2026-07-01T10:31:00
(BPT) – Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Army — an institution one year older than the nation itself — continues to evolve to fit the needs of the modern world.
- With more than 250 jobs to choose from, the Army is a body of possibilities that helps Soldiers explore a variety of careers and interest areas, from infantry and aviation to engineering and music.
- Whether competing at the highest levels of athletic competition, performing for audiences around the world, or transforming the health and well-being of the force, today’s Soldiers are redefining what service looks like, blending tradition with innovation and proving that Army service is more than meets the eye.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, there’s a remarkable story that often goes untold: The U.S. Army has been defending the nation for its entire history, and then some. Founded in 1775, one year before the nation itself, the Army stands as the country’s oldest institution with a proud history of service. But the Army isn’t just preserving history — it’s making it.
Today’s Soldiers are redefining what service looks like in the modern world, blending tradition with innovation and proving that Army service is more than meets the eye. With more than 250 jobs to choose from, the Army is a body of possibilities that helps Soldiers explore a variety of careers and interest areas, from infantry and aviation to engineering and music.
What unites the Soldiers of today’s Army is not the similarity of their paths, but their dedication to excellence and service. Whether competing at the highest levels of athletic competition, performing for audiences around the world, transforming the health and well-being of the force, or inspiring and motivating the next generation of Soldiers, each one has chosen to channel their talents through the Army.
On this milestone birthday, read on to learn more about the Soldiers who serve today, who are proof that Army service is not just a career, but a powerful platform to pursue their passions, serve their country, and inspire their communities:
U.S. Army Hip-Hop Artist Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick
When Staff Sgt. Lamar Riddick joined the Army, he made history as part of the force’s inaugural hip-hop program, becoming the Army’s first rapper. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Riddick was immersed in the performing arts and attended Bethune-Cookman University, where he was in the Marching Band and earned a bachelor’s degree in music recording engineering. He went on to work at the West Virginia University School of Music, where he continued to hone his craft and, in 2020, won an Eddy Award for Best Christian Rap Artist.
Wanting to make a greater impact while still pursuing music, Riddick joined the Army in 2021, and after a long audition process, earned a spot in the U.S. Army Field Band. Since its inception, the Army Field Band has evolved to a collection of professional Soldier ensembles that perform more than 400 concerts per year for local and international crowds, highlighting genres including hip-hop, rock, and country.
As the Army’s only rapper, Riddick uses his talents to connect the public with both the Army and hip-hop culture, and has performed on countless stages, including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, NFL halftime shows, and The Kelly Clarkson Show. Riddick also shares his experience and original work with an even greater audience at @armyrappers.
Team USA Bobsledder and Flag Bearer Sgt. Frank Del Duca
Originally from Sunrise, Florida, then growing up in Bethel, Maine, Sgt. Frank Del Duca always had an interest in extreme sports, originally competing in downhill slalom skiing in high school. After graduating from the University of Maine and recovering from a reconstruction of the ACL and meniscus, he wanted to continue his pursuit of winter sports, and participated in a USA Bobsled combine where he quickly excelled.
Del Duca’s path as a bobsled athlete continued when he joined the Army in 2019 as an Infantryman (11B) and Soldier-athlete in the Army’s World Class Athlete Program — an elite group that allows Soldiers to serve in the Army while receiving the support and training to participate at the highest levels of competition. His decision paid off when he was named to Team USA for the 2022 Beijing Games, competing in the two-man and four-man bobsled events.
By tapping into the teamwork, discipline, and resilience learned in the Army, Del Duca made another Olympic run at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina in both the two-man and four-man bobsled events — this time not only being named to Team USA, but also earning the coveted, peer-voted role as Opening Ceremony flag bearer. He carried this momentum to the Games, where he secured a historic 4th-place finish in the two-man bobsled event.
U.S. Army Golden Knight Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Evans
Originally from Bangor, Maine, Sgt. 1st Class Evans aspired to join the Army before graduating high school, and he has since experienced many different careers over his 15 years of Army service, from an Infantryman (11B) to a Career Counselor (79S).
