An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

National GuardAlways Ready Always There

National Guard

                - 

Search

Search
Search

-  Home		 
-  News    -  Guard News         
  -  Overseas Operations         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  News Features         
  -  RSS Feeds         
  -  Press Releases         
  -  Transcripts 
-  Features    -  Features by Year         
  -  Posture Statement         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  Special Features 
-  About the Guard    -  How We Began         
  -  Air National Guard         
  -  Army National Guard      -  DEERS Soldier Journey         
    -  Leader Development Program 
  -  History and Heritage         
  -  I am the Guard         
  -  NGB Official March 
-  Leadership    -  CNGB         
  -  VCNGB         
  -  SEA         
  -  DANG         
  -  DARNG         
  -  Joint Staff      -  J-1         
    -  J-2         
    -  J-3         
    -  J-4         
    -  J-5         
    -  J-6         
    -  J-7         
    -  J-8         
    -  Personal Staff        -  Inspector General         
      -  General Counsel         
      -  Public Affairs         
      -  Executive Support Services         
      -  Legislative Liaison 
    -  Special Staff        -  National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel         
      -  Office of the Provost Marshal         
      -  Office of the Joint Surgeon         
      -  Director of Acquisitions         
      -  Small Business Programs         
      -  Chaplain         
      -  Senior Leader Management Office         
      -  Diversity Equity Inclusion 
    -  Comptroller 
-  Resources    -  National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance         
  -  Community Engagement         
  -  FOIA         
  -  Fact Sheets         
  -  Helpful Links         
  -  Image Gallery      -  News Images         
    -  Graphics         
    -  Historical Paintings 
  -  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion         
  -  Legislative Liaison         
  -  Small Business Programs         
  -  Social Media         
  -  State Websites         
  -  Videos      -  Featured Videos         
    -  On Every Front         
    -  2019 Videos         
    -  2020 Videos         
    -  2021 Videos 
  -  Suicide Prevention         
  -  Family Programs         
  -  Environmental         
  -  Trial Defense Service         
  -  Holistic Wellness Challenge 
-  Contact Us		 

