SAN ANTONIO (Army News Service) -- The day before Jaelan Phillips played in the Army All-American Bowl, where he would be watched by millions, the college football prospect took part in a low-key ceremony.
That day, the star defensive lineman, who plans to bring his tackling prowess to UCLA in the fall, helped pin rank on his aunt's uniform during her promotion ceremony.
"I love my aunt," he said of Shawnee Lee, a newly-minted captain. "She's one of the most important people in my life, so being able to do that for her is pretty incredible."
Phillips decided to play in the Army bowl Saturday to honor his aunt, uncle and great-grandfather, all of whom served in the Army, he said.
His aunt thought it was also fitting that she was promoted right before her nephew's big game, in which the players donned uniforms with "U.S. Army" emblazoned on them.
"It definitely adds a connection," Lee said of the game. "It ties everything that's important to me: family and the Army."
Yet, Phillips' military family never pressured the 6-foot, 6-inch, 250-pound senior from Redlands East Valley High School in California to enlist.
"They've seen my athletic abilities since I was young, so they definitely encouraged me to pursue those than rather go into the Army," Phillips said, smiling.
Even after being named the Army's defensive lineman of the year and recording five tackles in the game, Phillips said, he still has much more to do on the field.
HONORING, MENTORING
The Army bowl also honors the country's top high school marching band members and caps a week of activities hosted by the Army.
"[It's about showing] who we are and … what the Army family is all about," Under Secretary of the Army Patrick Murphy said at Friday's awards show. "The Army family is about duty, honor and country. It's about being part of the team and being something greater than yourself."
Throughout the week's events, two dozen handpicked Soldier mentors shared their experiences with the players and band members and served as role models. Sgt. Ryan Moldovan, the Army Reserve drill sergeant of the year, spent a day with Phillips.
"He's pretty squared away," Moldovan said. "He's a very focused individual."
With many of the players under a great deal of pressure from scouts, coaches, parents and other players, Moldovan said, the Soldier mentor's role is to reassure them and lend their ear.
"We just tell them that you don't have to be perfect. Just give your 100 percent and put in as much hard work as you can," he said. "I find that the harder I work, the luckier I get. It's going to work out for you in the end."
AMERICA'S VARSITY TEAM
Though the Army may never get these particular players into its ranks, the Army -- affectionately called "America's varsity team" by the under secretary -- runs the annual event to showcase what it has to offer to the American public.
"We've got to break the civilian-military drift in the nation, when we ask less than 1 percent to serve," Murphy said. "We have to redouble our efforts to make sure that we're connecting with all of America."
The Army is always looking for the country's best and brightest to serve as it brings in roughly 130,000 new recruits each year.
"We hire more millennials than any other organization in the world," the under secretary noted.
Recruiting efforts are likely to increase following the recent announcement of new end-strength figures for the Regular Army, which are set to add 16,000 more Soldiers for a total of 476,000 by the end of fiscal year 2017.
"The challenge we have right now in the Army is a communications challenge," said Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Snow, head of the Army Recruiting Command. "There are myths out there about the Army."
While the bowl game affirms the Army's commitment to gifted youth, it's also meant to draw in new recruits and dispel myths such as the one that says Army recruits are young people who have no other options.
"Yes, it's a football game, but the opportunity for it to be nationally televised may cause a young man or woman, or a mom or dad to possibly say, 'You know what, I ought to consider the Army,'" Snow said.
(Follow Sean Kimmons on Twitter: @KimmonsARNEWS)
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