While serving at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Evans went tandem skydiving with his father and immediately fell in love with the sport. He soon got his license and tried out for the U.S. Army’s Parachute Team, the Golden Knights, in 2022. Though he didn’t make the cut his first time, he stayed determined and was officially assigned to the Golden Knights in 2024, where he now represents the Army at the highest levels of aerial performance.
Since learning to skydive, Evans has logged more than 850 free-fall parachute jumps and 17 military static line jumps. He notes his most memorable performance as parachuting into the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., in celebration of the Army’s 250th birthday in 2025 — a “twice-in-a-lifetime” opportunity he experienced again during America’s 250th birthday celebrations in 2026.
Holistic Health Leader Lt. Col. Jason Barber
Lt. Col. Jason Barber has dedicated his Army career to transforming how the force understands and pursues wellness. Currently activated to lead the U.S. Army Reserve’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) system — a program that supports the physical, nutritional, mental, sleep, and spiritual health of Soldiers — at the 81st Readiness Division at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Barber has become an influential voice in redefining what it means to be holistically fit, as well as a key architect in how H2F is being implemented across the Army Reserve.
After joining the Army in 1991 as a Cavalry Scout (19D), he made the decision to pursue higher education using the GI Bill, earning a degree in exercise science and an advanced degree in physician assistant studies. But it was a transformative experience working alongside a strength coach that made him realize his passion for helping others achieve their goals through evidence-based training.
He went on to become the high-performance coordinator for the Army’s World Class Athlete Program, where he helped train Soldier-athletes for the highest levels of international competition, and he was one of the first strength and conditioning coaches embedded in the Special Operations community — a pioneering role that laid the groundwork for the Army-wide H2F system. He operates under a growth mindset and believes that success is built through small, consistent effort that eventually compounds to true readiness and resilience.
U.S. Army Six-String Soldiers Vocalist Staff Sgt. Megan Haskell
Staff Sgt. Megan Haskell is the lead vocalist for the Army’s Six-String Soldiers, a country music group performing Americana and patriotic music to inspire national pride. Originally from Hampton, Virginia, Haskell graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and began her professional music career as a country artist.
She later realized that her talent could serve something larger than a stage and joined the Marine Corps as the first enlisted vocalist in its history. After basic training, she attended the Naval School of Music, where she learned about the Army Field Band’s special bands program and pursued an inter-service transfer to the Army, which led her to the Six-String Soldiers.
Throughout her career, Haskell has continued to serve as an inspiration for others, performing at professional sporting events and the Grand Ole Opry, and appearing on NBC’s The Voice in 2023, representing the Army. She also curates the Six-String Soldiers’ social media presence, helping the group gain further national attention. Haskell notes that the Army gave her music a mission, and as a mentor to incoming military musicians, she pays it forward by helping them navigate the unique world of military musical service.
Leadership Mentor and Influencer Maj. John Howell
Throughout his 13-year Army career, Maj. John Howell learned that the most challenging leaders often become the greatest teachers. Serving under commanders who demanded perfection — even down to font sizes — originally frustrated him, but as he advanced in rank and eventually commanded his own unit, he realized those harsh lessons had shaped his attention to detail, standards for excellence, and understanding of effective leadership.
Originally from Tullahoma, Tennessee, Howell grew up in a military family and pursued an ROTC scholarship to Carson-Newman University as a way to pay for college. He went on to serve as an Infantry Officer (11A) and Military Intelligence Officer (35A), commanded a unit in rural Washington, and spent time as an Army recruiter — an experience that shaped his leadership and passion for mentoring young Soldiers.
Now, as the Scholarship Program Manager at the United States Army Cadet Command (USACC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Howell is channeling his life lessons into advice for the next generation of Soldiers, sharing valuable perspective and career guidance, through his Instagram account, @servantofleaders, which has built a community of 70K+ followers.
These Soldiers represent the vast opportunities available in the Army today. To learn more about the possibilities of service, visit GoArmy.com.
