ADT’s Bradley seems relatively normal until you find out he’s a skydiver

Master Sgt. Stephen Bradley is deployed to Afghanistan supporting the Agri-business Development Team IV.

By Capt. Marie Orlando
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

NANGARHAR PROVIDENCE, Afghanistan - Master Sgt. Stephen Bradley is the non-commissioned officer in charge of the agriculture section deployed to Afghanistan supporting the Agri-business Development Team IV.

He joined the ADT from the Missouri Regional Training Institute at Fort Leonard Wood where he is assigned as the assistant operations noncommissioned officer.

Bradley served six years with the active duty Army and after a break in service, he returned to the Missouri Army National Guard where he has served 16 years. He has a total of 22 years combined service in the military.

This is Bradley's second deployment with the Missouri National Guard. He deployed in 2003 to Tikrit, Iraq, as an equipment section sergeant with the 235th Engineer Company.

Bradley strikes most people as a typical native Missourian with a rural background. He has work for his civilian employer, the City of Belton, for the past 14 years. He shares similar interests like fishing and camping, that many Missourians and ADT member like to do.

When he goes home for leave, his sentiments are the same as so many others that want to spend time with their children and grandchildren. But he has a hobby which is a small aberration from the norm in small-town U.S.A.; Bradley is an avid skydiver.

With over 500 jumps logged and over four hours of free-fall time, Bradley's jumping is nothing new to those that know him, only a little strange.

He says he takes his gear with him when he goes on vacation and jumps different places.

"I've gone to the International Skydivers Convention in Illinois a few times," Bradley said.

At home, he jumps with Freefall Express in Mount Vernon.

His supervisor, Lt. Col. Raymond Legg, said, "Master Sgt. Bradley seems perfectly normal otherwise."

Bradley is from Neosho and lives there with his wife, Sheila. They have four children and three grandchildren.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-888-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.