Brother and Sister Carry Their Family Bond into the Army Reserve

Joshua and Victoria Long talk with their recruiter, Sgt. 1st. Class Robert Wallace, at the Greenville Future Soldier event.

Joshua Long, 19, and his sister Victoria, 17, have a strong family bond. Both were born in Spartanburg, S.C., and currently live with their father, Robert Long, since the passing of their mother, Theresa Long. These siblings helped each other out while growing up and intend to continue into adulthood.

Joshua joined the Army Reserve as an Information Technology Specialist and will leave for basic training this February. Victoria will become a Human Resource Specialist and will attend basic training this summer and then graduate from high school in 2015. “We joined the Army Reserve to help our father and for the Army benefits,” the Long’s said. Both will receive money for college.

Columbia Recruiting Battalion Commander Lt. Col. Michael Standish learn what life goals Victoria and Joshua will pursue.

Joshua graduated from Spartanburg High School in 2013 and is a sophomore in college at University of South Carolina Upstate. He didn’t plan on joining the military but he decided to after his sister talked with her recruiter, Sgt. 1^st Class Robert Wallace. “If my sister does this, I want to support her,” Joshua said. He also likes that his new job will give him more formal training on computers.

Victoria, however, always had her goals set to join the military. “I have always wanted to serve my country,” she said. Victoria is currently a junior at Spartanburg High School and participates in Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC). She is on the color guard and winter guard team. She also competes in rifles and flags competitions against other schools.