On Wednesday, with their families in attendance, they were recognized during an oath of enlistment ceremony at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village Opera House.

“These young men have decided to step up and be part of something bigger than themselves,” said Sgt. First Class Nicholas Schultz, station commander for the Army recruiting office in Fort Dodge.

The men stood at attention before later raising their right hand for the oath. The oath includes defending the Constitution of the United States and obeying orders from officers appointed over them.

Schultz said it means a lot to the future soldiers that while they are away at basic training, families stay in touch with them.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
St. First Class Nicholas Schultz, of the U.S. Army, speaks during an oath of enlistment ceremony at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village Opera House on Wednesday. The young men pictured behind are future soldiers. They will be heading to basic training in the coming weeks.

“It means a lot to them to send letters and stay in touch,” Schultz said. “If you really want to be funny, send them some shampoo because they won’t have hair.”

Jeff Pratkelis, a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High, is one of the future soldiers.

He has enlisted as an intelligence analyst.

He said being able to pay for college was a huge incentive for him to join.

“A big reason is they are paying for college and I can travel around,” Pratkelis said. “And if I can serve my country while I am at it, why not?

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Gloria Lemus, of Fort Dodge, front, and Jennifer Hobmeier, of Otho, take pictures of their sons, Carlos Lemus and Jason Hobmeier, during an oath of enlistment ceremony Wednesday at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village Opera House. Lemus and Hobmeier, both seniors at FDSH, will graduate high school on Sunday before heading to basic training in the coming weeks. Both have enlisted in infantry in the U.S. Army.

He’s looking forward to improving his skills.

“I am going to get a lot stronger and learn about the military and get better in general,” Pratkelis said.

He said his parents have been very supportive of his decision to serve.

His father, Pete Pratkelis, was on hand for the ceremony.

“We are super proud of him,” he said. “We want to see him move up the ranks and do what he wants to do.”

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Pete Pratkelis, of Fort Dodge, has his smartphone ready to take a picture of his son, Jeff Pratkelis, a senior at Fort Dodge Senior High who has enlisted in the U.S. Army. An oath of enlistment was held Wednesday at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village for 10 young men who have chosen to join the military.

Pete Pratkelis said his son went to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, for a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics camp when he was younger.

“We thought this (Army) could be his path,” he said.

Pete Pratkelis was complimentary of Staff Sgt. Chris Kinder.

“He has helped us so much in this process,” Pete Pratkelis said.

Jeff Pratkelis will leave June 1 for basic training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Staff Sgt. Arron Mashburn said each of the future soldiers will leave for basic training at different times starting May 31.

He said there’s a wide variety of jobs they have chosen.

“We have the whole spectrum from combat, mechanics, military police and intelligence,” Mashburn said.

Michael Lavender, of Fort Dodge, has enlisted at the age of 33. He recently moved to Fort Dodge from England, Mashburn said.

“He never had the chance to do it over there and wanted to serve here, so that’s great,” Mashburn said.

Gloria Lemus, of Fort Dodge, and Jennifer Hobmeier, of Otho, gathered to take pictures of their sons, Carlos Lemus and Jason Hobmeier, both seniors at FDSH.

Jennifer Hobmeier said she was scared, but proud of her son for deciding to serve the country.

Carlos Lemus’ younger sisters said they will miss him.

“I am kind of sad and happy,” said Eva Lemus, 8. “He’s worked hard.”

“We’ll miss him a lot,” said his other sister Gloria, who shares the same name as his mother.

Carlos Lemus and Jason Hobmeier have enlisted as infantry.

Carlos Lemus is looking forward to the experience.

“At first I was nervous,” he said. “But now I’m stoked and excited to travel around.”

Carlos Lemus will leave July 6 for basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Jason Hobmeier said he’s excited to learn.

He will leave June 29 for Fort Benning, Georgia.

“I’m ready to see what will come of it,” he said.

• These young men from the Fort Dodge region have enlisted in the U.S. Army:

Ryan Anderson, Fort Dodge Senior High

Austin Biddle, Fort Dodge Senior High

Keaton Thiele, Fort Dodge Senior High

Jason Hobmeier, Fort Dodge Senior High

Carlos Lemus, Fort Dodge Senior High

Jeffrey Pratkelis, Fort Dodge Senior High

Kaden Brown, Manson Northwest Webster

Elijah Collins, Humboldt High School

Robert Wilson, Pocahontas Area High School

Dominic Summers, South Hamilton Middle and High School

Michael Lavender, of Fort Dodge