Malta Soldier Returns from Basic with Honors

Malta native and resident Specialist (SPC) Kori Kindle recently returned from her five-month basic and advanced individual training for the Montana Army National Guard, where she was recognized as her platoon's Honor Graduate (Grad). Kindle was born and raised in Malta. After graduating from Malta High School she studied elementary education at Montana State University in Billings. She enlisted in the summer of 2015, and graduated with her bachelor's degree in December 2015 before shipping for basic training in February 2016. Kindle trained as a 31B Military Police, and will be attached to the 484th Military Police Company Detachment 1 (Combat Support) in Glasgow.

The award of Honor Grad is given to only three soldiers in each training company, one from each platoon, against a total of over 370 soldiers. To achieve Honor Grad, Kindle had to demonstrate leadership, military professionalism, and superior capabilities to every other soldier in her Platoon. Kindle accomplished all of this and more, completing her physical fitness test (PFT) with a perfect 300 score competing almost one for one in every event with the men in her platoon. "I was definitely the fastest female, and competed with some of the faster males," said Kindle, running her 2-mile event in 13:13 requiring only a 15:36 to achieve a perfect score.

When asked what was the most difficult part of basic training, Kindle replied, "It was definitely the mental part ... the stress and striving for perfection and knowing you can't achieve it was really hard to handle. Once you get past the mental part though, the physical part was pretty easy." Kindle looks forward to starting her National Guard career. "I definitely think I was made for serving in the military," said Kindle, "and I think I will try to make this my full-time career in Montana."