By Joe Castelli
Staff writer
The decision to serve his country in the Army was one 2nd Lt. Mike Herbst finalized long before he was old enough to sign up.
“My original vision of the Army was always the Soldier on the ground, rifleman, and I guess I just never grew away from the idea,” said Herbst, who has branched infantry. “It’s kind of still what I want to do.”
From hunting as a kid to being president of his fraternity and playing football at Truman State University, working as an infantry officer is something Herbst has been preparing for at every stage of his life. His preparation will continue beyond his service as a squad tactical officer for 3rd platoon, 3rd squad of Co. A 1/46th Inf. at the Leader’s Training Course, when he heads to Fort Benning, Ga., and ultimately earns the Ranger tab.
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| Second Lt. Mike Herbst talks to his Cadets before the company attends the Army birthday ceremony. Photo by Kristin |
As an officer going into the infantry, he’s well poised to gain a slot in Ranger School, and plans to capitalize on the opportunity.
“They’re kind of the most well-trained of the infantry; the hardest-charging guys,” said Herbst, who got his degree in economics with a minor in both international studies and military science. “I want to be with the best, be at the tip of the spear, if you will.”
Serving as the president of his fraternity, his leadership characteristics were evident to his Sigma Phi Epsilon counselor.
Dr. Roger Festa, a chemistry professor at Truman State, has advised the fraternity for more than 20 years. He said some of those years suffered from poor peformances by the fraternity president, but he said Herbst was among the best presidents he’s seen.
“Mike is very committed,” Festa said. “He’s a young man of extraordinarily high character, and he’s dedicated to what he makes a commitment to.”
Herbst has learned just as much from being at LTC as any of the Cadets have learned from him.
“As much as this is a learning experience for all these Cadets here, it is for us too because we’re all new officers,” Herbst said. “We work with senior NCOs, drill sergeants hand-in-hand, you learn so much from them, too. So I’m learning a lot by just being here.”
Though neither of his parents have military experience, the desire to serve and contribute to the well-being of others is something prominent in the Herbst family. His brother enlisted in the Army for six years, three of which he was infantry, and his mother has been doing social work most of her career. She works in child protective services, and, along with her husband, taught Herbst to always look out for others.
“I've kind of always grown up with that in my family – to respect people in the armed services, and what it takes for America,” Herbst said. “If I can spend even just a few years of my life helping others out, or the country out, I can die happy.”