Local resident Darren McKay enlists in California Army National Guard
–Paso Robles resident Darren McKay, 28, enlisted in the California Army National Guard on Feb 19.
McKay was born in San Luis Obispo, raised in Paso Robles, and went to high school in Bakersfield. He has studied at Cuesta College and has worked in the local wine industry as an assistant winemaker with winemaker Jason Bushong. McKay has also worked as a medication technician.
McKay will be attending Defense Language Institute in Monterey for a year after his completion of basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. “He is proudly supported in his decision to serve by his mother Kayla, his supportive siblings Fanisha, Shalin, Tierza, Katie, Emily, and Cameron,” says recruiter Staff Sergeant Leo Castillo. “His grandpa Larry is also very proud.”
“I decided to join the Army National Guard because I felt like my life was out of my hands,” McKay says. “Too many things throughout my twenties and late teen years paved the way for exciting experiences, but led me to a financial hard place. I felt like if I was going to have my life in someone else’s hands, let it be the country I’ve been living in my entire life. I needed security financially and educationally. So I chose to join. I’m excited that a linguistics program was available, so I’m going to working in that field of languages.”
McKay’s occupational specialty will be 35M – human intelligence collector. He enlisted with a $20,000 signing bonus.
Anyone interested in more information about joining the California Army National Guard may contact Staff Sergeant Castillo at (805) 538-8311, or follow him on Instagram.
Comments
