Photo By Spc. Staci Evbuomwan | Soldiers with the 913th Engineer Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army...... read more read more
NOVO SELO TRAINING, Bulgaria – Every year, thousands of men and women commit themselves to service in the United States military. They raise their right hand and swear to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, to bear true faith and allegiance, and to obey the orders of the President of the United States.
Soldiers from the 913th Engineer Company, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, just like soldiers from every other unit in the U.S. Army, have all taken this oath at some point in their military careers.
For Spc. Bobby Tims and Spc. Jake Mason, their military service commitments were drawing to a close, and it was time to make a decision – to leave the United States Military, or to raise their right hand again and to extend their military service.
Tims and Mason both decided to take the oath, committing themselves to more years of service to the people of the United States.
Their opportunity to take this oath came at a very interesting time for Tims and Mason. Both soldiers were overseas with the Tennessee Army National Guard as part of Operation Resolute Castle. Resolute Castle, a military construction effort taking place in the Eastern European countries of Estonia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria, is an opportunity to expand military bases throughout this region and to give soldiers like Tims and Mason an opportunity to learn new skills as military engineers.
Lt. Col. Michael Scates, former battalion commander for the 913th Engineer Company, Tennessee Army National Guard, has seen these soldiers grow during their military careers and was very proud of their decision to re-enlist.
“Today, we commend two soldiers, SPC Tims and SPC Mason, who are extending that obligation. This display of Army Values is a tribute to these two soldiers and the service members of the 913th Engineer Company,” said Scates.
During the ceremony, soldiers from the 913th Engineer Company also honored one of their brothers-in-arms who will never be given the opportunity to take the oath again.
This summer, Sgt. George “Junior” Jones, passed away.
Capt. Kevin Carroll, Company Commander for the 913th Engineer Company, paid tribute to him during the ceremony.
“SGT Jones was a friend and an exemplary Soldier. I was privileged to be able to participate in his military growth and honored to work alongside of him through a deployment as well as in garrison,” stated Carroll. “He is greatly missed by this unit.
“We wanted to make sure his wife Ginger and his family understand and can see through this picture that he was and always will be with the 913th and we will never forget the loss of our brother in arms.”
Scates was humbled by the respect paid by the 913th Engineer Company.
“The soldiers of the 913th Engineer Company show great respect and love for a fallen soldier today,” stated Scates. “Sgt. George ‘Junior’ Jones was scheduled to be on this rotation, performing this very mission.
“He is one that will always be remembered as an integral part of this team and company.”
| Date Taken: | 08.20.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 09.30.2016 12:17 |
| Story ID: | 211016 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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