“My brother-in-law helped guide and mentor me toward the Army. He’s an Army Ranger, and I see his success as something I want to achieve for myself.”
— Spc. Benjamin Story
By Sgt. James Geelen
4th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Capt. Tyler Hoff, left, commander, 60th Ordnance Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, talks about Spc. Benjamin Story before promoting him March 5, 2021, outside the company headquarters at Fort Carson. (Courtesy photo)
FORT CARSON, Colo. — Some people may have heard of the old saying, “Go to the military or go to jail.”
For Spc. Benjamin Story, the path he was following seemed to be leading him in the wrong direction.
“I’m from a neighborhood that is just south of Atlanta,” said Story, a company armorer for 60th Ordnance Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 4th Sustainment Brigade, 4th Infantry Division. “I lost my job. I lost my apartment and was living with my parents. My prospects for the future were looking bleak. My parents are definitely glad that I choose to take this path and have told me that they’re proud of me.”
As the youngest of six siblings, Story has many examples to look up to.
“My brother-in-law helped guide and mentor me toward the Army,” Story said. “He’s an Army Ranger, and I see his success as something I want to achieve for myself.”
Story said he enjoys the Army and hopes to stay in for a long time.
“Helping out in the training room has made it possible for me to learn some of the responsibilities of my senior leaders,” Story said.
And his hard work and attention to detail has not gone unnoticed by his command team.
“Specialist Story has performed well in the training room with minimal-to-no guidance during his NCO (in charge’s) absence,” said 1st Sgt. Alfonso R. Martinez, 60th OD, 68th CSSB, 4th SB. “He ensures training continues to be updated into the Digital Training Management System, DTMS. Plus, he has been praised by leaders throughout the company for upholding standards in the arms room.”
Story plans to continue his work at Fort Carson but has significant goals for his future and his career.
“I would love to get to Germany as my next assignment and travel across Europe with my wife, Jenishelle,” Story said. “Before that happens though, I would like to further my military education by attending Airborne and Air Assault schools.”