Local man will deploy to Italy
Max McCalpin will deploy with the U.S. Air Force to Italy in May.
by Lauren Thornton Tobin for the FCT
Russellville High School graduate, Maxwell Blake McCalpin, will deploy to Italy for at least three years beginning May 30, to serve in the U.S. Air Force.
Max is an only child and grandchild, and though the distance may make his family nervous, they are used to him being away from home, said his mother, Melissa McCalpin.
“He completed basic at Lackland, Texas and then stayed for tech training for security forces,” she said.
Max’s father, Allen McCalpin, said he has always encouraged his son to travel the world.
“I’m actually a truck driver and have been my whole life. I’ve always had the traveling gene and I’ve always liked going to different states and seeing different cultures,” he said. “I’m really proud he gets to see overseas.”
Allen said Max has indicated that the wanted to go in the direction of the military since he was about 13-years-old.
“I’m excited for him. He’s a good kid, always has been,” Allen said.
Melissa said she, along with the rest of Max’s family, is also excited for the opportunity that has been provided.
“He is over the moon about it so my main concern is what makes him happy,” she said, adding that she feels like he will have opportunities throughout his stay to come home.
Maxine Henderson, Max’s grandmother, has helped care for him since childhood while his mother was working.
Since Max is her only grandchild, she and her husband are nervous about him being stationed so far away, but are excited that he’s making his dreams come true, she said.
“That’s what he wanted to do,” she said. “He could have gone to college, but he was not interested in that. He wanted to go into the military.”
Allen said Max and his family was told Aviano, Italy was one of the premier bases that soldiers hoped they were stationed at.
Maxine said knowing that this base is most preferred makes the thought of her grandson being overseas less difficult.
“If he had to go out of the country, from what I’ve been told about this base, I’m proud for him,” she said. “I have heard the people there are very friendly and welcoming. Being told that makes things easier.”
Max graduated from high school last year and immediately joined the military, his mother said.
Melissa said Max has been interested in joining the service since he started JROTC his freshman year of high school, and was further inspired by his uncle, retired from the Navy, to serve in the Air Force.
She also credited retired Army Col. Lier for influencing her son. Lier is the Senior Army Instructor for the JROTC at RHS.
“He’s just such an elite role model—a kind person, disciplined, with love. He’s an Army ranger, retired, who has gone back to school to help with the ROTC program. That’s admirable in itself,” she said.
Melissa said Max experienced multiple changes within himself, both physically and mentally, as a result of the JROTC.
“He became such a leader by example. He doesn’t like to force his opinion on anyone and he listens to his friends and leads rather than by just trying to tell them what to do,” she said.
While in high school, Max went to the Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge where his leadership skills and physical fitness were challenged, Lier said.
Lier said Max finished JROTC as Cadet Major, and Cadet Batallion Cadet Officer, which is second in command.
“I hand picked him for that position because CBCO makes sure everything happens,” he said.
Lier said he has no preference towards any of the military branches and when Max spoke to him about the military, he helped him to look over his options.
“Max is very interested in continuing his education,” he said. “My job is to help these students reach their potential. I don’t have a service bias. Each service has a unique capability that they bring to the table, and we all serve the same flag and the same nation.”
Lier said since Max has enlisted he no longer sees him as a student, but as a brother.
“When Max chose the Air Force I was absolutely tickled pink,” Lier said. “When he did that, he transitioned from being my student to being my brother, because we are all brothers in Arms—we all serve the same nation.”
Melissa said she also helped Max to research all the branches of the military, and he decided the Air Force offered him the best opportunities.
Allen said his son worked hard to be accepted into the Air Force.
Max took the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) twice in order to up his score and began running three miles a day for over a year.
Melissa notes that Max doesn’t seem apprehensive about the move, but she isn’t surprised because he’s always been independent.
“He moved out right after high school and got a security job. He was always early—I don’t know where he came from,” she said. “He’s a really good kid.”
Once he is in Italy, Max’s job will be in security, Melissa said, adding that he will be one of the soldiers who guard the gates of the bases or anywhere that needs armed guards.
She said Max has had training with every kind of weapon possible.
“To think that they’re on the front lines, if something were to happen, if somebody were to get on base, it does (make me nervous),” she said.
Lier said he has no doubt Max will excel in whatever he chooses to do.
“He is a very, very intelligent young man. He is as patriotic as anyone I’ve ever met in my life,” Lier said. “He loves his nation.”
Maxine said she feels like Max is going to find this experience more rewarding than just a job.
“That’s what he wanted to do. He could have gone to college, but he was not interested in that. He wanted to go into the military,” she said.
Allen said it’s rarely heard of Italy being attacked so he feels like Max will be safe there.
“I’m really proud for him,” Allen said. “He’s my baby.”
Melissa said she hopes this experience will evolve into more opportunities for her son than she’s had.
“For him to see the country and possibly learn a second language, I think it’s an awesome opportunity. There’s no other job you can go to Italy at 19,” she said.
