Spring 2023

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Boots on the ground

Chernoh Wurie adds Army National Guard to a growing list of professional experiences

A couple of years ago, Chernoh Wurie was driving with his family as they watched the procession of an Army National Guard vehicle convoy. Wurie, an assistant professor of criminal justice at the Wilder School, remarked half-jokingly to his wife, “I’d love to do that someday.” On another occasion at the beach, a passing Coast Guard helicopter stirred similar feelings for this persistent “someday.” That someday became a reality when Wurie officially signed on for a post with a ground transport unit. He’d grown somewhat restless and wanted to “get back in action” in the field. At 41, he had to receive a special age exception waiver. His extensive experience in criminal justice practice and theory made him an ideal candidate, and after a few congressional letters of recommendation, he officially became one of the oldest service members to attend basic training. When Wurie deployed for basic training, he was eager to become part of a new team again. He was assigned to Delta company, made up of between 150 and 200 enlisted soldiers. He was missing the feeling of service and the familiar camaraderie he’d developed with his law enforcement community. Physical activity was another component he was excited about. Delta company would wake up at 4:30 in the morning, conducting drills, going for runs and doing countless pull-ups. “I went into it in good shape, but I came out in great shape,” Wurie said. “I’m in the best shape of my life. It was the mental part that was hard — as a 41-year-old male being around a bunch of 20-year-olds. I felt like, ‘You all are the age of my students!’” Wurie tried to fly below the radar, but the younger cadets quickly ferreted out both his age and seasoned experiences. As a result, he was volunteered for a lot of leading roles, such as platoon leader and team lead for Soldiers Against Sexual Assault, which helped build relationships with his unit.

For some, the National Guard culture wasn’t a good fit. But for Wurie, the best part was dramatically walking through the smoke at his graduation ceremony while his family cheered him on. “I did this for my kids,” he said. “My son is only 7 years old, and I did it for him to wake up one day and be like, ‘You know, my dad joined the army at 41. I can do anything I want in this world.’ To get my son to brag about me — that’s dad points, you know.”

Joining the army at 41 has earned Wurie huge “dad points” with his children, Eliza and Jamessi.

"I did this for my kids. My son is only seven years old, and I did it for him to wake up one day and be like, ‘You know, my dad joined the army at 41. I can do anything I want in this world."
-Chernoh Wurie