FORT EUSTIS, Va –
From the three-point stance, a 310 pound offensive lineman looks across the line into the defenders’ eyes anticipating the ensuing battle that is inevitable during Super Bowl XLV in 2010.
Now 34 years-old, the retired National Football League Super Bowl Champion, Daryn Colledge is in a different arena, requiring him to ensure combat readiness for his new team, the U.S. Army.
U.S. Army Spc. Daryn Colledge, 168th Aviation Regiment UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter repairer, rose his right hand and swore to defend the constitution, the U.S. and its citizens when he joined the Army National Guard in Idaho, March 2016.
“The National Guard was a perfect fit,” said Colledge. “I retired after nine years of professional football and I wanted something else to do. I was too young to retire [from working] and the military was always in the back of my mind.”
Growing up in Fairbanks, Alaska, Colledge learned how to fly bush planes and work on cars with his father. From the time they spent together, Colledge developed a love for aircraft maintenance that propelled him to enlist as a helicopter mechanic.
“I wanted to be hands on with other Soldiers, and the NCO side was perfect for me because I came in knowing what I wanted to do and what my Military Occupational Specialty was going to be,” said Colledge. “The 168th is a Blackhawk unit out of Idaho and they are extremely active when it comes to fire suppression and search and rescue, and that’s exactly where I wanted to be.”
Before joining the National Guard, Colledge tried his hand at an educational background in communications, for which he earned a degree from Boise State University.
“When I decided to step away from professional sports I wanted to fall back on my degree of communications, and I did that, but soon realized that world didn’t appeal to me,” said Colledge. “I came from a business where you’re in a fight all the time, and it’s a physical team thing. I didn’t find that in the normal day-to-day life. Then I saw that being a Soldier would keep me hands-on, active and keep me in that team environment that I craved and needed so much.”
While Guardsmen are traditionally called for duty for one weekend a month and two weeks a year, Colledge hopes to do much more.
“Mechanics are lucky enough to get to serve over 60 days a year and I plan on filling all of those days plus the opportunities to volunteer for other missions, like fire suppression and search and rescue,” said Colledge. “For me, it’s not just a hobby, I’ll be in there full time if they allow me.”
Once Colledge finishes Advanced Individual Training at Fort Eustis and heads to his home unit, he will begin the process of advancing as a Soldier and leader within the Army.
“My job right now is to be the best Specialist I can,” said Colledge. “I want to fly as much as I can, grow as a Soldier, then eventually teach the younger Soldiers. I’m going to do this for as long as I can. Once my six year contract is over, I’ll re-up and do it again for as long as the Army will have me.”