Guard Soldier Trains to Protect Freedom, Faith

By Spc. William E. Henry, 38th Infantry Division, Indiana National Guard

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - The U.S. military vows to protect and uphold the constitution's freedoms and rights, including religion, of individuals at home and abroad.

In the ranks of those troops, one Soldier with the Indiana Army National Guard fights for those freedoms while helping others at the same time.

Nineteen-year-old Spc. Jonathan Dyar, Headquarters Company, 38th Infantry Division chaplain assistant, says he enjoys what he does and is ready to meet head-on the challenge of Afghanistan in August with Task Force Cyclone's deployment.

"Being as young as I am, and having few life experiences, I'm really looking forward to this deployment," said Dyar. "I know this deployment will put everything in perspective for me."

The Huntington resident says his choice of service was prompted from a calling higher than his own.

"I think it was a calling from God. I knew that I wanted to get into the service, so I chose chaplain assistant," said Dyar.

"If I help just one Soldier through something really hard, I know I've done what I'm supposed to do. I enjoy giving back to the Soldiers and helping them through tough times."

A chaplain assistant's job consists of assisting the chaplain in coordinating and conducting religious and memorial services, serving as a combatant to protect the unit's chaplain in the line of duty and simply being a fellow servicemember other Soldiers can turn to in a time of need.

Born at a naval base in Naples, Italy, Dyar comes from a long line of military family members. His grandfathers, his father, stepfather and two of his brothers have served in the military at some point in their lives.

He is unsure what the future will hold for his military career, but he said he wants to continue attending school at Indiana University Purdue University in Fort Wayne and work his way up the ranks.

"In order to be an effective leader, I have to be a Soldier first," said Dyar.