Preparing for the guard

Southeast Missourian

The thought of going to Iraq doesn't worry Aaron Mecey.

The 17-year-old Central High School senior enlisted in the National Guard last February.

While most of Mecey's fellow senior classmates spent their final summer of high school by the pool or at part-time jobs, he went through nine weeks of basic training in South Carolina.

"It was tough at first, but after a few weeks it got pretty easy," he said. "There was a lot of physical activities like running, and we did some weapon and combat training."

Mecey will graduate from Central in May. After graduation, he'll travel to Fort Jackson, S.C., to complete advanced individual training for the guard. He said this training will allow him to focus on learning the ins and out's about mechanics in the National Guard.

"I picked to go to the guard because they let me join as soon as possible," he said. "I figure this will be the best place for me."

Mecey's not sure when he'll be deployed to fight the war in Iraq, but knows he'll probably have to go sometime.

"I put myself into this for a reason. I'm not really worried about going at all," Mecey said.

As polls continue to reveal, a majority of the American population has a dim view about the war in Iraq; Mecey said he doesn't have an opinion.

"I'll do what I'm told to do -- I don't pay much attention to what everyone else thinks," he said.

Mecey recommends joining the National Guard. "It's something anyone can do," he said.

"We had a lot of people in basic who weren't in good health and overweight, and they got through it and are healthier today."