FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — When Pfc. Brayden Sumare’s bus pulled into Fort Leonard Wood, nothing could have prepared him for the twist of fate that awaited him just inside the doors of the 43rd Adjutant General Reception Battalion.

The 18 year old graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in the summer of 2023, between his junior and senior years of high school. He arrived at Fort Leonard Wood in July, to complete his initial entry training.

Sumare, a native of Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, said he arrived at Fort Leonard Wood at about 3 a.m., and there was something oddly familiar about his bay leader, a trainee everybody called “Pops” — he exchanged a few lingering glances with him — but didn’t think much about it.

“The next day, I was laying down in my bunk as the bay leader was walking around getting all the new people’s names for the roster,” Sumare said. “When he got to me, he asked my last name, and I said ‘Sumare.’ And then he asked, ‘Brayden Hunter Sumare?’”

Sumare said he was bewildered and returned the man’s question with another question, “How did you know that?”

According to Sumare, he was “shocked” at the man’s response of — “I’m William Reeves” — his biological father.

Pfc. William Reeves said he will never forget the moment he realized he was looking into the eyes of his biological son.

“It was unbelievable,” Reeves said. “What are the chances we both joined the Army and were at Fort Leonard Wood at the same time for our training?”

Sumare said he thought they didn’t recognize each other because they both looked very different than when they met for the first, and only, time about four years ago.

“When I met him, he had long hair and a full beard. When I saw him at reception, he had a buzzed haircut and was cleanly shaven,” Sumare said.

To add to the unbelievable happenstance, Reeves said he had been nicknamed “Pops” before Sumare even arrived on post.

“I’m almost 40; I have life experience. My peers lean on me for that. They started calling me Pops and it stuck,” Reeves said.

Amanda Sumare, Brayden’s mother, said when Brayden called her to let her know he made it to Fort Leonard Wood and tell her Reeves was also there, she was awestruck, and it took her a minute to wrap her head around the coincidence.

“I was so very shocked. It is the craziest thing ever,” Amanda said.

Reeves, from Poteau, Oklahoma, said he and Brayden’s mother were young when they found out she was pregnant.

“It was unexpected. We did a DNA test when he was born, and he was mine. Our lives had gone in different directions and Brayden’s mother was living in Wyoming, engaged to the man who eventually became Brayden’s adopted father,” Reeves said. “I supported him financially but decided I didn’t want to be too involved and upset Brayden’s solid family unit.”

The two spent several days together at Fort Leonard Wood’s reception battalion, waiting to go to their separate training units.

“Over the next few days, as I watched him interact with other people, I saw familiar mannerisms. It was like looking in a mirror,” Reeves said. “I got to learn a lot from him, and I think that is really cool.”

Since Brayden had already attended BCT and earned the title of Soldier, Reeves said Brayden was able to help the new trainees at the reception battalion prepare for it.

“Brayden taught me how to Ranger roll my uniform. And not just me, he showed us all how. He also showed us what to pack before we left for our units and what to buy from the Exchange when we got a chance. I enjoyed watching him lead others. I am proud of Brayden. He has a bright future,” Reeves said.

According to Brayden, running into his biological father was, “one of those weird life things,” and he was glad he was there to help Reeves prepare for basic training and wish him well.

“I got to tell him goodbye, good luck and give him a hug,” Brayden said. “I think it is awesome that he joined.”

Amanda said she is impressed by both of them and their desire to serve.

“The Army is a good fit for Brayden because he isn’t one to just sit back and watch the world go by. He wants to be involved. He has a strong love and passion for our military and always has. He has so much potential. I am very proud to be his mama,” Amanda said. “I’m also proud of William for stepping up to serve our country. I wish him the best future.”

Brayden is in the middle of six weeks of advanced individual training, with Company C, 58th Transportation Battalion, learning the military occupational specialty of 88M Motor Transport Operator. Reeves is with Company D, 35th Engineer Battalion, for 14 weeks of one station unit training to become a 12C Bridge Crewmember.

“My fingers are crossed I may be able to attend his graduation next month,” Reeves said. “I like to joke — I am going to build the Army’s bridges, and he is going to drive his truck over it.”

By Melissa Buckley, Fort Leonard Wood Public Affairs Office

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. –On Aug. 28, 2024, more than 3000 Soldiers assigned to the 2nd Mobile Brigade Combat Team “STRIKE”, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) finished their second rotation to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in eight months. However, the beginning of the exercise was transformative and historic. The 2MBCT conducted a “large-scale, long-range” air assault (L2A2) operation consisting of 80 aircrafts, across three states, flying from Fort Campbell, Ky. to Fort Johnson, La. Aug. 13-17.

After traveling for over 500 miles, including stops at six forward arming and refueling points (FARPs), scattered over multiple southern states, the 2MBCT arrived at JRTC..

The movement method was not a typical way a brigade travels to “The Box”, but a way that was reminiscent to the founding of the 101st. Traditionally, units move by ground to Fort Johnson, spend several days preparing before entering the combat scenario. The Strike Brigade moved by air-to-ground into simulated-contested landing zones.  Thus began a two-week bout with the well-known opposing forces “Geronimo,” 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment.

“The legacy that we have, dating all the way back to World War II when we were an Airborne Division fighting in Europe,” said U.S. Army Col. Travis McIntosh, the deputy commanding officer for support for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) “Your 101st Airborne Division now is Air Mobile–it’s Air Assault, we have a number of helicopters. That’s how we fight in this division and we’re demonstrating that from Kentucky and Tennessee all the way down to Louisiana.”

This was much more than an aviation mission. On Aug. 13, troops and equipment from across the Division began their movement from Fort Campbell to FARP s across Mississippi and Louisiana. The sites, far from a simple pit stop along the operational path, provided vital sustainment for the troops and helicopters along the way.

“Our birds [aircraft] are able to come in get fueled, get armed and continue the fight,” said 1st Lt. James Tate, a quartermaster officer with Echo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade. “We can puddle hop across and get the birds further over a shorter period of time.”

The ability to send an entire brigade into an enemy area of operations further and faster is not the only aspect that allows this type of exercise to succeed – it also needs to be done at night.

“We conduct all our operations under a period of darkness,” said Tate. “We like the birds to get in, receive their fuel, get armed and off of our pads within 12 to 15 minutes.”

The quick turnaround represents a massive amount of coordination from within the division but training like this is only made possible by the support of the local communities, airports, and National Guard locations who hosted the FARPs.

“We are overwhelmed by the support from the community,” said McIntosh. “From law enforcement to the elected and appointed officials, airport management, emergency services, Louisiana National Guard, support has really poured on to the 101st Airborne Division here and we couldn’t be more grateful.”

The Soldiers of the Strike Brigade descended into JRTC for their training in an auxiliary manner as the Army continues to modernize, innovate and transform its warfighting capabilities. The L2A2 displays the combat power of today with 101st, just as airborne paratroopers did in World War II. The 101st doesn’t just keep older ways of combat entry relevant but to make those unique abilities the future of combat operations.

“We’re experimenting on some of the most modern equipment that the Army has fielded and we’re looking forward to providing that feedback to the Army,” said McIntosh. “We’re demonstrating the capability that’s only seen in the 101st Airborne Division and that’s long-range air assault.”

By SSG Kaden Pitt