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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Some people just know exactly what they were
born to do early in life. Without a doubt, they set out on a course
which gives them the tools to succeed. Army Spc. Caitlyn Babineau,
of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade here, is one of those
people.
Coming from a strong military background, Babineau
followed in her stepfather's footsteps; although she chose the Army
National Guard instead of the Air Force like him. Babineau's parents
have been a vital influence in developing and molding her into what
she is today.
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North Carolina Army National Guard Spc.
Caitlyn Babineau, of the 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, folds
the flag during a military funeral training session on Feb. 1, 2014.
Babineau, of Charlotte, N.C., took time from her training schedule
to help another soldier in the military funeral program practice
before he made his debut at an upcoming funeral. Her military
occupation is Healthcare Specialist but she also volunteered to take
on the extra responsibilities as a member of the funeral honor
guard. She said every veteran deserves a flag and giving the flag to
the family is the like saying thank you for your service one last
time.
(Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Ruth McClary)
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“My mother was a medical assistant and when I was five
years old, I would treat my teddy bears with her medical
supplies,” said Babineau. “I always wanted to be in the
medical field and help people.”
Babineau, who lives
in Charlotte, N.C., started her military career in Troy,
N.Y., where she enlisted as a Healthcare Specialist
(formerly known as Combat Medic) in November 2009. She
completed 17 weeks of training to gain a broad range of
medical skills to help soldiers in need during drill or
active duty status.
“My stepfather was in the Air
Force, so I grew up around the military and I decided I
wanted to be in the Army because I wanted to help people,”
said Babineau. “Also, I didn't want to sit behind a desk
[which is what she thought was done in the Air Force].”
“I didn't realize that when I became a medic there would
actually be paperwork involved, she added. “So, the running
joke in the family is dealing with me still having to sit
behind a desk.”
Helping others is ingrained in
Babineau's character. She balances the responsibilities of
family as she works toward a bachelor's degree in nursing
along with her mounting responsibilities in the military.
“Trying to put an emphasis on so much medical
knowledge in 17 weeks is difficult,” said Babineau. “When I
first started, I thought ‘Oh my God, I don't think I can do
this,' and then we started doing hands-on and I realized I
could do it.”
That training made Babineau proud when
she finally had to put her skills to use to help her fellow
comrades.
“When I was in New York, I worked with the
medical command and we did all of the medical processing for
a unit that was deploying,” she said. “Knowing some of the
soldiers in the unit and being able to contribute to them
and accomplish the mission, meant a lot to me. That is why I
signed up; to be able to say I contributed something.”
“The one thing that stands out about Specialist Babineau
is that she separates her work from her personal life,” said
Staff Sgt. Jeffery Wood, the Healthcare Specialist
Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. “If she has a problem at
home it doesn't affect her as a soldier. She comes in, does
the work and goes about her day.”
“She definitely has
a willingness to work. If there is something I would like
her to do; I can expect that it will get done,” said Wood,
of Charlotte, N.C. “I can just walk away. I don't have to
follow up on it; I just wait until the report comes back
that it is done.”
In the spirit of her work ethic,
Babineau also extends her healing hands to aid our fallen
service members, by volunteering for the military funeral
honor guard. The recruiting office in New York was next door
to the honor guard office, so Babineau inquired about the
position and completed the certification process.
“Every veteran deserves a flag,” said Babineau. “Folding the
flag is that last actual memory the family is going to have.
It's the last thing you give the family from the military
that actually says thank you.”
“It goes back to
helping people. I mean it may not seem like it but being
able to give them that closure is helpful,” she continued.
“Specialist Babineau took the initiative to come into
the honor guard office after [transferring to] the 130th MEB
to inquire about joining the honor guard team,” said Sgt.
Jaime Bueno, the Central Region Team leader of the military
funeral honor guard program.
“She distinguished
herself over her peers when she was selected to be on active
duty operational support for one month,” said Bueno, of
Raleigh, N.C. “She is an [outstanding] soldier who is always
striving to become a better soldier.”
Babineau is
moving up the ranks in her field and has aspirations of
building a career in the military that leads to retirement.
She completed the Warrior Leaders Course (WLC) on Jan. 24,
just before attending February drill. Instead of relishing a
job well done for this present accomplishment, she focused
on the next task at hand ... completing upcoming requirements
for her military occupation.
“WLC was informative,”
said Babineau. “It was a good experience to add to my
military foundation. As a [junior enlisted], actually
[practicing leadership responsibilities] gave me a
perspective on how much hard work it is.”
“Joining
the military is life-changing,” said Babineau. “People don't
realize when coming into the military, how much of a family
it is; despite the fact that I am in the National Guard and
I am still with my family, [the Guard] is my family. There
has not been a time when an issue arose that I couldn't go
to somebody.”
“It's hard work but it's worth it,” she continued. “But if one of
my kids wanted to join the military, I would probably be like my
stepfather and want them to choose my branch.”
By Army National Guard Sgt. Ruth McClary
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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