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Service member spotlight: it’s up to you

  • Published
  • By Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs
  • 108th Wing
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Air Force Tech. Sgt. Carl Clegg, 108th Wing broadcast journalist, is the joint base's featured service member of the week. Clegg hails from Riverside, N.J.

Q: Why did you join the military?
A: I joined the Marine Corps during Desert Storm. I felt it was my duty as a healthy young man to serve my country during a time of need. True funny story, I had no idea I was even going to get paid for my service. My recruiter laughed at my stunned face when he informed me about the pay.

Q: What is your job and what is its impact on the mission?
A: I am now a broadcast journalist in the Air National Guard. Our men and women do amazing work and it is my job to make sure their story gets out. My work has been seen all around the world on American Forces Network. It has also been seen on the Pentagon Channel, Fox News and CNN.

Q: Do you have any past or current family members in the military?
A: Yes. My father was in the Marine Corps Reserve and active duty Air Force in the late 50's and early 60's. His father was in the Navy during WWII and my mother's father was in the Army Air Corps also during WWII. I also have a cousin who spent three years in the Army in the 90's.
Q: Who most inspires you?
A: Ronald Reagan is the most inspirational figure I know of. His words live on and are just as powerful and meaningful today as the day he said them. He was called the Great Communicator and as a professional communicator myself, the Reagan principle I employ most is to show respect for those with whom you wish to communicate.

Q: What is one thing you'd like your fellow service members to take away or understand about the military?
A: The military is an experience; it's up to you what you do with it. There is no question that some of the toughest times in my life came while wearing our nation's uniform. But when I look back at them, they are almost always the times where I grew my moral compass the most.