The United States Army marked its 243rd birthday on June 14. The Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Stonewall Jackson Chapter, and the United States Army Recruiting Command from Fort Knox celebrated the event at the Vinton War Memorial.

The ceremony also recognized 42 Future Soldiers who took their Oath of Enlistment before family, friends and fellow soldiers.

One of those Future Soldiers is Blake Markvart of Lord Botetourt High School who will take early graduation in December 2018.

As the youngest soldier at the event, Markvart assisted Senior Officer Major General Jeff Snow in the traditional saber-cutting of the birthday cake. Markvart is participating in the Concurrent Admissions program with the US Army Reserves and Old Dominion University.

The program originated in the late 1980s as a partnership between the Active and Reserve components of the United States Army Recruiting Command and over 2,000 participating colleges.

It is designed to forge a partnership between a Future Soldier and a college at the time of enlistment with three major goals:

• to increase the number of enlistments of students currently enrolled in college into the Army and Army Reserves;
• to increase the number of soldiers, veterans, and reservists enrolled in college and using GI Bill benefits;
• to establish a partnership between recruiters, colleges and high schools.

Markvart is 17 years old, a Life Scout on his way to the rank of Eagle Scout, and a track and field athlete. Markvart plans to major in biology at ODU. He said that he chose to join the Army because of the education benefits.