Alsip teen has his career mapped out as aspiring infantry officer

• Reprints

Shepard High School junior Justin Reynolds is involved in JROTC and wants a career as an infantry officer in the military. He is seen at the school in Palos Heights. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Article Extras

Updated: March 7, 2012 8:00AM

For as long as he can remember, Justin Reynolds has known what he wants to do for a living.

But until he was in eighth grade and discovered that Shepard High School had started a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, he didn’t realize just how much of a head start he could get during high school.

“Since my primary interest has always been to go into the military and since ROTC is military-themed, I definitely wanted to get involved,” said Reynolds, 17, a junior at Shepard and a member of the school’s Junior ROTC.

Reynolds has even pinpointed his career aspiration. He wants to be an infantry officer, which has been a dream since his freshman year when he researched possible occupations.

“An infantry officer coordinates enlisted soldiers in a war and coordinates where and how they attack,” Reynolds said. “The whole idea of that kind of leadership role appeals to me, and I knew it would be the perfect job for me.”

He also admits he likes the perks: good pay, a solid pension and good health care.

“I also like the idea of touring around the world. That is really cool,” he said.

Reynolds has been active with JROTC throughout high school. The awards he has received include an academic award from the Sons of the American Revolution, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Award and the Air Force Association Award.

One of his most memorable moments was participating in Honor Flight Chicago last year. He helped welcome home World War II and Korean War veterans at Chicago’s Midway Airport after they had spent the day in Washington, D.C., visiting
historic sites.

“It was without a doubt one of the coolest experiences you could ever have,” Reynolds said. “Simply greeting all these veterans who never got the recognition they deserved when they returned home from their service was great. They sacrificed so much and got so little in return that it was an honor that I could finally give them what they deserved.”

Reynolds, the son of Todd and Jamie Reynolds, of Alsip, said his role model is his grandfather, Brian Reynolds, of Oak Lawn.

“He is a Vietnam veteran and is an inspiration to me for what he did,” Reynolds said. “I want to follow in his footsteps.”

He also admires Army Maj. Richard Winters, a decorated war veteran whose service was documented in the best-selling book and HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” Although Reynolds never met Winters, who died last year, he admires how Winters handled himself.

“His actions were very respectable,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds is also active in Youth in Government and National Honor Society. He has earned Honors with Distinction, the highest academic honor that can be given a student at Shepard.

After graduating next year, Reynolds would like to attend a top military academy and go through its ROTC program.

Although he has long-term plans, he also has a one-thing-at-a-time philosophy.

“I just do what is at hand and go on from there,” he said. “I look at what I accomplished and say, ‘OK, let’s go a little further next time.’ And I just keep doing that over and over.”