Joining the United States Army can be challenging, but it can change lives for the better while building community. Memphis, Tennessee has challenges from socio-economic, demographic, poverty, and crime perspectives that influence mindsets on a city-wide level. Enlisting or Commissioning in the Army Reserve has benefits that can shift the needle toward a stronger community and impact generations.
The Army Reserve allows a soldier to maintain a civilian life while serving with active reserve contracts that last between 4 and 6 years at a time.
Sergeant First Class Kinley Toussaint, recruiter for the Midtown Memphis Army Reserve recruiting office, said, “My number one priority when it comes to the why you should join the Army is one get out of Memphis, and two have a career where you can have the opportunity to grow.”
According to the Memphis Police Department, the city ended 2023 with 398 homicides, a rate that according to officers went up from the previous year by 12 percent. Sgt. 1st Class Toussaint says this is why getting out of Memphis is crucial for professional and personal development for those impacted by crime or the environment around them. He said, “A lot of times you have people that either find a way out with the Army, or they basically mold into their environment and get into the wrong stuff.”
The Army Reserve offers discipline, financial stability, a community, and educational opportunities that can change lives for the better. Toussaint says he remains in his recruitment role because he sees how his work in Memphis is positively affecting those around him. He says besides Midtown Memphis, his unit goes into other areas like Cordova, Bartlett, Millington, and Southaven, Mississippi.
Toussaint gave an example of a high school senior who lost 80 pounds after weighing in at 250 pounds. “He really needed to lose the weight, but he was very smart,” said Toussaint. He shared that he inspired the high schooler and worked with him until he was able to qualify for his chosen MOS. “He was able to join the army for a contract where you got $50,000,” said Toussaint, “So now this 18-year-old guy had nothing for himself just you know, really, smart. It was a great way to start off right after high school. He’s doing good and got a real good job that's going to transfer well into the civilian world.”
Although he shared one example of success, Toussaint says there are pre-requisites for anyone joining the Army such as height or weight requirements, having a high school diploma or equivalent, and whether or not someone is married or have children. For single parents, Toussiant says there is a roadblock, “If you're a single parent, the only option is Army Reserve. Now, if you're married, then you could do a family care plan and everything like that on active duty.”
Whether an individual decides to join the Army or not, as a recruiter, Toussaint says it’s about the people and providing opportunities they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Compared to a civilian’s progression Toussaint says the opportunities are everywhere. He said, “Maybe you'll see some growth [in a civilian career] but isn't going to be as quick as in the Army. The fact that you get to meet people from all over the world, the fact that you get to travel all over the world, those are some things that if you compare it to people that you graduate with from high school, you're going to have very interesting stories compared to them.”
| Date Taken: | 05.18.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2024 09:52 |
| Story ID: | 471665 |
| Location: | MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE, US |
| Web Views: | 19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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