Behind the Uniform: Pfc. Matthew Thomas
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”4406″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1593176957745{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]By Sgt James Nowell-Coleman, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1593177235360{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]Pfc. Matthew Thomas, a military police in the 290th Military Police Company based in Parkville, Maryland, assist in the operations on the ground at the Glen Burnie VEIP. He is a member of a squad of eight who have been alternating between food bank missions and assisting with traffic flow for COVID-19 testing sites. Thomas, a resident of Silver Spring, Maryland, has gotten off to a fast start in his early military career as he directs civilians through checkpoints as they arrive for their appointments. Thomas is making the best of things, using exercise as an outlet for stress. He says,” you have to be flexible, you work day to day and you don’t worry about what is going on next week”.
Q: Why did you join the MDNG?
A: I always wanted to join the military, and after speaking to my wife about it, she wanted me to have the opportunity to serve. I figured the National Guard was the best way to serve without having to move all the time.
Q: How does it feel to work in your community?
A: It feels really good because I am seeing faces I know, and they are seeing me, and a lot of them already know I am in the National Guard, but they didn’t know what the National Guard really did. So having them see me out there doing my job it shows what we are about.
What part of your training has prepared you most for this activation?
Yes, as MP’s we do a lot of work on traffic control points and also dealing and speaking with people to de-escalate situations. Then there is just staying flexible.
Q: What is your favorite part of being a soldier?
A: Helping people. I joined the National Guard to serve both my community but also my nation, and this gives me the opportunity to do both. So I guess my favorite part is the sense of pride I feel every time I put the uniform on.
Q: What are you doing to deal with stress?
A: I am working a lot. Even when we do PT, I stay after and do a little extra. Also, I spend time with my wife whenever I can.
Q: Do you think National Guard Soldiers share any similarities with civilians?
A: I think we are different because of the military background. Civilians are here helping because they feel like it’s the right thing to do. We do it because we wanted to help our community, so we made it our duty. We were willing to put in a little extra work.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]