Soldier looks to take next step, challenge in career

Four years ago, Kevin Shinnick was looking for a challenge in his life that would push his physical and mental limits. Being from a small town in Milford, Massachusetts, he had one goal - to join the Army.

He was a member of the high school wrestling team, received "average grades," as he described, during school. So in 2011, Shinnick enlisted in the Army as an infantryman.

"Throughout my childhood, I was playing with my toy Soldiers, watching war movies," he said. "Having never had any family served in the military, my parents instilled a lot of patriotic values into me."

After completing one station unit training on Fort Benning, Georgia, Shinnick, now a sergeant, received orders to the 2nd Infantry Division out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. Upon arrival, he noticed the Rangers from 2nd Ranger Battalion always conducting training on the airfield near where his unit was located.

During a 12-month deployment, Shinnick submitted a packet to attend the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, or RASP, to become a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment. When he returned from his overseas stint, Shinnick went directly to Fort Benning.

"RASP was difficult, both physically and mentally challenging," Shinnick said. "You are required to work closely with everyone around you, trusting the guy next to you."

Upon graduation from RASP, Shinnick received orders to 3d Ranger Battalion. On arrival, Shinnick began training with his unit in preparation for a combat deployment to Afghanistan. He said his fondest memories, in the unit, were on that deployment because of the camaraderie he built with the men to his left and right.


http://www.army.mil/article/148745/Soldier_looks_to_take_next_step__challenge_in_career/