When Sergent Luigi Cabantog was a student at the University of Illinois, studying legal science and public administration, he was falling short on tuition and was seriously considering dropping out of college. Motivated by getting money to graduate,  Cabantog decided to join the National Guard, which covered the costs of his degree. Now, Cabantog is pleased with his decision to join. 

“I love the people that I’ve met. I love the experiences that I’ve had, being able to travel the country, and just being able to serve the community and country,” Cabantog said. 

Cabantog and his friend, Private Rico, along with a handful of other personnel visited Prospect High School at the end of last week (10/25) to spread the idea of the army and share a little bit about it to students who might be interested in joining after graduating.

They set up activities in the physical education classes, such as a bouncy house obstacle course, plank and push up challenges, deadlifts, and more that resembled army training. 

Though the physical training was tough for the cadets in the army at first, Sergeant Cabantog and Private Rico both agree that the hardest task was leaving behind their families. 

The cadets were taken away from their loved ones in buses on their first day,  and most of them were faced with nerves at first. Soon, Cabantog and the others grew closer because their experiences in the army started to become unique bonds that they shared. 

“I will never see another stronger bond in this country than being in the military,” said  Cabantog.