I don’t know but I’ve been told!
Wilton Warriors are bold!
Most are off to university,
‘cept those who choose the military!
Sound off! One…Two
Sound again! Three…Four
One, two, three, four
One, two…three, four!
As the seniors of Wilton High School begin preparing to take the next step in their lives next week, most focus on what college they will be attending. For some, however, college is not their immediate priority, and finding a job may be their next option. But a select few are most likely going to enlist in the military, after a lot of thought has gone into what they will do next.
For Ed Petrillo, a graduating WHS senior, joining the military is something that is still a consideration. He hasn’t definitively decided to enlist right after finishing high school but he says he will eventually join thanks to his passion for his country. To help make the decision, he enrolled in a boot camp program.
“I’m in a program right now called BUD/s And Beyond. It’s twice a week and gets you mentally and physically prepared for what’s coming our way in the military. Kind of like when you get free samples at the grocery store before buying the product. It’s physical torture for 3-5 hours. Rain or shine we show up and get a little beat up,” Petrillo explains.
For recruits like Petrillo, getting a “little beat up” is the norm, and they understand this going in. But Petrillo says what’s most important is to see how hard these kids actually work for each other in order to get through the process together. That, and that it’s just the beginning.
“The biggest thing I’ve noticed, and I’m sure my buddies who train with me as well see this too, is that boot camp is the easiest part of the process. People think boot camp is tough, and it may be for regular military, but for people who are looking deep into Special Forces, it’s like a walk in the park,” he says.
The start of that decision-making process of joining the military is a big load to carry. Knowing some are tested to the max in boot camp–and that’s just the start of the process is a lot for a young mind to take on. Then when you weigh the larger responsibilities of actually serving in the armed forces–putting your life on the line, feeling responsible for the lives of your fellow soldiers, and the commitment to protecting Americans–it’s an enormous choice.
So why does Petrillo feel so strongly about the joining the force, and does he really want to make that kind of commitment. He says that while others may struggle with the question, he has felt a strong drive to serve in the military since freshman year at WHS.
“I realized [then] that high school taught me exactly what I don’t want to do in life–follow the ‘typical’ life. We don’t think we’re special at all; we just chose a higher calling. Choosing a path where we’ll be faced with life and death situations every day. It’s not so that we can be glorified, we just do this because we care about this country and want to make this world a better place,” he says.
It’s something he believes unequivocally. “I’ve been asked this countless times and it still gives me the chills every time. I train, read, and grow as a person so that I can be the best ‘operator’ [soldier] I can be. I love this country with all my heart and would do anything to protect those three colors, and its citizens. I want to make sure my little brother can go to school safe without having to worry,” he explains.
It’s something he believes passionately, and says he could go on and on about why he wants to join the military, whether out of a sense of dedication to his country, and a desire to keep his friends and family safe.
“I have 20-plus other highly motivated individuals in this program who will back up every word I just said. It’s a brotherhood you mold like no other, tough to explain,” Petrillo adds.