By Shahron James
Public Affairs Intern
Special to The U.S. Army Raleigh Recruiting Battalion
 |
Brothers David and Nicholas Merle enlist in Raleigh, N.C., June 18.U.S. Army photo by Ron Toland |
Two brothers
simultaneously joined the U.S. Army, June 18.
The brothers,
David, 25 and Nicholas, 22, Merle enlisted at their local MEPS in Raleigh, N.C. Both young, energetic and determined recruits
seek new adventures and challenges. They expressed enlisting has long been a
desire, and now that desire has been fulfilled.
“It gives me
goose-bumps to think of what I will be doing and to have the opportunity to
serve my country,” David elaborated saying that he has a strong sense of pride
when he thinks of serving as an 18 X-Ray, Special Forces recruit.
A North Carolina
State University graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology and Forensic
Science, David decided to enlist into a 5-year contract rather than entering as
an officer candidate.
However, his
brother has other plans.
Nicholas, who holds
an Associate’s Degree of Applied Science and Medicine from Johnson Community
College and is a licensed North Carolina Emergency Medical Technician, is
entering basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. as a 68 Whiskey, Health Care
Specialist and is equally eager as his brother.
“I just couldn’t go through life wondering and
then not knowing what it would have been like to be in the Army,” he said,
using the rocking chair test as a reference.
“If I don’t do this,
I will regret not doing it,” he said.
When asked what
prompted them to make the decision to enter the military, both brothers
replied, “We needed a challenge. We
needed to be around people who were like-minded as us,” they said. “We want to
do more than what is expected. Everybody
around us just seemed to be letting life pass by and we didn’t want that to
happen to us.”
They attribute
their encouragement to join the military to their grandfather, Joseph Merle
Sr., who served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
“Our grandfather
had six brothers who served in the military,” David stated.
They attribute
their patriotism to wholesome upbringing and great morals which was taught to
them by their parents, Arlene and Joseph Merle, Jr.
Both will enter
with the rank of specialist. Upon completion of Basic and Special Forces
training, David will automatically advance to the rank of Sergeant.
After Basic Training,
Nicholas said he will be stationed in Alaska for AIT and David at Ft. Benning,
but both brothers are committing to Airborne Training.
