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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Army Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
SFC Bobby Wing US Army (1991-Present)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
There were a lot or reasons. First my family has a large military history. Almost every male on both sides of my family served in some capacity. Every one of my uncles did. One served over 20 years and continued in the CIA after William F. Buckley, he has a  remembrance profile here.
My father especially influenced me. He retired before I was born but he was very active in the VFW along with most of my uncles. So I spent a lot of my time growing up around veterans and I looked up to them very much, especially my father. I started a remembrance profile for him in his honor.
Most of my play time revolved around some kind of military theme. GI Joes, Army men, plastic model kits you name it. So it was kind of natural for me. You could say it was in my blood.
Second was the timing. I graduated High School in 1990. I didn't have the desire to go to college at that time so I decided the military would be a good way to grow up some. As I was still in the undecided stage, Desert Shield kicked off and I decided It was the time to join up and serve my country.
BRIEFLY, WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
Joined in 1990 and began OSUT for 13B Cannon Crewmember, at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma January 1991. After that I was stationed on Ft. Sill with the 75th FA Bde's B Battery, 1st Battalion, 17th Field Artillery.
I reenlisted in 1992 to reclassify as a 68X, AH-64A Apache, Armament and Electrical Systems  Repairer. I arrived at AIT for this at Ft. Eustis, Virginia in June 1993 and was assigned to D Company 1st Battalion, 222nd Aviation. I graduated November 1993 and PCSed to D Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas. There I served as a Squad Leader, was promoted to SGT, reenlisted and volunteered for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
I left Ft. Riley in June 1995 to attend the Basic Non Commissioned Officers Course at Ft. Eustis enroute to my assignment at Ft. Campbell. I graduated in November and arrived at Ft. Campbell to attend selection for the 160th. I graduated Green Platoon in February 1996 and was assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 160th SOAR(A). There I attended many of my favorite schools such as, Airborne, Air Assault, SERE-C and Jumpmaster courses. I spent 5 years in the regiment as a Squad Leader and a Section Sergeant, reenlisting once, promoted to SSG, achieved Fully Mission Qualified(FMQ) status, deployed on dozens of training missions and completed 51 parachute jumps. I then reenlisted to PCS to Germany. I arrived there in July 2000 and was assigned to the 1st Armored Division's, A Company, 127th Aviation Support Battalion on Fliegerhorst Kaserne in Erlensee/Hanau. There I deployed to Kosovo 2B and Operation Iraqi Freedom I and II as an Section Sergeant and Technical Inspector respectively.
After Iraq I PCSed to Ft. Eustis, Virginia in September 2004 to serve as an AIT instructor for the 15X10 course, assigned to the 3rd Staff and Faculty Company. I reenlisted for the last time there and taught for 3 years achieving the title of Master Instructor.
In 2008 I PCSed to Ft. Hood, Texas and was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division's D Company, 4th Battalion, 4th Aviation as the Armament Platoon Sergeant and received the promotion to SFC. There I deployed to Iraq again in 2008 and Afghanistan in 2010.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
I served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 -2004 for an extended 15 month tour. I again served in Iraq from 2008-2009. I also served in Afghanistan from 2010-2011.
WHICH, OF THE DUTY STATIONS OR LOCATIONS YOU WERE ASSIGNED OR DEPLOYED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 Germany was an amazing place to live. Although I spent a good chunk of the 4 years I was stationed there deployed(almost half), the two years there were quite the experience. I am big into history and Germany is full of it. Anyone who joins the military should experience at least one overseas tour besides a combat one. Learning different cultures helps ou to appreciate being an American and makes you a more well rounded American.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
Tough question. So many years, so many memories. I guess I will pick one moment in my career that really solidified my dedication to my country. This great country is the reason we all serve. We can give a million reasons why we join, money, benefits, boredom, travel, job opportunities etc, but if you did not believe in the fabric of this country you would have never stood in the MEPS and recited the oath of enlistment. I always believed. I grew up in awe of Ronnie Reagan and swore to protect our country from those commies.  Sounds strange today but that was respect for my country even as a kid.
