Hutchinson High School Celebrates Five Enlisting Classmates

HUTCHINSON, Minn. – This morning (Wednesday), Hutchinson High School will be honoring five of its students who committed to serve in the Minnesota National Guard during its school-wide signing day event.

“Like generations of Minnesotans before them, these people have answered the call to protect the state they call home, and the nation we all love,” said Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Hess, the recruiting and retention noncommissioned officer for the Hutchinson area. “This is a commitment of courage and character. We are incredibly proud to welcome them to the team. The entire Hutchinson community stands behind them.”

While typical signing day events focus on collegiate athletic commitments, Hutchinson High School went above and beyond to have their soon-to-be-Soldiers cheered on by their teachers, faculty, and classmates.

After graduation, these students will venture off to basic training, starting a journey that will be followed by Advanced Individual Training for their specialty military education.

Following their military training, they will return home to Minnesota where they will begin the next chapters of their lives – from higher education to trade schools, they will begin their chapters having already made major accomplishments in life.

For Hess, the local tie-in to these individuals’ service is paramount to why the community holds so much pride in their decisions to enlist: “They have chosen to answer the call to serve as citizen-Soldiers in the Minnesota National Guard, embodying our motto, Always Ready, Always There,” he expanded. “They will live here, they may work here, but they will also be trained, ready, and equipped to protect the very community they call home.”

Inspired by the enlistees, the Hutchinson community will be joined by Army Maj. Gen. Stefanie Horvath, who will speak at the event and give a warm welcome to some of the newest members of the Minnesota National Guard’s formation.