Posted on 04/29/2018 3:35:23 PM PDT by SandRat
Community supports soldier in re-enlistment ceremony
SIERRA VISTA — When Sgt. Kascia Vigil joined the Army at 18 years old, she continued a family tradition.
Just a little less than seven years ago, Vigil’s father was her recruiter when she decided to enlist in 2011 in Wyoming. Vigil is a third-generation soldier. Her father is retired Army, and her grandfather served in Vietnam. Her aunt is also a veteran.
She completed her basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina. From there, she attended Advanced Individual Training on Fort Huachuca. She then spent five years at Fort Carson in Colorado.
While in Colorado, she was a part of the 410 Cavalry, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team and 4th Infantry Division. She also was deployed in Kuwait and Jordan in 2015.
On Friday, Vigil re-enlisted at Brown Canyon Ranch. She decided she wanted her ceremony to be completed on horseback like she had done in Colorado when she re-enlisted for the first time.
“I enjoy horses,” she said. “Historically, everything was done on horseback, which is incredible.”
When a member of the military decides to re-enlist, they can choose how and what their ceremony looks like.
When Vigil decided she wanted her ceremony to once again be done on horseback, she was directed to Gil Garza from another soldier.
Garza lets military personnel and their families ride his horses to help soldiers cope with being back from deployments. He says he does it because he knows from personal experience how challenging it can be when returning from overseas.
Garza allowed Vigil to use his horses in her ceremony, despite only knowing her for a week. Early Friday morning, the pair embarked on their journey from Mosen Road to Brown Canyon Ranch on horseback. powered by
“One of the horses can't be put on a trailer, so we have to ride them,” Garza said.
He estimated the trip to be between 10 to 14 miles each way, and allowed the pair hours to arrive at their final destination, because Garza didn’t want to rush the horses due to the heat.
Vigil wasn’t worried about the ride.
“As long as you can trust the horse and trust your ability to control the horse, it should be an easy ride,” she said before the trip.
The ride was a success, and the pair arrived ahead of schedule.
Garza wasn’t the only member of the community to help Vigil in her ceremony. Tombstone High School’s mounted color guard brought and presented the flags at the re-enlistment.
“This is a first for us,” JROTC Army instructor Dan Kilpatrick said. “We’ve never done a re-enlistment. It's a great honor to be a part of.
“I’m glad we were able to be a part, because how many people re-enlist on the back of horse.”
Vigil said she learned about the unit from her neighbor, since their child is a part of the color guard. Tombstone has one of only two JROTC mounted color guards in the state of Arizona.
Currently, Vigil is a training developer on Fort Huachuca, and wants to stay here because it is the home of military intelligence.
“I want to hone my skills as an intelligence analyst and to become an instructor,” she said. “The goal is to hopefully become a flight warrant officer. Watching the light bulb when something clicks with the soldiers is great.
“It gives me a sense of accomplishment when they understand something I taught them.”
Thanks for the great story
Having been in 3d Squadron, 12th Cavalry, I endorse the young cavalry soldier being re-enlisted, wearing the proper uniform and on horseback.
I’m the great-grandson of a Union cavalryman. This a truly inspiring story. Thanks!
No sock puppets huh?
nope
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