By Jill Fennema –

Greg Arp made the decision to join the military when he was still a young man, before he even graduated high school.  His grandpa, Dick Ruiter had served in the Air Guard for 41 years. He was very influential in my decision to join the South Dakota Air National Guard,” Greg said. He enlisted on July 6, 2003, after graduating from High School that May. 

Hearing his grandpa’s stories was always interesting to Greg. When the September 11, 2001, attacks happened on the World Trade Center in New York City, he felt the pull to military service. He also wanted to try something new and go out and see the world. 

Greg’s basic training took place at Lackland Air Force Base at San Antonio, Texas. His training lasted for six weeks and he said he learned a lot of respect and attention to detail. 

“One thing that sticks out in my mind about basic training was the early wake up calls, and how our rooms needed to be tidied up, beds made, everything needed to be in “tight”. Shirts need to be folded in perfect six inches squares,” Greg recalls. “After that, the drill sergeant would come in, and if it was not done exactly correct, they would rip it apart and we would have to start all over.”

Greg Arp graduated basic training in February 2004

Greg Arp when he graduated from Tech School in June 2004.

After basic training, Greg went on for his advanced training in Wichita Falls, Texas. That program was 15 weeks long and he learned to be an aircraft ordnance systems mechanic. 

After his tech training, Greg returned to the South Dakota Air National Guard, where he worked for 60 days, while stationed at home. He then worked as a guardsman for the next four years. During that time, he married Caty Kooi.

Greg was deployed overseas to Iraq in 2006 and 2008. Both of these stints to Iraq were about three months long. One of the the things that Greg recalls the most was how hot it was and how different the climate was. 

When Greg returned home from Iraq in 2008, his family greeted him on the runway.

“I remember stepping off the plane that night, and it was about 95 degrees and 100 percent humidity,” he said. “I remember it being so dusty, and realizing how different life was compared to in the U.S.”

Air Guardsman Greg Arp (middle back) with his wife Caty and four children (from left) Tucker, Sutton, Bergen, and Keaton.