Paraglide, a newspaper of Fort Bragg, the home of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, published Pfc. Lyle Celis’s picture in full battle gear as he stood on a Humvee during a mission.
Celis served as a personnel clerk in the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion, 321st Airborne Field Artillery and 82nd Airborne Division.
Last January, he became a Humvee gunner for the personal security detachment.
Celis told Paraglide that he left his non-combat job after qualifying for his new duty as an expert marksman.
At first, he said he was nervous to be with the personal security detachment, but he later found out that it wasn’t bad at all.
His platoon leader, Sgt. 1st Class David Kiser, said Celis has been one of his best gunners, adding that the CNMI soldier “has been doing a great job and getting better every time we train.”
Kiser said Celis has shown some great instincts while patrolling a hostile town last month.
“I’m really happy with how well he is doing,” Kiser said.
Celis said found happiness in his new “brotherhood.”
