Cadet attends military school in honor of father

By Mary Barczak
Staff writer

Attending class can seem like a monotonous cycle, so it’s nice to change things up every once in awhile by taking a day off.

Delta Co. Cadet Regina Collins practices high-crawling with her M-16 at the squad tactics area. Photo by Kristin Sherrard

Regina Collins’ way of playing hooky from school one day during her sophomore year consisted of taking the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test. The ASVAB is a multi-aptitude test used to help people realize what military jobs they are best qualified for.

What the Co. D 1/46th Inf. Cadet wasn’t expecting, though, was to do well on the test.

 “My score was the highest one, and I had never been in ROTC before,” said Collins, a student at Marion Military Institute.

It was a wake-up call.

Marion Military Institute offered her a full scholarship.

After that, Collins said she began discussing her future with her mother. One of the deciding factors in accepting her scholarship, Collins said, was the memory of her father.

Her father, Keith, tried to join the Army several times, but had diabetes, which disqualified him.

When Collins was 7 years old her father was killed by a drunk driver. She said it’s been hard to understand her father’s passing, but she’s figured out a way to ease it - by finishing what her dad started.

“I kinda want to finish this out for him; this is my motivation,” the Brooklyn, N.Y., native said. “Knowing that my dad is happy is all that matters.”

Second Lt. Rhett Sanders, a Delta Co. squad tactical officer, said Collins shows a good command of presence even though she is only 17.

“She is very mature,” he said. “She is definitely pulling her weight in the squad.”

Collins hopes to be an obstetrician-gynecologist for the Army and civilians.

“I’ve always been fascinated with watching how babies are born and learning about the care of them since I was young,” she said.  “I keep telling my mom to record my shows (‘Birthday,’ ‘Jon & Kate Plus 8’ and ‘A Baby Story’) while I’m gone.”

Lt. Col. Deborah Wilson, Delta Co. platoon tactical officer for first platoon, said Collins is her youngest Cadet.

 “She’s a good kid,” she said. “She’s the youngest I got, but she has a big heart.”