Photo By Pam Goodhart | 250327-A-BS696-3001 CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - Sgt. Noah Payton, Letterkenny Army...... read more read more
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – On June 14, 2025, the U.S. Army will celebrate its 250th birthday and the theme is “This We’ll Defend,” which highlights the Army’s purpose of fighting and winning our nation’s wars. One Soldier, a military police officer, at Letterkenny Army Depot shares his Army story and the importance of this iconic birthday.
Sgt. Noah Payton, assigned to the 157th Military Police Company, West Virginia Army National Guard, joined the Army in 2019. He has been at LEAD for less than a year, serving and defending our employees, their families, and the local community.
In this role, his primary duties include providing and maintaining physical security, safeguarding assets, and conducting patrols to monitor for threats for the more than 18,000 acres of the depot.
“My dad served on active duty and then went into the National Guard,” said Payton. “I saw what the military meant to him, and I wanted to do something that I could be proud of doing myself and something that my family would be proud of me for doing.”
Payton joined at the age of 17, and to do so, he had to have both of his parents sign off. He stated his mom was not thrilled at the idea, but she was supportive and agreed to sign the form.
Two months after graduating basic training, Payton went on rotation to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and said it was an experience he enjoyed and hoped that one day he could go again.
“It means a lot to serve in our U.S. Army, I am part of something much bigger than myself,” said Payton. “I want to show my daughters that you can do anything you put your mind to and being able to protect and serve is one of the biggest things you can do for everyone.”
Payton reflected on the upcoming Army birthday and shared what the significance of that day means to him.
“I love being a part of our nation’s oldest branch of service,” said Payton. “I have been given so many opportunities that I wouldn’t get anywhere else. I get to travel and meet some of the best people.
“It is the best job ever.”
For more information on the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, visit https://www.army.mil/1775/.
| Date Taken: | 03.28.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2025 10:26 |
| Story ID: | 494218 |
| Location: | CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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