Queen’s Resident, Transit Tech Senior Enlists into U.S. Army

by Ms. T. M. Beller, U.S. Army Public Affairs Specialist
Born in Holland to Indian and Guyanese parents, 19-year old Avin Sumesar, never expected to be one of over 30 U.S. Army Future Soldiers to take the oath of enlistment during a pre-game Future Soldier Swear-in Ceremony recently at the Prudential Center.
“You only live once,” said Sumesar, a Queens resident and senior at Brooklyn’s East New York High School of Transit Technology. “You might as well make it exciting!”
Having military interests since a young age, Sumesar always believed being a soldier and going through the rigorous training was a positive, life-shaping choice for anyone to experience.
Sumesar is one of over 100 Future Soldiers who found their pathway to the U.S. Army through the U.S. Army Career Center Richmond Hill, specifically with the help and mentorship of a soldier by the name of Staff Sgt. John T. Jones, a 29-year old recruiting noncommissioned officer and U.S. Army motor transport operator by trade.
“What is most unique about Avin is his pure enthusiasm for the military as a whole,” said Jones, a combat veteran. “The average Future Soldier spends about four months completing the required online Future Soldier classes, and Avin is the only Future Soldier I know who completed all the required classes in two days with a 90 percent passing rate. Additionally, after he accepted the oath of enlistment officially, he stood up and said to me, ‘Sergeant, I thank you for this opportunity to let me join the Army.’”
Upon graduation this year, Sumesar will ship to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he will attend one station unit training, or OSUT, to learn the trade of an armor crewman. The armor crewman works as part of a team to operate armored equipment and fire weapons to destroy enemy positions.
Along with the many standard occupational benefits associated with a career in the U.S. Army – such as health care, housing and guaranteed training – Sumesar earned an incredible college education-incentive package, which included a combination of the Montgomery GI Bill and the Army College Fund, totaling over $72,000 for his four years of enlisted service. If he would decide to extend his enlistment contract up to six years, he could earn up to $83,448 dollars to cover his education expenses, which equates to roughly $2,318/month. Additionally, the $1,400 senior enlistment bonus he earned upon signing his contract will be paid to him upon his successful graduation from OSUT.
“I think you can be very proud of this accomplishment,” said Sumesar. “And I believe it says something about the person who joins.”