Worley named readiness NCO for Cape unit

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. -- Sgt. 1st Class John Worley has taken a position as readiness noncommissioned officer for the Missouri National Guard at the 1140th Engineer Battalion's Forward Support Company.

The 35-year-old Benton resident has 18 years of military service, most recently as the readiness NCO for the 880th Engineer Haul Team in Perryville.

"I really enjoy being in the Missouri National Guard," Worley said. "It has its good days and its bad days, but fortunately the good days far outweigh the bad days. But I work with a lot of good, smart people. If you can surround yourself with people like that, you're going to be successful."

Unit readiness noncommissioned officers oversee and manage operations for the company on a daily basis. They also coordinate and assist with scheduling for use of training sites and facilities for the company as well as supervise the training, administration and supply NCOs of the company.

Worley joined the active duty Army in 1992 after graduating from Kelly High School in Benton. Worley's father was a career Army Soldier, which inspired his son to enlist. Worley was stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., as a light wheel vehicle mechanic for two years before joining the Missouri National Guard in late 1995.

"I joined the National Guard to fulfill my contract and decided to make it a career," Worley said. "There are a lot of good people in the Guard."

He served as a traditional Guard Soldier for five years, serving with the 1140th's Headquarters Company, in service maintenance repair. In 2003, Worley -- who has six military occupation specialties -- became a military paralegal for the now-defunct 35th ID for a year.

Worley then served in Iraq with the 220th Engineer Company, which is based in Festus. He also served at Camp Striker, near Baghdad, where he served as military liaison to Man Tech International Corp., a technology provider for national security. Later, he moved to Talil, where he was maintenance supervisor for convoy escort teams.

Upon his return from deployment, Worley became the readiness noncommissioned officer for the 880th in Perryville in May 2006. When the job as readiness NCO became available closer to home, Worley jumped at the chance. He also found it appealing to return to his original unit in Cape Girardeau, where he got his start in the Guard 15 years ago.

"I have a maintenance background so coming back to it is a big plus," he said. "But really it feels like coming home. It really does."

Worley is supported in his military career by his wife, LaShea and their four children: Christian, 8, Jeremiah, 6, Isaac, 3, and baby Jonah, who was born in April. Worley's parents are John and Frieda Worley.

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

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For more information about this release, please contact Scott Moyers at (573) 339-6264 or e-mail him at scott.moyers1@us.army.mil.