Justin Olsen earned a gold medal for the United States in the Winter Olympics last year. Now, as a private first class in the New York Army National Guard, he’s serving his country in another way.

Olsen, a member of the U.S. bobsled team since 2007, enlisted  Jan. 6. “I already represent my country,” he said. “Now I have an opportunity to serve and represent my country at the same time.”

Olsen will train as a human resource specialist for the Joint Force Headquarters after this season’s World Cup ends. Once he completes his individual entry training, Olsen plans to apply for the Army World Class Athlete Program, which provides outstanding soldier-athletes with support and training to compete in national and international competitions while maintaining a professional military career and promoting the Army to the world..

“I hope to be selected and, as a soldier-athlete, I hope that I can give back as much to the program as they are giving me,” Olsen said. “My plans are to continue to earn medals and make a name for my sport and the program.”

Olsen began thinking about the National Guard when his fellow USA Bobsled teammate Mike Kohn, who was then a sergeant in the Virginia Army National Guard, told him about the Army National Guard and the World Class Athlete Program. (continue reading…)

Did You Know – Fun facts about the National Guard

Did you know Sergeant Leigh Ann Hester, a Guard soldier with the 617^th Military Police Company, Kentucky National Guard, became the first woman in the US Military since World War II to earn a silver Star Medal?

The Story:

Sgt. Hester’s squad was following a supply convoy on March 20, 2005, in Iraq when insurgents ambushed the convoy. Her squad quickly moved into position, cutting off the enemy’s escape route. Hester led her team directly into the line of fire into a flanking position, and then began an assault on a trench line. She and her squad leader cleared two trenches. When the attack was over, 27 insurgents were dead, six were wounded, and one was captured. In June 2005, Hester was the first woman soldier since World War II to be awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Here is a link to the full story from the Washington Post, Friday, June 17, 2005

GRENADA, Miss., Aug. 10, 2010 – Faced with a long recovery and the reality that he might never run, surf or return to his Special Forces team, Army Staff Sgt. Andre Murnane made the decision last year to have his right leg amputated below the knee after it was shattered by a roadside bomb that detonated in eastern Afghanistan.

“My dreams and ambitions didn’t end that day. It simply started a new chapter,” the Maryland National Guard soldier said.

And a new breakthrough.

Murnane, 28, of Salisbury, Md., entered Green Beret lore this month when he became the first Army National Guard Special Forces soldier with a prosthetic leg to jump out of an aircraft. Army doctors cleared him to jump in June.

While several Special Forces soldiers with prosthetics have completed airborne operations, Murnane is the first National Guardsman to do so.

Murnane admitted he felt nervous about the historic jump that took place here Aug. 1. And he was a bit worried about the prosthetic leg shifting from the opening shock of the parachute and how it would hold up when he landed. (continue reading…)