Home : News : News Features

PHOTO INFORMATION

** Download

** Details

** Share

# 29th ID cadet continues family's long legacy of service

By Staff Sgt. Lisa M. Sadler,Virginia National Guard Public Affairs Office

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – Upon swearing into the Virginia Army National Guard Aug. 20, 2021, Cadet Ethan Pulket began adding to his family's legacy of more than 200 years of combined military service. For generations, his family has served in the National Guard and, notably, the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division, where Pulket will be assigned upon receiving his commission. "I always knew I wanted to join the military," Pulket said. It wasn't until his senior year of high school that he decided to join the National Guard, where both his parents served along with several of his aunts and uncles, his grandfather and his great-grandfather, who retired as a brigadier general. "I proudly want to continue that legacy." Even with a family dedicated to military service, Pulket's parents were still surprised when he told them he'd decided to join the National Guard. "His mother and I made a point to not push him towards joining or lean on him as an expectation when he was growing up," said his father, retired Sgt. Maj. Brian W. Pulket. He said if their son chose to join the military, they wanted him to do it for himself, not to please his parents or because he felt like he had to. "Ethan holds a lot of respect for the military and has probably been thinking about it for many years, the same way that his father did when he was in high school," said Pulket's grandfather, retired Col. Arthur W. "Bill" Pulket. "I believe he had joining in the back of his mind for a long time." His grandfather said the tradition of military service started when his father, Pulket's great-grandfather, joined the National Guard right after World War II. "My father was a perfect example of someone that would be anyone's mentor, especially to his family," said Bill Pulket. "He went into the Guard in 1948 and served until 1985. He started as a private and retired as a brigadier general." Pulket's swearing-in ceremony took place at Christopher Newport University, where he's a student. "It's exciting to see the level of commitment he has to the Army National Guard, and it's important to know he's was not forced into this," said Staff Sgt. Austin T. Sturtz, Pulket's recruiter. "He wanted to continue the legacy on his own. I am looking forward to seeing him commission and accomplishing great things in the Virginia Army National Guard." In joining the National Guard, Pulket used the many benefits available to him and is a Minuteman Scholarship recipient, which means his tuition will be paid in full for his sophomore through senior years of college. While participating in his school's ROTC, he'll be part of the Simultaneous Membership Program, which allows ROTC cadets to simultaneously serve in the National Guard — earning a monthly paycheck and participating in valuable, realistic officer training. "I am so proud of him, so, so, proud of him," said his mother, Christine M. Harmon, on her son receiving the Minuteman Scholarship. "I think he's the best kid ever. This is not something that everybody receives; you have to apply for it. I am just so incredibly proud of him." Pulket intends to double major in accounting and finance at CNU. "I decided to attend CNU because I wanted to stay in Virginia," said Pulket. "The university was inviting, it felt like home, and its business school is top-ranked in the country. What caught my attention is that 99.7% of graduates from CNU business school get a job related to their major." When his great-grandfather heard that Pulket was going to CNU with a full scholarship and joining ROTC, he was excited. "I'm just tickled to death for him," said Pulket's great-grandfather, retired Brig. Gen. Arthur W. “Art” Pulket. "One, he gets a great education, and two, he's very athletic with a lot going for him, especially in this age of teenagers. He's passionate about everything and has such a tremendous drive. We're quite proud of him." As soon as Pulket made up his mind to join the National Guard, he began to prepare himself for the rigors of military service. He started working out more and pushed himself to do well on the Army Physical Fitness Test. He scored 429 points on the extended scale with 124 push-ups, 135 sit-ups and an 11:03 two-mile run. "He has the highest PT score that I have ever seen," said Sturtz.  Pulket's physical fitness prowess wasn't too surprising to his family. In high school, Pulket ran cross country and, according to his father, participated in their neighborhood swim team, working his way up the ranks as first a lifeguard and now the area supervisor who oversees 10 pools. "At 19 years old, that's a lot to take on," Pulket's father said. "He's the youngest employee that they have ever had with area manager responsibility." The drive that pushed Pulket up the ranks at his pool is an indelible part of his character, according to his mother. She said he's passionate about being a good worker, and whatever he commits to doing, he goes all in. She believes joining the Virginia Army National Guard will help her son grow in unique ways. "It's hard to get that knowledge," she said. "It's going to teach him a lot of things about being independent and self-reliant. He will learn problem-solving skills that you can only get through familiarity. He puts a lot of effort into everything, and his work ethic is really inspiring. He impresses me a lot." Pulket said he has big shoes to fill as he starts his military career and ponders the legacy of military service inherent to his family. "It's a little overwhelming to have to live up to that, but I know that they will be supporting me throughout the entire process. I have a long way to go to continue the Pulket legacy, and I plan on doing it respectfully," Pulket said. Military Service within Cadet Ethan Pulket's Family: Cadet Pulket's mother retired as a first lieutenant, serving as a traditional Soldier in the South Dakota and Virginia Army National Guard. She served as an enlisted Soldier and an officer and ended her military career as a medical platoon leader in the Charlottesville-based Charlie Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team while also serving as a cadre member at the Virginia National Guard's Officer Candidate School. His maternal grandfather served in the U.S. Army for three years; both his aunt and his uncle served in the South Dakota Army National Guard, and his cousin, Spc. Benjamin J. Hanzen, is a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard. On Pulket's paternal line, his father served in the Maryland Army National Guard and at the National Guard Bureau, retiring after 25 years as a sergeant major. Both his grandfather, who achieved the rank of colonel, and great-grandfather, who retired as a brigadier general, also served in the Maryland National Guard, retiring after 31 and 37 years, respectively.  His great-uncles, retired Col. Kenneth S. Pulket, retired Maj. Dennis V. Pulket and retired Maj. Gene L. Pulket, all served in the Maryland Army National Guard for more than two decades. Three of Pulket's cousins also served or are serving in the Pennsylvania, Georgia and Maryland National Guard, respectively. 

**                    SHARE                

**                    PRINT                

Virginia Army National Guard

Maryland National Guard

Pennsylvania National Guard

Georgia National Guard

South Dakota National Guard