Devin Sutherland, lower right, is sworn in to the North Carolina
National Guard by NCNG officer Army Capt. Charles Carter as a
"soldier for a day" at North Carolina National Guard Army Readiness
Center in Winston-Salem, NC. on August 6, 2013. Sutherland, a
16-year-old youth, is receiving medical treatment for cancer in
Winston-Salem, N.C., and always dreamed of becoming an explosive
ordnance disposal technician in the military. "It was overwhelming.
I never imagined anything like this when I was in the hospital,"
said Sutherland. (U.S. Army National Guard
Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels, North Carolina National Guard) |
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Army Pvt. Devin Sutherland sat up straight
in his wheelchair as he took oath of enlistment to protect and
defend the Constitution. This was the beginning of a six-hour career as North Carolina
National Guard “soldier for a day” at the NCNG Army Readiness Center
on Aug. 6, 2013.
Sutherland beat bone cancer but the aggressive treatment
left him in heart failure so he could not pursue his dream of
joining the military.
He told his Winston-Salem State
student nurse Ciara Riley he wanted to be an explosive ordnance
disposal (EOD) specialist.
“It's always been something I
have wanted to do. It's the most important part of the military,”
said Sutherland.
Riley took the dream as a challenge since
she is also Army Staff Sgt. Riley with the NCNG's 1452nd
Transportation Company.
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Her unit, with help from the Greensboro and Winston-Salem
Police, Winston-Salem State University staff, Brenner
Children's Hospital and many others, welcomed Sutherland for
a day of training.
After enlistment as an Army private, Sutherland in camouflage
uniform stood from his wheelchair to try on a bomb protective suit.
Winston-Salem Police Officers and NCNG soldiers strapped the
100 pounds of protective armor to their newest recruit.
“It
is a lot different in real life,” said Sutherland after briefly
wearing the heavy armor.
For his next mission, Pvt.
Sutherland used a small robot to find fake bombs hidden under a
Winston-Salem Police Department truck parked in the center's drill
hall. With skills of many years of video games, Sutherland soon had
the robot racing across the floor.
After trying his luck
with the most modern equipment, it was time to use a slightly older
technique.
Sutherland got to work with a Greensboro K-9 dog
and handler to find hidden inert explosives in the building.
“He had it down pat,” said Army Sgt. 1st Class Stewart Stevens, an
EOD technician with the NCNG's 430th Ordnance Company headquartered
in Washington, N.C.
With these successes came advancement as
Sutherland was promoted to Army staff sergeant during a quick
ceremony at the center.
The final exercise was neutralizing a
simulated explosive device outside the center.
Devin Sutherland, center, with new and old
friends at North Carolina National Guard Army Readiness Center in
Winston-Salem, NC on August 6, 2013. The NCNG soldiers and local
police, first responders and medical staff together made Sutherland
a "soldier for a day." Sutherland, a 16-year-old-youth, is receiving
medical treatment for cancer in Winston-Salem, N.C., and always
dreamed of becoming an explosive ordnance disposal technician in the
military. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Sgt. Leticia Samuels,
North Carolina National Guard) |
Target, a suspicious package near the center, the tool,
an eight-wheeled, 700-pound, Remotec F6A robot. With careful
control and some advice from the WS Police, Sutherland put
the bomb out of commission.
“The controls are a
little difficult to learn, but other than that, it is easy,”
said Sutherland.
Mission done, it was time for his
retirement with a speech, several gifts, many hugs and a
dream come true.
“I won't be able to go into the
military now, but at least I get to be (in the military) for
the day,” said retired Army Staff Sgt. Devin Sutherland,
North Carolina National Guard.
By Army National Guard SFC Robert Jordan and Sgt. Leticia Samuels
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2013
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