MANITOWOC COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV) - Jesse Augustine remembers watching patriotic parades as a kid. "I grew up in northeast Wisconsin. Every town has their hometown small parade," he recalled. "I knew I was going into the military from a very early age on." Hometown Heroes: Mishicot Vietnam Ve teran donates kidney That kid who watched the parades is now a lieutenant colonel with the Wisconsin Army National Guard. A product of Valders High School, Augustine was commissioned as a second lieutenant out of the St. Norbert College ROTC program. He started his career on active duty with the 101st Airborne. "My first deployment with the Wisconsin Army National Guard, I got the privilege of deploying to Afghanistan as an engineer company commander," he said. "One hundred fifty-seven soldiers doing everything from fairly robust combat operations to construction missions and coming home with every single person in the organization—that has been the highlight of my career so far." With 20 years of service under his belt, along with work in the civilian sector, Augustine credits the National Guard’s leadership training with preparing him for success. "Ultimately, I think the military, and specifically the Army, is the best leadership development program there is," he said. "They empower you and thrust you into those leadership positions, and then underwrite your growth in those positions. At each stage that you move up in your career, you have greater experiences and greater leadership skills to build off for those next challenges." Now in charge of the recruitment and retention battalion, Augustine helps guide the next generation of soldiers—many of whom are recent high school graduates looking for leadership opportunities. "We have leadership courses at every level or rank and institution in our Army," he said. Serving in the Wisconsin Army National Guard requires an eight-year commitment. Many complete six years of active drilling service and two years of ready reserve to assist in federal emergencies. There are also educational benefits. "You can get 128 credits at any state institution and have it completely paid for through the Wisconsin Army National Guard," Augustine said. And for those who think military service is just about learning how to shoot a gun? Hometown Heroes: Andy Weyker survived biggest tank battle in Iraq, succumbed to ALS "That's the romanticized version of it. That's probably the reason I originally started," he admitted. "I've enjoyed it professionally more than anything I've ever done, and that's why I stayed." For more information on the Wisconsin Army National Guard and its leadership programs, call (520) 942-7399. ...read more read less