Well the moment that really sunk it in for me was at the end of SERE school. I was 24 years old at the time and that school was very challenging. I thought I was the best of the best and going through what feels like true captivity was about my breaking point. In the course you are given choices to defy your own country and flag and to disown and defile it in a way. They showed me that the flag itself is only a symbol and it is what is in your heart that matters. Needless to say many a strong man broke down including myself. The moment that struck me was the very end when we all thought we couldn't take it any more and they told us about face and there was Old Glory blowing in the breeze. It was beautiful. We all saluted and sang the national anthem and cried like little girls. That moment I will never forget.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 The Parachutist Badge. That badge was the one thing that my Dad had on his uniform I most respected and I always strove to earn one. It took 5 years to get there but when I did I had my mother pin my Dad's wings on my chest and I was a very prod moment for me.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Another question that is hard to choose. I have had a lot of great leaders over the years. I will have to choose 1SG Jeff McCloud. He was a SSG, my Platoon Sergeant in Bravo Company, 1st Battalion 160th SOAR when I first met him. He was a legend in  Special Operations Aviation as well as the Army helicopter Armament Community. Everybody knew him or of him. I was already a dedicated worker and NCO when I arrived. His work ethic was just what I needed to push me even further and to learn every single aspect of my job. As the new guy, no matter what rank you were, you had to relearn everything because the Six Guns were a one of a kind unit with helicopters and Armament systems that you did not learn anywhere else. It was all on the job training and he taught me everything I knew there and set the standards for my success int he regiment. I always looked up to him and strove to achieve all he had, including the coveted mustard stain on his jump wings which less than 10 in my job field ever had.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
 I am currently in Afghanistan serving as Platoon Sergeant in Task Force Gambler at FOB Sharana.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Special Forces Association, the Non Commissioned Officers Association and the Army Aviation Association of America. I was also a member of the Nightstalker Association and plan to reapply again in the future. I plan to be active in these associations once I retire. The VFW and American legion have hosted events for me in the past. The VFW presented me with a free Life membership. I was a guest speaker for a meeting of my Special Forces association Chapter 54 which is named in my uncle's honor. All three have supported me and my troops during all of my deployments with care packages. I plan to give back to these organizations once I retire and be active in recruiting and supporting veterans.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
The military has taught me a lot of valuable lessons. It has taught me how to be self sufficient, how to be a leader and a follower, how to have discipline in every aspect of your life and most importantly it has taught me to appreciate what I have. That includes everything including what some might take for granted, the love of their family and the freedom they enjoy from this great country.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
 First of all, your service is a job but so much more. You are a very small part of the American population and carry the burden of all of it. Because of you, my children are free to learn and grow. That is more than just a job. So take it seriously and excel at all the opportunities given to you. If you try everything to the best of your ability you will succeed and move up. Make sure you enjoy your job and if you don't there are ways to change it and find something you do enjoy. If you don't love what you do you will not enjoy your time and your paycheck wont overrule that. Lastly be proud of what you do. Whether you serve 2 years or 20 do your part well and hold your head high.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
I think of this site as a military facebook. I am still serving so I still have contact with many of the Joes that I served with over the years. Once the next facebook comes around and nobody uses that anymore, TWS will still be here and be the tool to keep in touch with all those friends and memories. Throughout my life I hope to keep in touch. I remember how my dad used to wonder how all his old Army buddies were. I won't have to wonder.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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remembrance profile here. 
Repairer. I arrived at AIT for this at Ft. Eustis, Virginia in June 1993 and was assigned to D Company 1st Battalion, 222nd Aviation. I graduated November 1993 and PCSed to D Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Aviation, 1st Infantry Division, Ft. Riley, Kansas. There I served as a Squad Leader, was promoted to SGT, reenlisted and volunteered for the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment.
Germany was an amazing place to live. Although I spent a good chunk of the 4 years I was stationed there deployed(almost half), the two years there were quite the experience. I am big into history and Germany is full of it. Anyone who joins the military should experience at least one overseas tour besides a combat one. Learning different cultures helps ou to appreciate being an American and makes you a more well rounded American. 
Sounds strange today but that was respect for my country even as a kid.
The Parachutist Badge. That badge was the one thing that my Dad had on his uniform I most respected and I always strove to earn one. It took 5 years to get there but when I did I had my mother pin my Dad's wings on my chest and I was a very prod moment for me.
Special Operations Aviation as well as the Army helicopter Armament Community. Everybody knew him or of him. I was already a dedicated worker and NCO when I arrived. His work ethic was just what I needed to push me even further and to learn every single aspect of my job. As the new guy, no matter what rank you were, you had to relearn everything because the Six Guns were a one of a kind unit with helicopters and Armament systems that you did not learn anywhere else. It was all on the job training and he taught me everything I knew there and set the standards for my success int he regiment. I always looked up to him and strove to achieve all he had, including the coveted mustard stain on his jump wings which less than 10 in my job field ever had. 
I am currently in Afghanistan serving as Platoon Sergeant in Task Force Gambler at FOB Sharana.
First of all, your service is a job but so much more. You are a very small part of the American population and carry the burden of all of it. Because of you, my children are free to learn and grow. That is more than just a job. So take it seriously and excel at all the opportunities given to you. If you try everything to the best of your ability you will succeed and move up. Make sure you enjoy your job and if you don't there are ways to change it and find something you do enjoy. If you don't love what you do you will not enjoy your time and your paycheck wont overrule that. Lastly be proud of what you do. Whether you serve 2 years or 20 do your part well and hold your head high.
