Syria

For those torn between wanting to serve in the military and pursuing a civilian career, America’s National Guard and Reserve forces offer the perfect solution. Both are critical to our nation’s defense, and both allow soldiers to be citizens invested in their communities. No one knows that better than First Lieutenant Brandon Merano, U.S. Air Force. As Brandon looked to his future, his family’s legacy compelled him to serve in the military. He also felt drawn to a career in broadcast journalism where he could positively impact the people in his community. He solved his dilemma by joining the Illinois Air National Guard at age seventeen and then executing a well-orchestrated plan to make both dreams a reality.