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Determination, Drive Lead to Soldier's Success

TIKRIT, Iraq - "It's something for people to look up to, and it's something that I admire," said Pfc. Caleb J. Sprayberry, a cannon crewmember and training room clerk with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, out of Fort Riley, Kan., about being a Soldier.

Following in the footsteps of his father, who is an Army colonel, Pfc. Sprayberry joined the military in January 2008 and has only an appetite for success.

"I think because I have a personal drive of me wanting to make it better for myself - I don't settle for being mediocre," said the Clarksville, Tenn., native. "I don't want my family to struggle as I did, so I have to be successful."

"I have to strive to be the best that I can because it sets me up for the future."

TIKRIT, Iraq - Private First Class Caleb J. Sprayberry, a cannon crewmember and training room clerk with Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division out of Fort Riley, Kan., has high ambitions and a strong, healthy appetite for success. U.S. Army photo: Spc. Shantelle J. Campbell, 4IBCT PAO

As for his future military goals, Pfc. Sprayberry said that he wants to become at least a sergeant before taking the giant step of becoming an officer.

Honestly, I think everybody has different leadership qualities, and I think that being a young Soldier and having many [noncommissioned officers] you should pick qualities from each person that you think you want to incorporate in yourself when you become a leader said Pfc. Sprayberry. "I think that I can do it, and I'm 100 percent sure of myself that I have what it takes to be a good leader."

One person Pfc. Sprayberry said he looks up to in his battery is 1st Lt. Javier Sanjuan, a platoon leader for Btry B, 2-32 FA.

"Some people stick to the belief that they can't be someone's friend if [they're] in charge of them. But, I feel that in order to build a trust and confidence in someone, you have to be on more of a personal level without getting too in depth with them," said Pfc. Sprayberry. "You have to know where to draw the line as far as being a friend and being a leader, and I think he does a really good job at that and that's the way I want to be when I become an officer."

Multi-National Division - North
"Dragon Brigade", 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division