[Vision2020] 40-year-old PFC Headed to Middle East

[Tom Hansen]

>From the Army Times at:

http://www.ArmyTimes.com

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Gregory Self, a 40-year-old private first class, trains at Camp Gruber in 
Braggs, Okla., on May 27. Self, who joined the Oklahoma Army National 
Guard in September, is now training at Camp Gruber for a mission to the 
Mideast later this year.
http://tinyurl.com/3fbjxk

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40-year-old pfc. headed to Middle East
   
BRAGGS, Okla. — Gregory Self has those sculpted facial features and that 
1,000-yard stare common to many veteran combat soldiers. Except that he’s 
a beginner, a private first class. And 40 years old.

Self, who joined the Oklahoma National Guard last September, is now 
training at Camp Gruber for a mission to the Middle East later this year.

He’s older than many of his commanders, and nearly twice as old as his 
peers around him, so why would anyone his age join the military?

“I liked the idea of adventure and travel,” said Self, a master carpenter 
from Oklahoma City. “I wanted to do something for my country.”

There were comments made about his age during basic training, mostly from 
drill sergeants who told him, “I don’t care how old you are, you’re going 
to do everything.”

Self, who is single and does not have children, is attached to the Enid-
based 45th Fires Brigade of the Oklahoma National Guard.

Normally an artillery unit, the fires brigade is training for a new 
mission to provide convoy and base security.

More than 800 of its troops are expected to ship out in September or 
October to both Iraq and Kuwait.

Col. Pat Scully, spokesman for the Oklahoma National Guard, said it was 
unusual for someone of Self’s age to join the Guard without prior military 
service.

“Most of our recruits are 17, 18 years old or in their early 20s,” Scully 
said. “I think it says a lot about him, his beliefs and what he stands 
for.”

Self is already going places in the military: he was a private until 
Monday, when he was promoted to private first class.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 16, not too long after he arrives in the Middle East, 
he will turn 41. The cutoff age for joining the Oklahoma National Guard is 
42.

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Seeya at Farmers' Market, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow,
Idaho

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