Student newspaper focuses spotlight on RSP Soldier's training

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

FESTUS, Mo - A Soldier in the Missouri National Guard's Recruit Sustainment Program is the focus of a feature article in the September issue of the Montage, the student newspaper of the St. Louis Community College system.

Pvt. Levi J. Cochran, 23, of south St. Louis County, drew the attention of student journalist Jayson Gifford during the August recruit sustainment drill for G Company at the Festus Armory.

Cochran and Gifford are both students at the Meramec College campus in Kirkwood.

Recruit sustainment gives new Guard recruits a taste of Army life before they attend basic training. Program Soldiers are taught basic soldiering skills as well as Army protocol and custom through a series of weekend drills before leaving for Army basic training.

Gifford, a Navy veteran, said he hopes the Montage story focusing on Cochran will enlighten his fellow students about today's military.

Entitled A day in the life of a Citizen Soldier, Gifford's story chronicles a typical training day for Cochran and his reasons for joining the National Guard.

"Specifically, we're focusing on what the Army is doing to get Levi Cochran ready for basic training and what training techniques they are using to do it," Gifford said. "This is also a good opportunity for our students who might be curious about the military to move forward and choose it as a career because the military is a very viable career after college. A lot of people think the Army is all running and gunning but they need to understand that there is discipline involved and some very specific training being done here."

A student in engineering science, Cochran hopes to enroll in the ROTC program at either Lindenwood University in St. Charles or Washington University in St. Louis.

"I'm extremely happy with my decision (to join the National Guard)," Cochran told the Montage. "It feels excellent having the opportunity to serve my country and I look forward to having the opportunity to become a commissioned officer after I graduate."

Citing the war in Afghanistan, Gifford points out that Cochran is "one of the few students" who have made the decision to "face the danger at hand and become a Citizen-Soldier."

"I definitely believe in what our mission is (there) and what we're doing," Cochran said.

Cochran is scheduled to leave for basic training in March 2011.

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