army for four years and another four-year-hitch back with their respective part-time National Guard units following their initial U.S. Army tour, both Soldiers stand to collectively take home $120,000 in bonus incentives.
Specifically, the Active First bonus breakdown includes:
- 30 months of U.S. Army service: $20,000
- 36 months of U.S. Army service: $30,000
- 48 months of U.S. Army service: $40,000
- Transition back to the Guard after completing Army service: $20,000
During Fiscal Year 2008, the Army National Guard was tasked with enlisting 1,600 recruits in a joint effort with the Army. The Army National Guard receives credit for the accession while the Army, which names specific Military Occupational Specialties (or MOSs) they need filled, adds to their overall end strength.
Browell initially enlisted with Spokane, Wash., based Detachment 2, B Battery, 2nd Battalion 146th Field Artillery while Chambers initially enlisted with Springfield, Ga., based A Battery, 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery before both National Guard citizen-soldiers were eventually assigned to the U.S. Army’s 4th Infantry Division for the next four years.
A National Guard Bureau recruiting and retention representative visiting Fort Sill via Arlington, Va., said Active First is getting a lot of attention from Army National Guard’s highest brass.
“Active First is going very well and it looks like were going to make our mission,” said Ms. Kimberly Isola, Active First project manager. “It’s a very popular program.”
Isola said as of late February only about 300 slots were left unfilled. She noted the most popular specialties the Regular Army is looking to fill include infantry, artillery, military police, aviation, transportation and heavy-vehicle mechanics.
“For the 13 series artillery MOSs, they’re going to trickle in this year because there were not a lot of artillery MOSs allotted by the Army,” Isola added. “It’s going to increase the ‘Summer Surge’ (when graduating high school senior and juniors coming into the military pour onto training bases to begin their U.S. Army training after school lets out), but it won’t be too bad for Fort Sill because there is a cap on the bonus money and a cap on the amount of slots the Army allots us.”
After initially pondering joining the U.S. Army, Browell said he later had a chance meeting with a Washington Army National Guard recruiter, who informed him about the Active First program. Besides getting $60,000 in bonuses, full-time Army pay and benefits for four years, along with the Washington Army National Guard’s “Conditional Scholarship“ (loan forgiveness) program at state universities and other perks like the Montgomery GI Bill, Browell said the decision-making process was made effortless.
“It was an easy decision when I found out about the Active First program,” Browell said.
Being the first Active First participants did prove difficult at first because the program is so into its infancy, many Army administrators are still unaware or unfamiliar with the program that was officially launched in October 2007.
“I was very hesitant at first because few people knew about Active First. I would get a lot of blank stares when people learned I was an Active First Soldier,” Browell added. “It was a bumpy ride going through MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) because their computer system wasn’t set up to process Active First recruits.”
But in the end, before heading off to their first Regular Army assignment at Fort Hood, both Chambers and Browell said their combined Army National Guard and U.S. Army experiences are working out for the best and they are both looking ahead to their successful futures.
“It was an honor and a privilege for me. I’m very proud,” said Chambers. “When I’ve completed my four-year tour with the Army, I’m definitely going back to the Guard because by then I’ll want to start going to college.”
Browell immediately nodded to his comrade in arms, saying: “I’m with you on that one too.”
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