Twenty years will fly by: Former drill sergeant still taking care of Soldiers
By Joseph Prestigiacomo, U.S. Army, Retired
Like most of today’s enlisted Soldiers, I joined the military straight out of high school in 1997. I was still quite young, but I knew I wasn’t ready to go to college – at least not yet. A coin toss decided my fate: heads Marine Corps, tails Army. And with tails, I was “rolling along.”
Hailing from Upstate New York, I was on my way to becoming a Soldier, quickly followed by training as a mechanized infantryman at Fort Benning, GA, and was stationed in Vilseck, Germany, from 1998 to 2001. After this initial assignment, I left the active component of the Army and joined a Reserve unit in Utica, NY. I began college, and three days in, 9/11 happened. As much as I wanted to join the active component again, my Reserve unit had me in a critical MOS as a civil affairs specialist, so for the first few years in the early 2000s, I deployed frequently between Iraq and Afghanistan.
After my deployments to the Middle East, I went back home and in my civilian role, worked as a customer service representative for Blue Cross and Blue Shield and then worked in the insurance claims sector. Another Army opportunity presented itself, and with another adventure on the horizon, I spent some time as a platoon sergeant for wounded warriors at the Warrior Transition Battalion (WTB) at Fort Belvoir, VA.
I continued serving between civil affairs and drill sergeant duties in the Army until my retirement in December 2022. Today, I am fortunate enough to continue doing what I love – serving Soldiers. I joined the Soldier for Life team in May 2015, as a transition contact analyst, working alongside business agencies, assisting them on best hiring practices targeting transitioning Soldiers. For example, if there’s a trucking company looking to hire transportation specialists, we can tell them where they should target their hiring efforts, at which installations, where those with the specialized MOSs are located, and how many Soldiers are preparing to transition to the civilian sector.
I love the Army, and I stayed at least in part, because of the fun I was having, the camaraderie I shared with my brothers-and sisters-in-arms, and the sense of purpose it gave me. The years ended up flying by and the next thing I knew, it was “that” time. Events, opportunities, and circumstances in life just lined up. I felt like it was time – family obligations, how my knees and back were feeling, you know … you just know. Ultimately, we’ve just got to trust that we’ve taught the next generation well enough to carry on the mission. I never thought I’d make the Army my career, but here I am. So, with 22 years of Army experience behind me, I’d like to share some insights from my journey thus far.
#1 – You will not always be able to go to sick call, so, take care of yourself.
The biggest thing that I would say is this: Take care of yourself. Take care of your mental and physical health. Because at the end of the day, your whole family will be serving with you, but you need to make sure that you take care of the prime component, which is you. If it hurts, get it looked at. Don’t say, ‘Oh, it’s just a twisted ankle,’ get it recorded; get it documented, because if it’s not on paper
and you can’t prove it, it never happened. If I slammed my knee against a metal pipe when I jumped out of that Bradley truck during a training exercise, I’d go to sick call; now, that’s an emergency room visit and being transported via ambulance – and that money adds up!
#2 – Regularly evaluate your priorities, and remember, it’s never too early to start thinking about
your transition.
There are many times in life when we must prioritize tasks, especially when it comes to our own schedules. Whether you’re transitioning from the National Guard, Reserve, or active duty, take the time to get with the right people and file your VA claim. Don’t be one of the people who say, ‘I don’t want them. I don’t need them.’ Think of it like this: it’s not for you; it’s for your family. The higher your rating, the more benefits you and your family can receive – both from the federal government and your state! You don’t want to start these benefits 20 or 30 years from now, when you’re 70 or 80 years old, and hope your DD Form 214 is sufficient, or try to find your supporting paperwork. Start your VA claim, get your physical exam, make and keep your appointments. I took advantage of the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) Program. It made a world of difference, and I’m so thankful that I did. Regardless of how busy life gets, or how many lemons it throws your way, remember: it is your responsibility to make sure that you have the right documentation to cover you and to prove that you were serving -- where, when, and for the correct length of time.
#3 – If it reflects your service, keep it!
We’ve all heard of them … those books or walls within someone’s home office. It’s much more than something to admire, although what you’ve accomplished is no doubt admirable, it can serve as proof of your benefits, evidence of your declarations, and authenticate your Army career in all its detail. Make your “I love me” book. Keep everything in it. Print out copies of your evaluation reports or counseling statements, your awards, certificates – whatever pieces of paper you’ve been handed in your Army career. When you hit retirement, change it from an ‘I love me’ book, to an ‘I love you,’ book. In this book, you’ll keep your retirement orders, your Notification of Eligibility (NOE), or 20-year letter, your 401K statements, bills, life insurance policies, and more. When you get ready to shift the focus from the ‘I love me’ to the ‘I love you,’ book, make sure it’s tailored to whomever is going to be looking after you, or taking care of your end-of-life plans. It should contain everything that person would or may need, in order to make things a little less difficult during a trying time.
#4 – The Army will go on … and you will too! Remember, Soldier for Life!
The Army grows better and stronger with each Soldier it produces. Each young man or woman who has earned the title ‘Soldier’ is better for the training, strength, tools, and resilience the Army has provided. The shoulders you’ve stood upon, have since retired also. Take advantage of the classes and opportunities given to you at this critical juncture in your professional life. The Army Transition Assistance Program (TAP), has a slogan – “go early, go often.” When you are in your window of transition, your job has shifted from focusing on your mission to your mission becoming focused on your transition. By going early, you get the information, by going often, you can keep up with changes, discuss ideas or plans, and speak to your counselors about anything. As Soldiers, it is ingrained in us to help our comrades; remain willing to help where you can, and trust that you’ve done your part.
#5 – Stay connected!
You’ve probably heard this before, and there’s good reason. Transitioning to civilian life after the military is a very common challenge for a significant number of veterans. Those lifelong friendships you made in uniform? Keep them close. Lean on your support system. When I had feelings I couldn’t pin down, I called one of my best friends, who also retired from the Army Reserve. I would talk to my old first sergeant, each shared their own stories.
Other outlets that I’ve found a lot of friends and comfort in are local veteran service organizations, like my local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and The American Legion. They’re all like-minded people and all have their own stories. I found these new friends easy to talk to and very relatable. It’s the belonging and the feeling of acceptance –again, it’s that true lifetime camaraderie.
