GENTRY, AR -- Gentry High School senior Braden Woodcock is well known and well liked around the school for his work ethic, his genuine kindness and his abilities. He’s the starting safety on the Pioneer football team and has worked hard in school since moving to Gentry in the sixth grade.
He carries many titles: Student. Athlete. Classmate. Friend. But he recently added a new one.
Private Braden Woodcock.
The day before the Pioneers’ preseason football game in Ozark, Braden traveled to Little Rock and was sworn in as a Guardsman. He’s already completed his first weekend of training and has May 24 circled on his calendar, when he will travel to Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, to begin 10 weeks of basic training and begin his military commitment.
“I had been thinking a lot about what I wanted to do after high school,” Braden said. “This seemed like a good path for me, and I’m excited to serve my country.”
A strong showing on the ASVAB initially caught the attention of military recruiters. Braden took some time to think about his options, but after eating dinner with his sister one night and visiting with her, he received a call from his National Guard recruiter and felt led to serve.
Specifically, Braden enlisted in the Army National Guard as a 13B Cannon Crewmember, a specialty within the Army’s Field Artillery branch. As a 13B, he will be part of a field artillery crew responsible for operating and maintaining artillery equipment, handling ammunition and supporting artillery missions as part of a larger team.
That specialty will require an additional four weeks of training after his basic training is completed.
Braden said he’s excited about the opportunity and expects to specifically work with tanks and other armored military vehicles. He realizes his service may take him great distances as well but said he has a heart for Gentry.
And he sees some similarities to the football field, where he roams on Friday nights: If you make a mistake and lose focus, your entire team suffers. He’s entering this service with his eyes wide open and a commitment to doing his best, the same commitment he has given to Coach Tyler Clark and his Pioneer teammates.
“Before I even knew I was going into the National Guard, I believe football and my coaches were preparing me for it,” Braden said. “They’ve taught me a lot about hard work and teamwork. They want you to be successful, and if you do something wrong, they’ll teach you the right way to do it. I’m thankful for that.”
His head coach is also proud of his decision and his dedication.
“I was really excited when I learned Braden chose the National Guard,” Clark said. “He’s a high-character individual with an outstanding work ethic. I have no doubt he’ll do well, and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He has an outstanding future ahead of him and will do great things.”
In the meantime, Braden will serve one weekend a month until he graduates in the spring and begins basic training.
“I know it’s going to build me as a person, and I’m excited about that,” Braden said about his military service. “It’s not only going to shape who I am, but the person I want to be in the future.”
In return for his service, the National Guard will provide education benefits to help pay for college. He ultimately wants to attend the University of Arkansas and study sports medicine, where he hopes to work as a sports trainer. He is also interested in a career in law enforcement.
He’s thankful for that, but he’s also thankful for the love and support that came after he made his decision to enlist. The outpouring of congratulations when the announcement was made on social media didn’t go unnoticed, and he was thankful for it.
With much of his senior year ahead of him, Braden has a lot of opportunities ahead of him. But there’s no doubt that, whatever he accomplishes on the football field or in the classroom, he’s already caught the attention and affection of many.
“My family is proud of me,” Braden said. “My coaches and teammates are proud of me, too. And I hope this will make my community proud of me, too.”