Family Legacy Continues with Daughter

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Cmd Sgt. Maj. Isaia Vimito, his daughter Ariel, and wife, Missy

Shahron L. James

Public Affairs Specialist

Raleigh Recruiting Battalion

“I thought about going Air Force, but it was taking a year to get me in.  I signed up for the Army in two weeks.”

These are the words of Ariel Vimito, one of the Army’s newest recruits.

As stated, she had originally chosen to go into the Air Force, but she had a desire to serve and the delayed entry program of the Air Force was hindering that desire.

“I told her that she could have already been in the Army by now. I called a 1^st Sergeant friend of mine and we got her in the Army in a short period of time”, said Cmd Sgt. Maj. Isaia Vimito. 

Cmd Sgt. Maj. Vimito is has been in the Army for 34 years and is expected to begin terminal leave in December and will have an official retirement date in April 2016.

The Vimito Family is an Army family. There are two older siblings who are in the Army and all of them are Airborne. Ariel received Airborne as part of her enlistment package. She is the third child of the family and is excited about her new career.

Ariel is 23 years old and had previously attended Central Texas College under the major of Business Administration.

She will be enlisted in the Army as a 35S - Signals Collector/Analyst. The Signals Collector/Analyst is primarily responsible for performing and supervising the detection of foreign electronic intelligence.

“It is a good job to have just in case you decide to get out”, said Ariel.

Cmd. Sgt. Maj. Vimito continued, “The job selection is really about transitioning back into civilian life.”

However, when Ariel was asked if she was intending to stay in the Army as long as her Dad she replied that she would likely be a Soldier for life.

“My brother and sister are in the military and my sister works close with my Dad. I suppose I will follow in the footsteps of my Dad”, she said.

The family notes that there were challenges in being an Army family, especially when it came to sports. Cmd Sgt. Maj. Vimito states that the entire family is very athletic, but that whenever they moved to a new assignment; the children had to start all over in sport.

“I know some other children may have had a hard time growing up, but I believe it makes you more mature and independent because when they are gone you have to learn how to depend on yourself”, said Ariel.

The family echoes the sentiments that Army Family life makes the children more resilient and that perhaps they have an advantage over other children.

“Other people think that we have no place to call home, but military children see the world and the world view is broader”, said Cmd Sgt. Major Vimito.

Ariel has placed her commitment and desire to serve above anything else. Cmd Sgt. Maj. Vimito cites that his children are children who were born to serve. Ariel stated that she could have stayed in college, but she chose to be a portion of American and to continue the Vimito legacy.

Missy Vimito, Ariel’s mother said, “She has to go out and make the best of it, I have no concerns about her joining the Army.”

Wilmington Center Recruiter Enlists His Son

Sgt. 1st Class Bryant enlist his son Dequan

Story and Photos by

Shahron L. James

Public Affairs Specialist

Raleigh Recruiting Battalion

“I am a proud Dad!”

These were the last words that Sgt. 1^st Class James Bryant said to his son, Dequan, before he ships to Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, S.C. 

Dequan is the exact image of his father. If you wanted to know what Sgt. 1^st Class Bryant looked like at 19 years old, just look at his son. Then you will be able to see that Dequan enlisting in the Army may not be a coincidence. 

“I told him that he could make his own decision, but that if he was going to join any branch other than the Army; I wanted to talk to them first”, said Sgt. 1^st Class Bryant

Bryant has been in the U.S. Army for 19 years; with 10 years as a Recruiter. 

Bryant states, “I had plenty of opportunities. Everybody wanted me to go to college and play football. My recruiter even wanted me to college and play football, but I realized I was not mature enough for college.”

Sgt. 1^st Class Bryant says that his recruiter even assigned him the 19D, Cavalry Scout MOS, in an effort to get him not to enlist.  

Fast forward 19 years and this month Sgt. 1^st Class Bryant has enlisted his son in the 88N MOS. 

Dequan Bryant is shipping out today and has a very similar story.

“I graduated from the Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, Ga. I was considering college, but I decided to work a little. I don’t think I would have been able to work and go to college”, said Dequan.

Dequan waited for a year after high school to enlist in college and sought out his Dad for enlistment.

When asked if his Dad pressured him to join Dequan said, “He let me decide on my own. I was thinking about it before and now I believe it is just a better path for me.”

“It is better than sitting around and doing nothing or making minimum wage with no benefits”, said Dequan.

Dequan stated that he considered playing football like his Dad, but after training with him for a day; he decided not to pursue it.

He states that he will believes he will like Basic Training and is looking forward to the Drill Sergeants trying to break him.

“I’m not afraid of Drill Sergeants. I have never had that experience, but I’m ready”, said Dequan.

Dequan appears to have a plan. He states that he is considering college after his first year in the Army, that he will most likely do 20 years, and that he is looking for good leadership.

“I just wanted something better”, he said.

Recruiter Saves Lives Through Donation

Sgt. Jacob Boyce of Raleigh Recruiting Bn, Fayetteville Company

Story and photo
by Ron Toland

Raleigh Recruiting Battalion

     Sgt. Jacob Boyce understands the meaning of selfless service. 

     Six years ago, Boyce, an Army Recruiter out of Sanford N.C. Recruiting Center, registered with The C.W. Bill Young Department of Defense (DoD) Marrow Donor Recruitment and Research Program to donate bone marrow.

     In Sept. of 2015, he received the call to donate bone marrow, possibly saving the life of a 5-year old boy with Leukemia.

     “I just can’t say no to helping others,” he said. “It is just who I am.”

     Boyce explained that the registration process involves multiple steps; from cotton mouth swabs to multiple blood and marrow testings, ensuring he is a potential and /or an exact match to donate.

     The entire process, from travel, surgery on Sept. 23 to recovery and his release, took four days, at the Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.

     But just a few weeks after his release, Boyce, 27, is back on his feet and you’d never know he donated.

     Boyce believes that his act of putting others first and stopping to help others, defines the ethos of Army Leadership of Selfless Service.

     “Being a father of two girls, I cannot leave people hanging. It is what I would expect from anyone else,” the recruiter said.

     And his company commander underlines his sentiments.

     “Soldiers know the Army Values, but how often do we see someone live up to them,” said Fayetteville Recruiting Company Commander, Cpt.  Markinna Baskin.

     “Sgt. Boyce has proven to be selfless, even prior to the decision to donate his bone marrow. He's that teammate that you always want on your team,” she said.

     Baskin said that this came as no surprise to her when Boyce discussed his being a donor match.

     He understood the procedure and discomfort that comes with having this type of surgery. But his special interest ensuring the young boys' improvement after his donation procedure was the only concern he displayed, she said.

     And going that mile is larger than ones self.

     “Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.  Boyce demonstrated selfless service by providing a piece of himself in order for a young man to live a long and prosperous life,” said the commander.

     For more information on the donation program, go to: https://www.salutetolife.org/index.html