NOVO SELO, Bulgaria- People join the Army Reserve for many different reasons. Some join for the experience and possibility to travel the world; others join for the financial benefits to include paid college tuition through the GI Bill. Spc. Michael McLaughlin, 766th Engineer company, 841st Engineer Battalion, United States Army Reserve, joined because he felt the call to serve a country that has given him so much. Born in Kingston, Jamaica, McLaughlin immigrated to the United States at the age of 14 and grew up in Georgia. Upon graduating from high school, he enlisted in the Army to become a combat engineer; known in the Army has a “12B”. McLaughlin served over 5 years on Active duty traveling to Missouri and Germany before joining the Army Reserve to continue his service. When asked about his experience in both the Active Duty and the Reserves McLaughlin stated he “wouldn’t change it for anything else…the reserves are a great opportunity because of the flexibility to have your civilian career and be a soldier part-time.”
McLaughlin serves in the 841st Eng. Bn. has a combat engineer with a special focus on horizontal construction, classified has a 12N. Horizontal construction units are responsible for the preparation of roads and tank trails. In order to do this they must analyze terrain, drive bulldozers, road graders and other heavy equipment to level terrain as well as clear, strip, backfill and push terrain with a various heavy construction equipment. The 841st Eng. Bn., U.S. Army Reserve and 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, engineers conduct site improvement within training areas during Operation Resolute Castle. Operation Resolute Castle is United States Army Europe led military construction operation that spans from constructing roadways to infrastructure improvements across Eastern Europe, which includes Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, and Hungary.
| Date Taken: | 07.23.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 07.29.2016 02:08 |
| Category: | B-Roll |
| Video ID: | 476908 |
| VIRIN: | 160723-A-EY517-002 |
| Filename: | DOD_103514617 |
| Length: | 00:00:35 |
| Location: | NOVO SELO, BG |
| Downloads: | 3 |
| High-Res. Downloads: | 3 |
This work, Service Above Self, by CPT Jose Lopez Jr, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
