Meet Sgt. 1st Class Nick McDonald, an infantry platoon sergeant assigned to Company C, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, and currently a recruit at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy. McDonald’s journey is a testament to dedication and service.
“I’ve always enjoyed being a Soldier and leading Soldiers. I’ve tried the construction jobs, I’ve tried the other things... since I left active duty, it was hard to find something similar to that lifestyle,” McDonald shared.
His passion for service is evident in his career, which spans seventeen years. After starting on active duty, he transitioned to the Guard and never looked back. His interest in law enforcement began over a decade ago, and he was recently hired by his hometown Winterset Police Department.
“I love going to the range and learning defensive tactics, so that’s fun. We then do scenarios where we add all that in there and get to use the skills that we’ve learned,” McDonald said.
In addition to his law enforcement aspirations, McDonald also serves his community in multiple capacities. He works as an EMT with Madison County EMS and volunteers as a firefighter. “Service jobs or community-driven jobs have similar kinds of people, with the same kind of objectives, same mission mindset,” he explained.
When he’s not at drill, working, or attending the ILEA, McDonald is a dedicated family man. With a wife and seven children, his life is bustling. “It’s baseball season, so I’ve got three or four kids doing Little League. On the weekends when I go home, we spend a lot of time working on those skills,” he said. They enjoy spending time outdoors and being involved in sports, embodying the same dedication and teamwork that McDonald brings to his professional life.
| Date Taken: | 06.05.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.19.2024 12:52 |
| Photo ID: | 8457949 |
| VIRIN: | 240605-Z-QX677-1003 |
| Resolution: | 8192x5464 |
| Size: | 21.33 MB |
| Location: | JOHNSTON, IOWA, US |
| Web Views: | 28 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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