SPECIALIST SCOTT PETERSON
THE DECISION TO SERVE
Scott Peterson is a highly motivated young man who knows what he wants to do. His mother, Lisa, will tell you, “As a child, he had a very strong will, and he was very determined.” So when he told her of his interest in joining the Army Reserve, she wasn’t entirely surprised. She did, however, want to know more about what it meant to be in the Army Reserve, what his commitment would be and how long he would serve.
Lisa and Scott researched online together to get many of the answers they needed. Scott visited the unit he’d be training with locally. To help them learn even more, two recruiters came to their home. They took the time to explain to Scott and his mom what Scott could expect in the Army Reserve, as well as the financial benefits the Army Reserve offered. Scott was impressed.
“Their options seemed to best fit what I wanted to do with my life. Because I wanted to become an Officer, I wanted to go to college, I wanted the freedom to move around.”
— SPC Peterson
Lisa felt good about the Army Reserve, too. “After everything we’ve been through, I knew it was a good decision.” And while she has always been confident in Scott, nothing prepared her for the first time she saw Scott in his uniform. “I had never seen him look so handsome and so strong. I just couldn’t be a prouder mom that day.”
Everyone who serves in the Army Reserve really has two sides to his life. There is the civilian side, which involves going to school — as Scott does — or continuing with a regular full-time job. Then there is the Soldier side. That’s when you report to your Army Reserve Center and perform your duties as a Reserve Soldier, in particular, the specialized Army Reserve job you’ve learned.
Finding a way to manage your time to handle both can be a real challenge. But Scott has risen to that challenge. In fact, he really enjoys it.
“Instructing other Soldiers and then going to school and being instructed — it’s really exciting. You can apply things you learn in school, and you can test them out here. It’s a great opportunity to test your leadership skills.”
— SPC Peterson
Not only has managing the two parts of his life helped make Scott a better Soldier, but, in many ways, it also has made him feel like a better person. A good part of that comes from the positive feelings he gets from others who recognize the value of his commitment. “Most of the people I have class with, most people I run into in school or anywhere else are really supportive.”
His mother has also noticed a difference in the way he is perceived by others. “As a Soldier, he just stands out above the rest. He can walk on campus as a Soldier and hold his head high,” Lisa states. That higher goal is serving his country and feeling like he’s giving back for all the privileges he has, for the freedom he enjoys as a U.S. citizen.
“He will be able to take from this learning experience and help others. We can see that, even early on in his service, he already is.”
— Lisa Peterson
As a Soldier in the Army Reserve, he stands ready to help make the most of what he has learned. The pride and satisfaction he has gained from serving make it easy for him to recommend talking with a recruiter about the Army Reserve.
Scott Peterson brings many great qualities to the Army Reserve. He has drive and a passion for achievement. How has serving in the Army Reserve affected those qualities? If anything, it’s reinforced them. His mother has seen him “become a strong, confident, capable young man.” He is one who truly lives the Army Values.
“Being a Soldier in the Army Reserve really gave me a lot of direction and motivation, focus, determination and a will to succeed in life in general. I’m actually doing something toward a higher goal.”
— SPC Peterson
