- Apr 29, 2001
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Chicago mayor's son enlists in infantry
By Justin Ward
DES PLAINES, Ill. (Army News Service, Dec. 30, 2004) ? In a ceremony at Chicago?s Military Entrance Processing Station Dec. 29, the mayor?s son officially swore in as Specialist Daley, before boarding a bus to the airport where he will fly to Fort Benning, Ga., for nine weeks of basic combat training.
After basic, Daley will remain at Fort Benning for 20 additional weeks for advanced infantry and airborne training.
With an MBA from the University of Chicago, Daley could have entered the Army as an officer. However, he said his motivation for entering as an enlisted Soldier were based on his need to start at the bottom .
?If you look at some of the greatest military leaders, business leaders, religious leaders ? they usually started at the very bottom.?
From there, Daley said he would take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Army.
Daley enters the Army at 29 years old, not necessarily a youngster by industry standard. But he is optimistic about his performance at basic training, especially considering his doubtless younger colleagues who will join him.
?Physically, they have a foot up because they recover quicker,? he theorized of his younger counterparts. ?They won?t get as beat up. Mentally, though, they?ve never been yelled at; they?ve never been criticized.?
His decision to enter the Army was fueled by a confluence of happenstance. On top of the list is his recent graduation, which left an opening that he sought to take advantage of.
Also playing a part in his decision were talks he had with his friends, many of whom have already served in the armed forces. ?They said, ?You gotta go in now because 10 years from now you?ll hate yourself if you don?t,? ? Daley said.
He added that he hasn?t met one person who looks back with regret at their military service.
?People I know who hated it, still love the fact that they served,? he said. ?They still say, ?I?m proud I did it.? I don?t think there?s anything else in life you can say that about.?
Other factors that played a part in his decision were the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he said.
(Editor?s note: Justin Ward serves in the Chicago Recruiting Battalion?s public affairs office.)
By Justin Ward
DES PLAINES, Ill. (Army News Service, Dec. 30, 2004) ? In a ceremony at Chicago?s Military Entrance Processing Station Dec. 29, the mayor?s son officially swore in as Specialist Daley, before boarding a bus to the airport where he will fly to Fort Benning, Ga., for nine weeks of basic combat training.
After basic, Daley will remain at Fort Benning for 20 additional weeks for advanced infantry and airborne training.
With an MBA from the University of Chicago, Daley could have entered the Army as an officer. However, he said his motivation for entering as an enlisted Soldier were based on his need to start at the bottom .
?If you look at some of the greatest military leaders, business leaders, religious leaders ? they usually started at the very bottom.?
From there, Daley said he would take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Army.
Daley enters the Army at 29 years old, not necessarily a youngster by industry standard. But he is optimistic about his performance at basic training, especially considering his doubtless younger colleagues who will join him.
?Physically, they have a foot up because they recover quicker,? he theorized of his younger counterparts. ?They won?t get as beat up. Mentally, though, they?ve never been yelled at; they?ve never been criticized.?
His decision to enter the Army was fueled by a confluence of happenstance. On top of the list is his recent graduation, which left an opening that he sought to take advantage of.
Also playing a part in his decision were talks he had with his friends, many of whom have already served in the armed forces. ?They said, ?You gotta go in now because 10 years from now you?ll hate yourself if you don?t,? ? Daley said.
He added that he hasn?t met one person who looks back with regret at their military service.
?People I know who hated it, still love the fact that they served,? he said. ?They still say, ?I?m proud I did it.? I don?t think there?s anything else in life you can say that about.?
Other factors that played a part in his decision were the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, he said.
(Editor?s note: Justin Ward serves in the Chicago Recruiting Battalion?s public affairs office.)
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