U.S. Army Olympians credit Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson as the beginning of their success.
"Going through basic training opened my mind that I could push myself to the limit," said Sgt. Hillary Bor. "The training (for the Olympics) was not that hard. You had to just be disciplined and apply the same knowledge the Army handbook taught us."
Bor and his teammate Spc. Shadrack Kipchirchir from the U.S. Army Olympic team visited Fort Jackson Nov. 16 through 19 as special guests for the the Army Financial Management 2016 Workshop.
Aside from athletes, the two work as financial management technicians at Fort Carson, Colorado.
"We are so glad to have them here as our honored guests,' said Command Sgt. Maj. Annie Walker of the U.S. Army Financial Management School. "We are so proud of their accomplishments, especially as Soldiers."
During their visit on the installation, Bor and Kipchirchir spoke with Financial Management AIT soldiers and students of the advance leader course.
Both men attended Basic Combat training as well as AIT on Fort Jackson; Bor in July 2013 and Kipchichir in June 2013.
Being back on the installation that helped shaped them from civilians into soldiers made them "feel weird."
"It's different," said Bor. "When I arrived at Fort Jackson for the first time, it was like I didn't know what was going on because I was in training. Now it's more fun than before."
Bor and Kipchirchir's decisions to join the U.S. Army was a part of a strong need to give back to the country that helped them. Both were given athletic scholarships in college.
"I got a scholarship for four years and I wanted to give back to this country because they gave me all of this money for school," said Kipchirchir. "Joining the U.S. Army was a way to give back."
Bor said without being in the Army he could never have achieved what he had achieved. He sees being a Soldier as a privilege.
Kipchirchir said he felt the same way.
"I can't compare being a Soldier to anything because it made me the way I am now," he said. "With the Olympics, I would have not participated if I was not a Soldier. It made me strong and I am
proud to be a Soldier," he said.
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