There’s a group inside the USA Military often called the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment. A few of you studying this will know them higher as The Outdated Guard. The regiment is the oldest active-duty infantry unit within the Military, having served the American individuals since 1784. If you happen to’ve ever seen a particular occasion involving a President, sure ceremonial occasions involving overseas leaders, or particular safety within the case of an emergency, then you definitely’ve seemingly seen members of The Outdated Guard in motion.
Spencer Posey is likely one of the members of this elite group, and you may inform how important it’s to him simply by listening to him communicate of their position and influence on America.
“It’s such a novel piece of American historical past. Now we have such a novel mission set.”
Apart from being concerned with moments at locations such because the White Home and The Pentagon, considered one of their most necessary roles is in mortuary providers. Members of 1 battalion are concerned in funerals laying their brothers and sisters to relaxation.
“We’re not on the market capturing and communication, however we’re finishing a really totally different and necessary set of missions.”
Spencer Posey has been concerned with each battalions, and he’s undoubtedly serving in a task he was meant to be in. As a child, Posey performed three sports activities in addition to chess. The game he personally loved probably the most was wrestling due to the one-on-one facet that got here with matches in that sport. Chess served him very effectively additionally.
“The entire accountability lies in your shoulders,” he defined. “They helped me perceive how the world works. What you set into it’s what you get out of it.”
The bodily challenges that got here with wrestling mixed with the psychological stimulation of chess made Posey a pure for serving his nation. It additionally was in his household historical past. Each of his grandfathers served in World Warfare II, and his father labored for the Military Corps Engineers in Iraq as a civilian. He additionally has a cousin that’s energetic within the Marines. Posey joined the Nationwide Guard in 2008.
“My father had an enormous half in serving to me make that call.”
Posey would spend a few years within the Nationwide Guard, however he expressed that the advantages of his time there stayed with him lengthy after.
“I grew up a really massive quantity,” he stated proudly. “For me, that preliminary army service at 18 actually jumpstarted my maturity and my potential to deal with intense and tough conditions.”
He additionally credit that point of his life for renewing his dedication to bodily health. As a three-sport athlete in highschool, he thought he was prepared for the trials of army coaching. Nevertheless, he admitted that he was not prepared for the psychological facet of it.
“The lengthy ruck marches, the early mornings and late nights, and the lengthy walks that construct resilience mentally and bodily had been robust. Being surrounded by very match individuals impressed me to push the bar on my private health.”
That push to excel in private health has helped him each personally and professionally. Apart from being licensed as a private coach and diet coach, he would ultimately be a part of the Outdated Guard and has been energetic in serving to his fellow Outdated Guard members keep in high form due to the Military’s Holistic Well being and Health (H2F) System. H2F was created to assist current and future heroes stay in high form in 5 totally different domains – bodily, psychological, non secular, dietary, and sleep.
Posey defined that “Our totally different mission set takes a unique toll on our troopers. Nearly all of the toll that it takes isn’t bodily. It’s psychological, non secular, lack of sleep, and lack of diet.”
When Posey first joined his present infantry, he was part of the Mortuary Affairs Workforce, which meant he was part of many funerals. In some circumstances, he helped carry the caskets of people who made the final word sacrifice. At one level, he was concerned with over 70 funerals in two weeks. He thought-about that place an honor to have, but it surely got here with numerous strain as effectively.
“The whole lot we do must be good. We’re the final illustration of the USA army to be with these fallen troopers. I took numerous satisfaction in that, but it surely’s so heavy. It took a toll on me.”
Spencer Posey consulted with senior management and shared he felt that the distinctive roles his fellow troopers had required for them to have the most effective help attainable to allow them to proceed doing their work. As nice because the troopers seemed and carried out, additional give attention to the opposite 4 domains could be helpful for his or her short-term and long-term futures. Senior management agreed, and Posey’s request for empowerment was granted. He’s now an H2F lead, and considered one of his tasks now’s to construct a scalable program for The Outdated Guard.
“We’re going to coach and empower present and future troopers on Holistic Well being and Health.”
It received’t simply be these in Mortuary Affairs working inside H2F. These members of the batallion that work particular occasions and escorts will even handle all 5 domains. They might not be in the identical circumstances, however they face their very own distinctive strain and stress.
“Their tempo is so excessive. They’re always working, and their mission is to share the Military expertise to the bulk. They should be the most effective of the most effective, and so they should current the most effective face to the world.”
H2F is a system that can influence the Military for generations to return. Posey is in a novel place as a result of his position is as a direct resolution to points that many previous members of the Armed Forces struggled with for many years. Past the soldier in service, that member’s family members may doubtlessly prosper.
“We recruit the soldier, we retain the household,” stated Posey. “If we are able to empower the soldier in service, then they are going to have higher expertise and be higher built-in into society for themselves and their households. Investing into individuals like that’s the proper factor to do.”
Spencer Posey is personally making a profound distinction, and he hopes that youthful People will see that becoming a member of the army will probably be a selection that not solely serves their nation, however themselves for the remainder of their lives. Outdoors of H2F, Posey shared that the Military is investing into certifications and schooling as effectively.
“They’ll have that establishment and infrastructure make investments into them,” he stated. “Whether or not they step out of uniform or proceed service, they’ve these resume builders. There are lots of ways in which younger individuals can serve their nation within the army in non-combat roles. They are going to be put in positions in order that they’ll excel.”
Comply with Spencer Posey on LinkedIn. You possibly can see extra data on H2F on the U.S. Military web site.
