Union woman stands out among new National Guard recruits

Pvt. April Bruner (center) listens intently during a recent RSP drill at the Festus Armory.


Acting as squad leader, Pvt. April Bruner practices moving a wounded comrade from the field at the Festus Armory.


Pvt. April Bruner tales a break from the intense heat during a recent RSP drill at the Festus Armory.


By Bill Phelan
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

FESTUS, Mo. - At 28, April Bruner, of Union, is older than most National Guard recruits, but it is not her age that draws the attention of the noncommissioned officers who know her.

"Her background and life experiences are really something," explained Staff Sgt. Jonathan Edmonson, a coordinator for the Guard's Recruit Sustainment Program, which prepares new recruits for basic training through physical exercise and drills on military protocol.

Bruner is a member of Company G, a recruit sustainment unit of about 70 that trains at the Festus Armory. She joined the Missouri National Guard after dabbling in several career opportunities.

"I went to Central Missouri State University where I majored in marketing and communications and right out of college I got a job with Ameristar Casino," Bruner said. "I've also been the director of sales and marketing for a major golf management company and I was a wine educator for St. Alban's Country Club. They sent me to the Napa Valley and taught me about wine and then I sold it to their members."

Not satisfied with all that, Bruner got out of the wine business to pursue yet another career path.

"I had always wanted to be a personal trainer, so when I was done with wine sales I stared personal training and I've done that for three years," she said. "Oh, and I also teach cardio-kickboxing classes."

Incredibly, Bruner also finds the time and energy to play competitive sand volleyball and softball.

With a college education and a diverse, professional background, Bruner could write her own ticket career-wise, but chose to bring her talents to the National Guard, a fact not lost on her recruiter.

"She had many avenues open to her and she chose the hardest one," said Staff Sgt. Patrick Cullen. "She chose to serve her country and in my mind that sets her apart."

Describing Bruner as "far beyond qualified" to be a Soldier, Cullen remembers their first meeting in his Arnold office.

"She came in very motivated and knew exactly what she wanted to do," he said. "This wasn't a referral. She came in and told me she wanted to join the National Guard and asked what we had to do to make it happen."

Appropriately enough, Bruner said it was marketing that lead her to the National Guard.

"I was driving home from work one day and stressing about going back to school and a National Guard commercial came on the radio," she said. "I went home, looked up some information on the computer and called Sgt. Cullen."

Bruner is scheduled to report for basic training Aug. 18 at Fort Sill, Ok. She will then be trained as a chemical operations specialist at Fort Leonard Wood and join the 3175th Chemical Company, based in St. Peters.

"I really believe in the National Guard and what it stands for," Bruner added. "It feels awesome to be a part of it. I'm really looking forward to being deployed and giving everything I have for the National Guard."

Bruner is the daughter of John Bruner, of St. Louis, and Diana Vogel, of Port Richie, Fl.


For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.

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For more information about this release, please contact UPAR Bill Phelan at 314-416-1868 or cell, 314-556-5428 or e-mail bill.phelan@us.army.mil .