Photo By Sgt. Madeline Fortune | U.S. Arkansas Army National Guard Sgt. Kameron Jones, assigned to Delta Company, 2nd...... read more read more
Every service member has his or her own distinctive reason for joining the military. For U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Kameron Jones, his reason for enlisting in the Army National Guard was to live a more purposeful, responsible and honorable life for himself and his family. Three years after enlisting, Jones is able to say that his decision has paid off, and he now lives a more constructive and ambitious life that focuses on his future and not just living life day-to-day.
One of Jones’ biggest advocates for enlisting was his wife, Emily Jones, who was good friends with a recruiter who helped Jones discover the benefits of joining and serving in the Army National Guard.
“She’s actually the one that encouraged me to enlist,” said Jones. “She saw that I really needed a change of focus in life at the time. I was 25 when I enlisted, so it’s definitely helped give me some more guidance.”
Jones is assigned to Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard. He is currently attending annual training at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in Fort Polk, Louisiana, where he is experiencing realistic combat operations that will help better prepare him for battle.
Not only is this Jones’ first time at JRTC, but it's also his first ever in-person annual training since his annual training scheduled for the previous year ended up being held virtually due to Covid-19. Jones says his experience at JRTC hasn't been quite as action-packed as he initially thought it would be, but he expects the intensity to pick up within the next few days of the exercise.
Jones serves as a signal support systems specialist in the Arkansas Army National Guard. While at JRTC, Jones has been maintaining radio frequencies, distributing data and performing signal support functions, all while assisting his company with other infantry-related tasks such as pulling security.
Jones says that the communications operations within his unit since being at JRTC have been successful thus far. If issues in communication ever arise, Jones works until the issue is resolved and communication is restored and secure.
Jones emphasized the importance of communications personnel in a combat setting, saying "We're not infantrymen, but we bring what we do to the fight. You can't fight without communications.”
In addition to serving in the Guard, Jones also works two civilian jobs in his hometown of Hot Springs, Arkansas. He works as a sheet metal mechanic at Radius Aerospace and as a server at Fisherman's Wharf. Jones has lived in Hot Springs the majority of his life. His wife Emily, son Kash, and his mother and sister also reside in Hot Springs.
Jones says he is about three years into his six year enlistment and that his experience in the National Guard has been very positive so far.
“I think my military career has been successful so far; I’ve got nothing to complain about. The military definitely helped me turn my life around for the better and it helped me build a future for myself.”
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 07.22.2021 17:01 |
| Story ID: | 401503 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 208 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Soldier's life positively impacted by National Guard service, by SGT Madeline Fortune, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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